Tips for installing A FIREPLACE

Installing a fireplace will not only bring you hours of warmth, but it will also create a wonderful ambience and add value to your home.

When choosing a fireplace, there are a number of things that will need to be considered in order to choose the right one for your particular circumstances. Things to consider will include the style, the size and the location of the fireplace, as well as what fuel the fireplace will burn.

There are many different styles of fireplaces, however, there are three central elements to any fireplace, namely the hearth, the firebox and the opening. The hearth can be level with the room's floor, it can be raised or it can be located below the floor level. Fireboxes comprise the area in which the fire sits and are designed to complement the various hearth styles - you can find raised, flush or dropped fireboxes. Finally, the fireplace opening, commonly referred to as the fireplace surround, is often where the mantle is located and is what defines the aesthetic finish of a fireplace.

The fireplace surround can be finished in any conceivable style - from ultra contemporary to traditional Art Nouveau styles. The surround can be constructed and finished from a number of different materials, including bricks, marble, natural stone, granite, timber and tiles. Although it is possible to install a fireplace, plaster around, paint it and leave it without some kind of fire-resistant finish or mantle, this is not highly recommended as after some time, the plaster will start to chip, crack and peel due to the intense heat it absorbs, and if painted a light colour, the rising smoke will eventually leave dirty-looking grey marks up the wall.

Size and location