Cast iron fireplaces. What you need to know about them
The main distinguishing feature that allows cast-iron fireplaces to stand out from the rest of the heating equipment is the presence of a firebox. This structural element is considered today as the basis of any modern fireplace.
Many leading experts identify a number of features characteristic of cast iron fireplaces:
1) high heat transfer rates - are provided by the use of special materials in the manufacture of a cast-iron fireplace;
2) the almost complete absence of combustion products.
There is a widespread misconception that cast iron fireplaces allow you to heat large rooms without any special effort. The firebox of such structures, due to the use of a special technology for its production, ensures the rapid distribution of heat throughout the room, but does not warm up the space.
If you flood a cast-iron fireplace, you can get rid of all sorts of unpleasant odors present in the room, for example, dampness. After some time, a special and extremely pleasant aroma emanating from the smoldering tree appears. It is he who gives the atmosphere of the room a special coziness and comfort.
Cast iron fireplaces can be equipped with either polished or matte fireboxes. The middle part of the firebox is usually made of cast solid metal. Outwardly, it is very similar to a metal tray or basket. The firebox of a cast-iron fireplace must be solid. This is explained by the fact that when burning firewood, a lot of sparks are usually formed, which scatter in all directions, and due to the special design of the firebox, all combustion products are kept inside it without going outside.
It is worth noting that thick logs burn much more slowly and efficiently in fireplaces than briquettes or small chips. The choice in favor of the first allows you to get a much larger amount of heat.
When choosing a cast iron fireplace, do not forget that it can only run on one of the many types of fuel available today, namely wood logs and sawdust. However, such designs are in no way inferior to traditional furnaces in terms of heating quality. A modern cast iron fireplace is safe, economical and efficient heating equipment.
When choosing a cast iron fireplace, attention should also be paid to various accessories for it. If they are not purchased, then the ash, each time formed after the combustion of firewood or sawdust, will be extremely difficult to remove from the furnace
If after buying a cast iron fireplace it turned out that it does not fit very well into the existing environment of the room, then you can use one effective solution. It involves lining the structure with a certain material, which will give it the necessary harmony with the interior.
Choosing a fireplace mantel
The color and quality of the lining can be very diverse. Granite, marble, sandstone or limestone can be used for stone fireplace cladding.
For lovers of antique style, there is an opportunity to find original fireplace accessories that once served as decoration for living rooms in old mansions and luxurious estates. They can be found in special architectural workshops.
The cost of such an old cladding can be very expensive, or vice versa, very cheap.
It depends on its condition, on the time of manufacture of the material used to make it.
If you need to restore an antique fireplace mantel, it is best to use the services of experienced carpenters.
Just like stone cladding, wood cladding is very popular, and it costs much less.Wood fireplace claddings are commonly made from oak, cherry, and maple.
Depending on the desire of the buyer, wooden cladding can be painted with special paint or varnished.
Recently, more and more began to appear on the cladding market for fireplaces from artificial stone. Compared to other types of stone cladding, artificial cladding is much lighter.
The choice will always remain with the potential owner of the fireplace, it can be either the simplest fireplace or the most sophisticated, in any case, warmth and comfort will come to your home with a fireplace.
cozy hearth
Useful tips for those who are going to build a fireplace
Despite the fact that modern man has come up with a lot of devices for heating the house, many people prefer to enjoy living fire. Having become the owners of a private house, some immediately begin to select a place for building a real wood-burning fireplace, near which it is so pleasant to warm up on a cold winter evening.
For a modern person, the presence of a fireplace in the house is not a standard. Only relatively recently did people begin to build fireplaces in their homes. Someone is building a hearth from the very beginning, some are converting stoves that have become unnecessary into a fireplace
The fireplace warms up the interior spaces less, but it attracts attention with an open fire.
Good fireplace what does it mean
Any classic fireplace has the main functional units - a chimney, a firebox for loading fuel and a decorative portal. Due to the fact that the open type firebox does not have a damper or shield, and the design itself does not provide for the presence of smoke channels located inside, the function of heat accumulation by the fireplace is not performed. That is, heat is given to the room, thereby heating it through the energy of the flame.
Since the classic designs of fireplaces are equipped with an open firebox, in this case the main task of the chimney will be to provide good draft to prevent the gases released during combustion of the fuel from entering the room.
When designing a house, the future owner should have an idea of how often the fireplace will be used, and what is the approximate duration of its use. Taking into account these data, the design of the hearth will be developed, as well as the quality and quantity of consumables required for its construction.
For the construction of a high-quality fireplace, built taking into account all the norms and requirements, it is better to turn to professionals in their field
It is important to consider that the organization that will be chosen to build the fireplace must have the appropriate permits (state license)
Gas fireplace without wood
A gas fireplace is much safer than a wood burning one. Modern gas furnaces are equipped with automatic remote control, equipped with a gas control system, they can be connected to a thermostat. The room heats up instantly. Gas furnaces do not need wood, there is no smoke during their operation. Trouble-free and easy to maintain. Gas fireplaces consist of a steel or cast iron firebox, chimney and burner. The lining is decorated with any heat-resistant material.
To install a gas hearth, the obligatory requirements are the presence of a connection to the gas network and permission from the gas service. Like a gas water heater or a heating boiler, such a fireplace must be equipped with a chimney. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the outlet of the chimney to the street.
A variety of fireplaces depending on the purpose
The modern choice of fireplaces is very large, they differ in design, purpose and design. Therefore, when choosing a fireplace device, you need to know exactly what role it should play. The first step is to decide on the type of fireplace, since each option has its own characteristics and features.
There are the following types of fireplaces:
- Traditional. It runs on solid fuel and is made of stone, brick, steel or cast iron. They come with open, semi-open or closed fireboxes. Devices with a closed view of the furnace give more heat, and with an open one they have a more aesthetic appearance.
- Decorative. Operates due to liquid fuel, looks very nice. Decorative bio-fireplaces do not need chimneys, since the fire burns in them without soot and smoke.
- Electric fireplace. This option is very convenient for heating a house that does not have a chimney. The devices are used as standard heaters, but they look very elegant. In addition, most models have special regulators, thanks to which you can add or remove "fire".
- Fireplace stove. Typically, such structures are installed in saunas or baths, but more and more often they are also designed in summer cottages, since fireplaces are equipped with hobs on which you can cook food.
Fireplaces in the living room
In a country house, it is not advisable to use a fireplace as the main source of heating. Another thing is to make it an additional source of heating and decoration of the interior of the living room. Convection models of fireplaces are the most popular today. Heat from such a heating source quickly spreads throughout the house through the ventilation ducts. Open fireplaces are more of a decorative feature, as most of the heat comes out through the chimney. Before you install a fireplace, you need to decide on the fuel that you plan to use.
Modern models of fireplaces can work not only on wood, but also on gas, electricity and bioethanol. They are made of cast iron, steel, brick or stone. Before equipping a fireplace in a room, it is necessary to determine the intended use of this source of heat supply. If the fireplace is planned to be used as a source of heating, then it is advisable to give preference to convection models or multifunctional fireplace stoves.
Experienced craftsmen can build a fireplace in the house, lining it with artificial stone or decorative tiles, but most prefer to buy a finished structure. The purchased model should be as convenient and safe to use as possible. By installing a cast-iron fireplace, you can increase its efficiency. All fireplaces are divided into open, closed and semi-open. The safest of them are closed. When choosing a place for a fireplace, it is necessary to take into account the convenience of installing the chimney. In addition, it should fit perfectly into the overall interior of the living room. On winter evenings, you can comfortably sit down with the whole family in front of the fireplace, and admire the bright flames inside it, enjoying the pleasant warmth of the hearth. The choice of model of this product is entirely up to the owner of the house.
Fireplaces in a country house
In fact, the ancestor of the modern fireplace is a primitive open hearth, designed exclusively for heating the room and cooking over an open fire. This element of the interior did not carry any decorative functions. Despite the relatively simple design, the process of building fireplace stoves still has its own specific nuances, which must be taken into account even at the stage that involves the design of a residential building. This approach will help in the future to avoid many mistakes, the correction of which will require spending a lot of money from the family budget.
Fireplaces in the house
Previously, fireplaces in homes performed many important practical functions. With their help, it was possible to heat the room and cook food. Today, there is no such need, since every house has long had electric and gas stoves, and heating is done by batteries. Nevertheless, fireplaces remained in many houses, however, now they perform mainly a decorative function.
Fireplaces in the interior create a truly warm and cozy atmosphere, they have no equal in this.What could be more pleasant than sitting with your family or friends on a winter evening by the fireplace, in which fragrant logs crackle, drink hot tea and have a good time talking? When it rains, snows or winds outside, an evening by the fireplace acquires a special charm, becomes romantic and magical.
The warmth of the fireplace
In order to avoid the hassle and inconvenience associated with burning firewood, interior design often began to use modern heaters that imitate a fireplace and a flame burning in it, but at the same time work on electricity or gas. Whatever the style of your home, as well as the shape and size of the room where the fireplace will be located, you can quite easily choose any designer fireplace that will look harmonious in the interior. You can equip any living room with a fireplace - from classic to high-tech living room. The main thing is to choose the right colors, shape and material.
The best option is to purchase a fireplace made individually according to your order, taking into account all the requirements and conditions of the design concept of your home. An important factor influencing the atmosphere in your home and the mood of your family members is not only the choice of a good fireplace, but also the choice of firewood for it. So, for example, oak logs will give your home a lot of heat. Such firewood can be laid infrequently. Firewood from fruit trees (apple, cherry) will fill your home with a wonderful, pleasant aroma.
Electric fireplaces without fire
Electric hearths are of two types: decorative and heating-decorative. The latter not only create an atmosphere of comfort, but also heat the room. At the same time, electric fireplaces are completely safe, they do not require either fuel or a chimney. Electric fireplaces start working immediately after plugging into a power outlet. In addition, such a hearth favors the microclimate of the room - a steam generator is built into the design of the hearth (it is filled with ordinary water), which imitates the effect of combustion and smoke, and also humidifies the air. The flame effect is created by special light filters and halogen lamps built into fireplaces.
How to choose a fireplace for your home
One of the important things to consider when choosing a fireplace for your home is its style. The hearth should harmoniously fit into the design of the room, without violating the overall style concept. The appearance of the fireplace can be completely different. Depending on the material used to finish the facade, there are several styles of fireplaces: high-tech, modern, classic, country, English.
If you do not want to bother much with the choice of fireplace style, give preference to the classics. Such a hearth will look advantageous in any room. The portal of a classic fireplace can be made of the following materials: shell rock, sandstone, marble.
For a modern home with an abundance of glass and metal interior details, a high-tech central heating fireplace is perfect. If the hearth is placed in the middle of the room, the blazing flame can be observed from anywhere in the room.
If the interior contains walls with imitation of brickwork, you should opt for fireplace models in modern style. The portals of such foci are made of glass, steel or ceramics. A fireplace stylized as Art Nouveau will also look good in a house with traditional smooth walls. The main thing is that straight lines are present in the design of the room.
For conservatives, lovers of aristocracy, English-style fireplaces are perfect.
Owners of suburban real estate will be interested in country-style fireplaces. These, simple at first glance, hearths will look great in both brick and wooden houses.
Whatever style of fireplace you choose, the main thing is that contemplation on it gives you pleasure.
History of the fireplace
In modern times, a fireplace is a symbol of prosperity, coziness and comfort.Nowadays, when building a country house or a cottage, a fireplace makes a significant contribution to the interior of the room, playing two roles at the same time. This is part of the interior embodiment and at the same time a device that serves to create warmth and comfort. After all, a fireplace is one of the types of stoves in which heat from the primary type during the combustion of fuel is transformed into sections of the technical process, which heats the room by convection and thermal conductivity.
Fireplace in the architectural genre
In addition, as you know, only three processes can be looked at forever. This is water, fire and a working person. The fireplace creates emotional calm and relaxation in the home. It is a properly made fireplace, a properly selected and finished fireplace that can create a piece of individuality and grace. The history of the fireplace dates back to antiquity. Then a kind of hearth was arranged in the center of the dwelling, and the burnt products came out through the upper hole in the ceiling. At first, fireplaces were made of stone, later they were made of brick. A different number of types and models began to appear.
So columns began to be added to fireplaces, decorated with mosaics or expensive finishing materials. During the Baroque style, decorations for fireplaces began to be made in small sizes, emphasizing sophistication and individuality. More and more began to be given to various accessories. To this day, many models of fireplaces are presented in the form of antiquity of that time. And it is still part of the life of many people. The fireplace is immortalized as a device and interior solution. The fireplace, according to its constructiveness, is divided into recessed, Rumford's fireplace, open fireplace, semi-open fireplace. In terms of styles, the fireplace can be presented in a classic style, modern style, high-tech, bionics.
Do-it-yourself decorative fireplace made of drywall
A living room with a cozy burning fireplace can only be afforded by owners of country cottages or private houses built within the city. In modern high-rise buildings, installing a fireplace is a rather difficult task, and most often not at all feasible. However, if the desire to have a fireplace in the living room is very great, there is one fairly simple solution - you can create a high-quality imitation of such a piece of furniture. The process of making a false fireplace from drywall with your own hands is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Thanks to modern materials and strict adherence to instructions, even the most daring design decision can be realized.
Plasterboard for self-manufacturing of decorative fireplaces
A decorative plasterboard fireplace, made by hand, will become a worthy element of the living room interior design, complementing the room's decor with originality and giving it a classic nobility.
Drywall is the most common choice for decorative fireplaces due to its affordability, malleability, and ease of use. From it you can create the most incredible designs, without limiting the flight of fancy.
Preparation for work
First you need to decide where the decorative fireplace will be installed, make an example of a sketch and calculate the amount of material needed.
They have an artificial fireplace, as a rule, near the side wall of the room, but so that it does not clutter up the passage.
In the process of developing a sketch, it is necessary to think through everything to the smallest detail: details, dimensions and fastenings. If there are difficulties here, you can find DIY decorative plasterboard fireplace designs on the Internet. When choosing or drawing up drawings, you need to soberly assess your capabilities: will it be possible to complete the task on your own.
To make a fake fireplace yourself, you will need:
* profile;
* drywall;
* jigsaw;
* screwdriver;
* scissors for metal;
* materials for decor.
Making a frame for a decorative fireplace.
The work is divided into three main stages:
1. Profile marking according to the drawing.
2. Cutting drywall.
3. The connection of the resulting pieces into one design.
After making sure that there are no errors in the drawings, you can transfer the desired dimensions to the profile. Next, using a hacksaw or scissors for metal, cut the blanks.
If you plan to create an arch, then you need to make several transverse cuts on one side and bend it into any desired shape.
The elements are assembled into one frame using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. To make the structure stable and not warp in the future, it is desirable to have transverse jumpers.
If the sketch turns out to be a heavy and bulky fireplace, or, conversely, too narrow, you should attach it to the walls and floor.
Sheathing and finishing the fireplace with drywall
Upon completion of the installation of the frame, you can form a draft version of the fireplace. To begin with, it is necessary to cut out the details from the material according to the sketch and try them on the fireplace, adjusting them, if necessary, to the desired dimensions. This can be done with a regular sharp knife.
Details are attached to the profile with black hardened self-tapping screws. Hats should be deepened a little, and then puttied. So the product will look more aesthetically pleasing.
After the structure is assembled, it is necessary to process all joints and fasteners. The corners should be reinforced using paint mesh. The surface of the hearth is desirable to level with putty.
Then only the design of the hearth will remain.
You can decorate the product using artificial stone, tiles or stucco, fireplaces with imitation of brickwork and the mirror surface of the back wall of the hearth look very advantageous.
Features of the construction of modern fireplaces
In order for the future fireplace to have all the necessary functionality, please the eye with an attractive appearance, be reliable and fireproof, at the planning stage, you should decide on the place of its future location. Knowing the size of the room in which the hearth will be located is necessary to calculate the size of the furnace, as well as heat transfer.
Traditional technology for the construction of fireplaces involves the use of refractory bricks. Today, metal is often used for the firebox.
It should be noted that when calculating the size of the furnace, the material for which the brick will serve, the dimensions of the building material should also be taken into account. The calculation of furnace dimensions from materials such as concrete or metal implies taking into account only the dimensions of the room itself.
Closed fireplace inserts, which, as a rule, have doors or shields made of heat-resistant glass, can also be attributed to a special group. Equipped with such fireboxes, fireplace hearths are more similar to their counterparts - stoves, have increased efficiency and excellent fire safety.
According to the location, fireplaces can be divided into several types: free-standing structures, corner and frontal.
As a rule, classic fireplaces have a frontal location in the corner of the room or directly next to the wall. The main advantage of this arrangement is the minimal use of usable space. A freestanding design is an improved type of hearth. The main advantage of such a fireplace is the circular orientation of the generated heat.
The choice of the place where the fireplace will be located is purely individual and directly depends on the tastes of the customer, as well as on the recommendations of the interior designer or architect. The main condition when choosing a place is that the fireplace should not be located at the intersection of the line of movement of air flows. This is due to the fact that they can cause incorrect operation of the chimney. As a result, smoke from the fireplace will enter the room.
And also when choosing a location for a fireplace in a country house, one should take into account such a nuance as the need to build a foundation. The foundation is necessary if the total mass of the fireplace significantly exceeds the bearing properties of the floors used for the construction of the house.
