Do you have
a fireplace that just doesn’t fit the room? Before you make a rash decision and
seal it up, consider what it is in the room that is wrong. Does the mantel
piece design clash with the room’s motif? Does the fireplace mantel need
renovating or updating?
Earlier fireplaces were the main source of heat during
cold winters and large homes had a fireplace in each room. These fireplaces took
time to maintain, and created a mess. The fireplace, however, served as a
natural focal point, drawing families together, and stood as an important
decorative feature. Wealthier homeowners hired tradesmen to build elaborately
carved mantels out of wood, stone or marble. Today’s homeowners enjoy the
practicality of central heat and the drawing power of a cozy fire on a cold
winter’s night.
Things you
should know about fireplace mantels and surrounds
It’s still
possible today to buy a vintage salvaged fireplace in nearly any period. This
can be restored and used to replace an outdated fireplace which is completely
out of step with the period of the home.
There are
many reasons to replace or add to what you have. Your mantel shelf may be too
shallow, or non-existent. You may have only a lonely insert. You may abhor the
old-style brick surrounds.
The choices
are numerous; hardwood mantelpieces can be simple or carved. It can be painted
or stained. It must meet fire safety codes, and use a fire-safe material for
the surrounds, like tile, stone, or metal. Stone fireplace mantels can be
elegant or rustic, using materials like limestone, travertine, slate, and
marble.
Stone can
also be used for the surrounds. Faux stone offers a realistic look of carved
stone at a more reasonable price. Metal fireplace mantels also come in vintage
reproductions or sleek modern styles.
Replacing
the fireplace surrounds may just be the right thing to freshen up your
fireplace. Tile and stone offer many choices, and are more easily replaced than
an entire mantel.
When
shopping for a fireplace, you have many choices. Most of the old fireplaces
seen in people’s homes are either fake or totally inefficient. The reason is
because they are designed with an open front that completely sucks newly-heated
air up and out the chimney rather than radiating the heat back into the house.
These fireplaces are often a nuisance and purely decorative at best.
A company specializing in
fireplaces claims that there are three fireplaces that can contribute real heat
into the home without sucking it away; they come in a variety of styles and a price
range to suit your need – EcoSmart Fire, Blomus Pure Life, and Planika. These
vent-free, ethanol burning fireplaces have been steadily gaining momentum for
their minimal looks, 'clean' burn, and mobile abilities. This type of fireplace
burns on denatured ethanol, meaning no utility hookup is required, and no smoke
or ashes are left to clean up once the fire is out. Best of all, the fireplace
is vent-free, meaning the heat doesn't escape through a chimney; it stays in
the room.
