The Choice of the Fireplace: the Main Criteria

The time spent by the fireplace, flows slowly and leisurely. Looking at the sparks of fire, running race, and listening to the subtle sounds of crackling coals, we want to philosophize and think about something pleasant. Perhaps it did at all times: and the primitive people, tired from a day of chasing mammoths, gathered in the evening near the circle of stones with a fire in the middle, and the ancient Romans, who invented the first construction of the center with beams and chimney, and romantic knights, jarusha on a fire spit bull.

From the primitive hearth to the modern fireplaces

As soon as the fireplace started to decorate (as it was in the Romanesque period of time) and the value of them changed from a purely heating even and decorative. In the era of late Gothic and early Renaissance, they turned exclusively to the attribute of wealth and luxury.

What kind of fireplace is best? Built-in fireplace, wall fireplace or island fireplace?

With all the wealth of choice fireplaces can be divided into three large groups.

Built-in fireplace is built in the process of laying the walls of the house. All its functionality is also built into the wall. A big plus-it takes the least space of the possible options.

But if the house is ready, and the fireplace really want to install, there are two types.

Wall fireplace, as you might guess, usually placed near the wall.

It is open on the one hand, and its main part is hidden behind false wall. It can be put in a corner and “warm” so a few rooms, but this is a tricky process.
If I put the fireplace wall in the middle of the wall, don’t forget to leave the sides at least 1 m.

Island fireplace can be put in the middle of the room, if it will not interfere with anyone. Area it, of course, takes the most, but also looks very impressive: on a small hill, with a convector, hung from the ceiling on springs or chains directly above the furnace.

Where to start?

During the construction of the fireplace in the first place it is necessary to choose the necessary materials. Experts advise to give preference to a natural stone if initially you fluctuated between it and a brick. But it is also possible to combine.

You can build and elegant concrete fireplace, but it will make only a highly qualified specialist. Fireplace concrete requires complex formwork, ceramic tiles and sometimes forged accessories.

If you have chosen which fireplace you need, let’s look at what it consists of and how it works.

The fireplace has its own face

The face of the fireplace portal. How it will look depends on the interior of the apartment and the imagination of its owner. The design of modern portals has no boundaries: it can be seen and the ancient hearth of rough stones, and a cutting-edge source of heat in the style of hi-tech.

Perhaps the portal is the only common element that is present and real fires and false fireplaces. Imitation fireplace (or false fireplace) choose those who are not ready for a serious waste of time and money and expects to get the easiest option “hearth”.

Differences from the real fire had plenty. Starting with the fact that it is drywall construction, which can be placed in any apartment, even in the Studio. Yes, and make it very easy to frame sheathe sheets of drywall, seal the seams and to decorate the outside. The main difference fallscasino from the present – absence of the chimney.

The backbone of the fireplace-chimney

But the chimney, no matter how simple it may seem at first glance, when viewed from the inside is the most complex technical structure that requires precise calculations. To design it correctly, you need to determine the optimal dimensions of the opening of the furnace and the depth of the portal, calculate the height and width of the mouth of the hood, the height and cross-section of the pipe, pick up the cap and do not forget to take into account the landscape and terrain.

In the process of designing the furnace heating in the house it should be remembered that the fireplace needs a separate chimney, and it will be more than the furnace.With the choice of the sizes it is necessary to be extremely attentive: too long flue creates additional air draft from-for which firewood can burn very quickly, and in short draught will not suffice.

The optimal form of cross-section for a metal chimney is round, and for a chimney of brick – square. Rectangular cross-section is permissible but undesirable: the mass of smoke moving in the center will be delayed near the walls. The head of the pipe must necessarily “close”baffle and mesh-spark.

Hotter “heart of” the fireplace

In addition to the backbone of the fireplace – chimney – he has a “heart” – furnace. The furnace is a place for burning wood. In the classic versions of the furnace is made to make a wide and shallow, of course, of refractory material. Suitable stone, brick or metal.

Wall open to the furnace spread of fire brick, clad brass leaves to create a reflective surface and, consequently, improve the heat transfer. Do not forget about the insulation, but we’ll talk about it later in more detail.

To counter the air flow did not cause smoke room at the top of the furnace is useful to put a gas threshold, sometimes called “tooth”. In addition, it increases traction during ignition and reduces soot emissions. When, for whatever reason, “teeth” is not set, then the fireplace with a furnace of inclined connecting channel.

Open or closed furnace?

One of the most important questions when choosing a fireplace: “Open or closed furnace?”The fireplace, the image of which rises in the eyes of most people when saying this word, is called a fireplace with an open fire. The fire in the furnace is not separated from the room, which can be both a plus and a minus. Plus, it is aesthetically beautiful, and the cons – increased risk of fire and lower efficiency.

In a fireplace with the closed furnace as it is easy to guess, one or all walls of the chamber are replaced with the glazed doors. Such fireplaces have higher efficiency and excellent fire safety, but at the same time its glass part needs to be cleaned from time to time.

There is also a mixed version, when the fireplace doors with a closed furnace are equipped with a sliding mechanism, hiding them under the lining and thus transforming the furnace into an open one.

Fire safety

Wall or island, concrete or metal, open or closed – fireplace of any kind requires increased attention to fire safety. Therefore from the very first stages of erection it is necessary to think seriously about the choice of heat-insulating materials.

Chimneys are divided into these types:

1. modular steel single-circuit;
2. modular steel double-circuit;
3. brick.

Metal double-layer chimneys – the most simple design, is initially filled with a thermal insulation layer rock wool thickness of 30-50 mm. Brick chimney is insulated so: the external part of the pipe stone decorative material or another layer of brick, attics – apply warm solutions or stone wool.

For insulating steel modular chimneys perfect piercing Mat WIRED MAT, was developed by company ROCKWOOL. It has a one-way galvanised wire coating and can withstand heating up to + 750°C from the side of stone wool.

If the fireplace is installed in a wooden house, the insulation of the furnace should start with improving fire safety.

Currently, the market of insulating materials for flat fireplace surfaces offers different types of plates, but one of the highest performance have ROCKWOOL FIREPLACE butts made of stone wool. Their thickness is 50 mm, but the permissible application temperature reaches +750°C from the stone wool. In addition, the FIREPLACE butts have an aluminum foil coating that reflects radiant heat.

Complex thermal insulation of all parts of the fireplace-the key to long-term and safe operation of the heating device. Savings on quality materials in this case involve too much risk to the life and safety of property. The main rule of construction and insulation – do not trust their Amateurs! Then your life by the fireplace will be pleasant, peaceful and leisurely.