THE FIREPLACE – STILL THE HEART OF YOUR HOME!
No longer the only source of heating in homes, fires and fireplaces aren’t usually judged in terms of competence and adequacy these days, yet they’re once again at the top of the list of desirable features. A fireplace puts heart into a house, and flickering firelight provides a focus for real family life.
Although traditionally constructed of heavy permanent materials, fireplaces needn’t be forever. A carefully chosen fireplace provides a dramatic facelift; its installation possibly taking no more than one or two days, and the total cost is likely to be worth every penny when you see the end result!
There are two aspects to consider. First the style and appearance of the fireplace itself, and then its engine. They may be chosen separately but the engine, or appliance, provides the purpose for its setting.
There is a vast choice of materials from which a new fireplace can be made. Elegant marble, smooth slate, warm brick, homely local stone, ceramic tiles with colourful images, or contemporary designs, all of which will catch the imagination. Again there is a vast choice of appliances from low cost fuel grates to superb decorated stoves with enamelled finishes - see other sections on fires and stoves - but firstly the fireplace!
Wood and wood-veneer fireplaces
Wood and wood-veneer designs still dominate the fireplace market. Whilst the cheaper fireplaces are nearly always veneered MDF (medium density fibreboard) or pine, the higher end of the market boasts beautiful solid wood designs in yew, maple, rosewood and mahogany.
Veneered MDF is a very stable material, which is unlikely to warp or crack even if excessive heat is applied. Look for well-finished designs, like , where veneers match or compliment each other. Some really low-cost designs are made of chipboard, which is veneered or covered in a synthetic wood film. Chipboard is not as suitable for fireplace construction as MDF.
Solid wood designs come in two types. Some designs use a relatively low cost base wood, like American walnut, and stain it to replicate other woods. You will achieve the grain of real wood but not the correct wood, which must be born in mind if you were hoping for the complex grain of, say, Rosewood. The second type is, obviously, the fireplace made of a specified wood - it may also be stained but you will get the wood that you want. This latter type will almost certainly be much more expensive than those made of low-cost base wood.
Stone Fireplaces
Stone and stone effect are now among the popular choices for customers with a reasonable budget. Natural stone designs are less expensive than they were five years ago and light limestones, from Portugal and Italy have begun to take a significant share of the market. Reconstituted stone (limestone or sandstone ground down and then cast with cement in a mould) offers a wealth of design options that would be unaffordable in the natural material but which produces beautifully crafted designs for imposing houses.
A number of companies offer fireplaces with stone effects as a finish onto plaster or resin-based materials. These provide a much lighter material than stone - a material that can also be easily cast. But make sure you know what your buying - look for the phrases 'natural stone' which is made from solid stone, 'reconstituted' or 'reformed' stone which uses crushed stone moulded to shape and 'stone effect' which is just what it says!
Marble Fireplaces
Also gaining market share is the marble fireplace - an indication that tastes turn full circle. One of the original fireplace materials, marble was often regarded as too expensive in the late Victorian era and even the aristocracy what have plaster painted to resemble marble - the so-called 'faux marble'.
Now modern finishing techniques and a competitive market have made it one of the more popular choices for middle and upper market fireplaces. The choice of marble colours is extremely wide and the smoothness of the stone coupled with natural veining creates an effect that no man made material can ever replicate.
The retro look, harking back to the Victorian era or the 1930s, still has a place and these classic designs combine the beauty of real marble with the looks that match many of today's fires.
Marble effect fireplaces
There is no longer a need to paint plaster to make 'faux' effects - new materials can create a good likeness of marble time and time again. Cultured marble (sometimes called Marbeleise or Marblesque) uses a resin-based mix plus a little secret know-how to create beautiful designs at affordable prices. Like reconstituted stone, cultured marble is poured into a cast which enables complex carvings to be replicated.
Brick fireplaces
The brick fireplace is also experiencing a boost in its long-standing popularity. Although the material is more popular in traditional brick manufacturing areas especially to the north and north west of London, many customers also find that it makes an excellent rugged alternative to the wooden mantel and marble hearth. The wealth of different brick colours - ranging from mellow old stocks to vibrant red London multis - ensures that each fireplace is unique and not a clone of its neighbour. Member, HG Mathews, even makes its own bricks in a yard next to their fireplace and stove showroom - you can even choose the bricks that you like!
Brick fireplaces have to be built on site. A good bricklayer will ensure that mess is kept to a minimum but you will almost certainly have to-decorate the wall onto which the fireplace is mounted. Brick choices include mini bricks - half the size of a standard brick - and consider brick patterns like Herringbone where the bricks are coursed at 450.
Cast Iron fireplace back panels
Originally the popular product of the late Victorian era, the cast iron back panel is again popular in today's living room décor. Whilst the majority are installed into marble or wood mantelpieces there is a growing market for complete 'bedroom style' fireplaces in cast iron. These are much narrower than a living room design and often are set off by a flower or candle arrangement rather than being lit. Many traditional designs incorporate tile sliders into which 4 - 6 decorative tiles can be slid on each side of the fireplace. This enables a degree of personalization but do make sure that you use heat-resistant tiles intended for fireplace use!
The last few years have seen more contemporary cast iron back panels, often mounted in simple, modern wood mantels or in a bolection design in marble. The look can be striking and an attractive alternative to the ubiquitous marble hearth and back panel.
Antique Fireplaces
If you still hark back to the design of the traditional fireplace and want an original period piece there are companies who specialise in these attractive antiques. Two such member companies are Britain's Heritage located in Leicestershire and Toby's Architectural Antiques in Devon.
