Few things contribute to creating an atmosphere of coziness in a private home like a real fireplace. Despite its apparent simplicity, building it with your own hands can be quite difficult, since a fireplace is a complex heating device and there are many nuances in its installation, ranging from the installation of the foundation, the choice of the firebox, the material of the box and ending with the choice of the design and shape of the chimney.
The main thing in this matter is to correctly determine the need for heating the room, and, based on these data, choose the appropriate dimensions for the fireplace.
So, for rooms of 20 and 40 square meters, a fireplace with a base of 150 * 90 cm is suitable; for a larger area, a large fireplace is needed. It is worth remembering that a modern fireplace based on a cast-iron fireplace insert with a convection box is much more efficient for heating than old brick fireplaces with an open hearth.
Let's take a look at the main types of fireplaces available for selection:
Decorative
A decorative or false fireplace is a great find for the interior. You can easily do it yourself and install it even in a small room. You can create such an imitation from a variety of materials, even "trash". Lightweight, portable models that do not require much time and special skills are obtained from boxes from a TV or refrigerator, or from sheet cardboard. More complex options are made of chipboard, drywall, polyurethane or brick. Recently, flash fireplaces for the kitchen have been very popular.
Built in
The fireplace built into the wall is one of the most popular models for the home nowadays. Its main advantage is that it does not occupy the usable floor space and does not need to install a foundation. In addition, such a fireplace always looks very stylish. However, it must be remembered that there are significant restrictions for the installation of such a fireplace, primarily related to the material and thickness of the wall and the design of the chimney. As a rule, such fireplaces should be provided at the design stage of the house, which avoids installation problems.
Electric fireplace
Installing a real fireplace in a city apartment is an almost impossible task. A fireplace in an apartment can be installed only if you live on the top floor, and then you will have to obtain permission from the HOA. Therefore, to create an atmosphere of comfort and additional heating, an electric fireplace is perfect. The installation of an electric fireplace is not fraught with any difficulties, in comparison with a real fireplace, it is very cheap, and modern technologies create the illusion of a flame that is almost indistinguishable from a real one.
Classical
A classic fireplace is usually built into the wall and, unlike modern ones, it requires strict adherence to proportions and careful selection of a place for installation. With its monumentality, a classic fireplace creates a certain "historical" atmosphere in the room, and expressively emphasizes the status of its owner.
Suspension
For lovers of original solutions in the interior, a hanging fireplace is perfect. This unusual design, for all its non-standard features, retained the functions of the hearth. The main part - a light metal body - is mounted to the ceiling or, less often, to the wall using a pipe. There are both solid fuel pendant fireplaces and bio fireplaces. The disadvantages of such a device include low heat transfer, high cost and complexity of installation.
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Large
Speaking of a large fireplace, they usually represent a classic English fireplace made of brick or stone. It is better to design the installation of such a fireplace together with the house, and to build it in spacious, well-ventilated rooms.
Middle
Medium fireplace - the most common and current model of classic English brick fireplaces. Its size is relatively small - 3 * 5 bricks at the base.
Little
Miniature cast iron fireplace fits perfectly into the interior of a small room or small house. The device weighing up to 100 kg can be installed not only on the ground floor, but also above and in the attic. A corner or built-in model will not take up much space and will not look bulky in a room less than 20 square meters.
Bilateral
A double-sided fireplace is perfect for heating a large room or for two adjacent rooms. It is a through firebox with glass on both sides. Most often, it is installed in a wall between two rooms, or in a decorative partition for zoning a room, which allows you to enjoy one fireplace in two different rooms.
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Rumford
Rumford fireplace - This is a classic English fireplace, improved by Earl Rumford. The graph created a model with strict observance of the proportions of all elements, which made it possible to build the most efficient and comfortable fireplace.
Three-tiered
In a room with high ceilings, it is possible to install a three-tiered fireplace. Each tier carries its own functional load: the lower one serves as a convenient support for the combustion chamber, the firebox itself is located on the second tier, and additional heat-accumulating ceramic rings are placed in the upper part. This design allows you to keep warm up to 18 hours after the flame goes out.
Dimplex
Dimplex electric fireplaces have no analogues in terms of the level of imitation of a live flame. The most realistic effect is created by the evaporation of water in the reservoir of the steam generator, while the steam is illuminated by halogen lamps. These fireplaces are easy to install and safe to use, for which they are very popular.
Cassette
Cassette fireplace is a glass-covered metal firebox inserted into a furnace. The advantages of such a model are fire safety, budget, good efficiency with small dimensions, a short chimney. This device is the best option for a fireplace as a heating device.
B-B-Q
BBQ fireplaces - a perfect solution for a summer cottage or a country house, an open terrace or a summer kitchen. These are solid buildings, equipped, in addition to the firebox, with a hob, barbecue or grill surface. It will attract visitors to a summer cafe and become a favorite vacation spot for a large family.
Metal
A real "hero of our time" - metal fireplace, gaining more and more popularity. The advantages of this device are original, stylish design, relatively low weight, ease of installation even in a finished home. The only drawback of models with an open firebox is low power (no more than 8 kW). The power of hearths with a closed firebox is 10-14 kW, and they can heat rather large rooms.
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Furnace dimensions
When choosing the size of the firebox, you need to proceed from two characteristics - the size of the heated premises and financial capabilities. The standard dimensions of fireboxes according to the table increase in 10 centimeters increments, and depend on the shape of the firebox, while their price also increases nonlinearly. You should not think that the largest fireplace is the best, the heated room and the fireplace should be proportionate.
The size of the box must be selected according to the size of the firebox. An important factor is whether the fireplace was provided for in the project of the house and whether there is a place for it on the floor plan. If the place was provided, the choice of the firebox and installation are not particularly difficult. If not, it is recommended to consult with qualified installers before choosing a fireplace, who at the first stage will advise you on the installation and selection of a place for the fireplace.
When the fireplace was not initially provided, installation problems often arise - with the bearing capacity of the floors, the orientation of the fireplace, the outlet of the chimney with a complex bypass of the supporting building structures.
Also, do not forget that stretch ceilings cannot be installed directly above the fireplace. When designing a fireplace and selecting a firebox, you need to remember that a fireplace is not only a firebox, but also a firebox (usually for a standard log size), a place for a scoop, a shelf.
It is worth noting that a modern fireplace based on a firebox and a convection box takes up much less space than a classic fireplace made from masonry with an open hearth, since many structural elements, such as a hailo and a tooth, are already made inside the firebox. In addition, due to the convection box with thermal holes, a modern fireplace heats up the room much faster and more efficiently, and is also much easier and faster to manufacture.
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Dimensions and material
The overall dimensions of the entire fireplace depend on the selected firebox, the size of the convection duct and the material of its manufacture. So, a brick box is more monumental, reliable, but takes up more space. Also, the box can be made of gas blocks, scamol, or drywall, you just have to remember that it is undesirable to make them from combustible materials, for example, from wood, chipboard, plywood.
It must also be remembered that a fireplace is a heating device and when designing it, it is necessary to adhere to state building standards and manufacturer's recommendations.
The recommended dimensions of the convection box can be found in the instructions for the selected firebox. The most important thing is to observe the minimum dimensions so that the air inside the box does not overheat, but evenly warms up through the grilles of the ventilation ducts. It is also necessary to leave a ventilation gap above the fireplace door. Determination of the size of the fireplace in each case is individual, and depends on the diameter of the pipe, the number of air channels and aesthetic feasibility.
