Special Fireplaces: Chill Out Around the Fire

The first thing you need to bear in mind is that you can’t randomly buy a fireplace. You have to consider some technical and budget issues. Although fireplaces are expensive pieces, they impose a distinctive style on your house.

Everybody loves the flames of a fireplace. Those who have one, know how you lose a sense of time while watching the wood burning. A fireplace is the focal point of a room.

Installation Requirements

You’re probably wondering what your house needs to install a fireplace. Does it involve a great deal of work? How much does it cost? What type of fireplace suits you? The only requirement to install a fireplace is to have a smoke vent. This may seem obvious however not all the buildings have it.

Usually, modern buildings don’t have smoke vents, but old buildings do. In this case, houses are the best option. If they don’t have smoke vents, you can easily build one.

House with a smoke vent

If the house has an outlet pipe, it has to be 200 mm in diameter. This means that you just have to install the fireplace and connect it with the outlet pipe through a fireplace hood. The construction is easy. Once you choose the fireplace, it will take 2 days to install it. The installation company will be in charge of the process.

House without a smoke vent

It’s not always possible to connect an outlet pipe from the house to the roof. It depends on the building features, but sometimes you can install one in the interior courtyard. The construction is easy if you have an attic or a single-family house. Although you always need the approval of the neighbors.

Fireplaces – different types

When you buy a fireplace, you need to consider if it’s going to be a decorative element (with little use) or if it’s going to be a source of heat.

Traditional fireplaces

If you’re not going to use the fireplace a lot, you can leave the hood open. It will heat the house but 80% of the heat produced will be lost through the smoke vent.

You also have to bear in mind that if you install a metallic opening – iron or steel – that protects the combustion area, it will prevent the wood from warming up excessively.

Modern fireplaces

Within modern fireplaces, there are two types. First, you have fireplaces that are embedded into the wall, and secondly, you have fireplaces that lean against the wall, with the fireplace hood and vent on view.

The former is closed with cassettes. They adapt to the house style and are cleaner. The latter is made from cast iron, painted black, and tends to be round or triangular. The advantage is that they produce more heat because their structure is in view. On the other hand, they need more maintenance as the paint can become damaged and needs to be retouched.

Rustic fireplaces

These are usually open. Many types of fireplaces don’t have side walls, or they are small. With rustic fireplaces, the materials are natural: stone on the opening, exposed bricks, and sometimes, a wooden beam to use as a mantelpiece.

Fireplaces – essential complements

An ideal complement to the fireplace in an urban house is, for example, a firebreak or fireguard. These are woven wire meshes placed in front of the fireplace to prevent floor damage from the sparks. People normally hang the tools to control the fire (pokers, clamps or pincers, brooms, and dustpans) on supports that are easy to move.

Also, andirons are very traditional. They are a pair of metal stands for holding logs in a fireplace.

Most of the elements are made of iron, with simple lines or motifs. Therefore, if the framework of the fireplace already has motifs, we recommend not to add more crafted accessories.

Fireplaces – when and how to clean them

Fireplaces need regular cleaning to avoid the blockage of the smoke vent with soot. It’s also advisable for a specialized company to sweep the chimney annually. These companies will give you a quote depending on the type of fireplace. The good news is the interiors of fireplaces don’t need special care.

So, if you’re lucky enough to install a fireplace this fall, these tips will come in handy. Tell us about your experience!