Candler is growing fast, and most of its new subdivisions come with a basic decorative builder-grade firebox. Owners here want two things: the warmer craftsman look and real heat. Out here you're generally on propane, so the fix is a sealed, efficient propane unit behind an Arts-and-Crafts surround of oak, earthy tile, and stone — clean-burning, which matters in Hominy Valley's bowl.
Builder-grade box, craftsman upgrade
The standard Candler firebox in a new subdivision is decorative — it looks like a fireplace and gives back very little heat. Within a few years most owners want a real upgrade, and it's a good chance to build in the craftsman look at the same time: a wide, low quarter-sawn oak mantel, handmade tile in ambers and olives, clinker brick or river stone, and built-ins beside the chimney. Behind it we set a sealed direct-vent unit with a realistic split-oak log set so the flame matches the traditional style.
Propane country, and a bowl that rewards clean burning
Candler is propane country, and propane burns hotter per unit than natural gas, so the appliance needs the right orifices and pressure to keep a craftsman log set clean — a Kozy Heat Springfield 36 is built for exactly this. Hominy Valley also sits in a natural bowl that can trap air, which makes a clean-burning sealed appliance the responsible pick: direct-vent gas seals combustion off from the room, and an EPA-certified wood insert burns far cleaner than an old open fireplace, so less soot hangs in the valley air.
Buncombe permit, 15 minutes west
Connecting the propane system — regulator, piping, appliance setup, with the tank coordinated through your supplier — is licensed work a builder legally can't do, but we can, and we permit and pressure-test every run with Buncombe County. Fifteen minutes west of the showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Candler
We install and service fireplaces throughout Candler and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.