Stunning Fireplaces

It is no surprise that many people wish to have a fireplace in their home. A fireplace is a stylish addition to any room and is much more attractive and elegant than a simple radiator. They are also highly decorative and provide a focal point to the room, drawing the attention of any guests to the home.

There are still wood burning fireplaces available, though most modern fireplaces run on gas or electricity. There are two different types of wood burning fireplace: radiant and circling. Radiant fireplaces are clean faced and may be covered by a finishing material while circling fireplaces posses louvres and are more energy efficient, though they cannot be covered by finishing material.

Meanwhile, there are three different types of gas burning fireplaces: B-vent, direct vent and vent free. B-vent fireplaces possess a small upward-facing gas vent which emit through the roof. Direct vent fireplaces posses a larger vent and can be vented either upward through the roof or horizontally through a wall depending on personal preference. Vent free fireplaces, as the name suggests, have no vents, instead burning the air present in the room with any heat produced remaining in the room. The most energy efficient of the three types is the direct vent fireplace. However, this type produces a lot of heat meaning it is generally unsuitable for smaller rooms.

Electric fireplaces work entirely by electricity and do not produce an actual flame. Instead, an artificial flame is simulated using lights, giving the look of a wood or gas burning fire. This means that one can achieve the same stylish look of a fireplace without the danger of a flame. Also, electric fireplaces are more ecologically friendly.

Modern fireplaces are generally more popular than traditional log burning fires. Such modernisations include fireplace inserts which are fireproof boxes with a glass front that insert into the fireplace and minimise heat loss. These are better for the environment and are more cost effective making them a preferred choice. Also, they may run on either electricity, gas wood or coal and are very energy efficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c6bjQVwN9Q

There are a number of different materials to choose from in the construction of your fireplace. For the fireplace itself, it may be constructed using masonry, being built by hand using stone or brick, or it may be manufactured in advance using sheet metal. Also, for the mantel surrounding the fireplace, the main decorative feature of the piece, there are several suitable materials which can be used to make the final product look more attractive. Marble is particularly popular but traditional carved wood and stone may also be used. It is entirely down to personal preference.

You can read another fireplace article at the link below:

http://fivethingstoknow.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/buying-fireplace.html