Inglenook Fires

There is nothing like setting your eyes upon a real open fire when you enter a room, this is something most buyers would consider a bonus when searching for a property. Inglenook fires are a fantastic addition to any home, providing not only a source of heat, but giving the home some real character.

An inglenook is a chimney corner, some of the original fires were up to two meters wide, they were also usually around two meters in height and many of them contained seats or were used for storage. The word inglenook is formed from ingle which means fireplace in Old English and nook. Inglenook fire were originally positioned in the kitchen area of a house and used for cooking and preparing hot drinks, but through the progression of building design the chimney became a prominent feature of living rooms.

These large smoking inglenook fires would have been at the center of a great hall during the medieval times, but these grand assets can be created or restored to be given a place in any modern home. This means that there is no need to tailor the style of a room to suit the fireplace.

One of the biggest benefits of having a smoking inglenook fire is today's wood burning appliances are incredibly efficient. Wood burning is a source that has no carbon footprint, which is great for the environment. Aside from being eco-friendly there will be a reduction in electricity bills as this is a less costly method of heating your home.

As wonderful as these grand fireplaces are it is still important to make sure they are cleaned and inspected by a professional chimney sweep each year, this means they can be enjoyed safely.

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Copper fire canopy- Making the Best Decision For Your Home

All of our Thermovent open fires feature a handmade fireplace, canopy, but we can also make canopies for other fires on request. The fireplace, canopy has an important function to play, other than simply looking attractive and adding to the overall style of your room. Their role is to allow heat to circulate around the room. This obviously makes the open fire that much more efficient and ensures that the room is adequately heated.

When choosing a fireplace canopy there are a variety of designs and metals at your disposal. Popular metal choices are stainless steel, brass and copper. So, why choose a copper fire canopy? Well, all of our copper fire canopies are made by hand to specifically fit the specifications of each individual fire. Copper produces a more reflective feel to your fire canopy, as the smooth or roughened surface helps to reflect more light in the room.

Copper is also very distinctive as well as being colourful and decorative. It is also most commonly used with smaller fireplaces. This is because when used on larger fires they can sometimes seem a little overpowering. But again, this is all down to personal taste and the size of room that the fire is in. Copper also works especially well if you have a red brick fireplace. The copper fire canopy really is elegant and timeless. No matter if you choose a smooth or roughened finish, your room will appear much lighter, especially on those cold and dark winter nights.

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Choosing a Fireplace Canopy

Traditional fireplaces are always popular. People say that the sight of an open fire often makes them feel warmer than they might in a room that uses only radiators for heat. If you have one of the traditional, inglenook fireplaces, you might want to consider adding a fireplace canopy.

Choose a Hand Crafted Canopy
Make sure that your fireplace is a central point of interest by choosing a handmade fireplace canopy from a company like the one at the following web address, http://www.camelotrealfires.co.uk/. The canopy is made from fine sheet metal as this is flexible enough to allow the person working on it to obtain the flowing design that is a signature of these canopies. Most of the hand shaped and finished canopies for inglenook fireplaces generally have a cap that is dome shaped. If you prefer a different shaped top to your fireplace canopy, then you can request this at the start.

Style
If you choose to have one of these traditional fireplace canopies, they come with a hand finished, rolled edge style that is made from solid steel. The hard steel edge gives the canopy greater stability inside and you can choose to have a thick or a thin edge on the canopy. The cottage style canopy is more traditional, and this makes it a very popular choice. You can choose to have your canopy made from hand beaten copper if you prefer. Many people choose a copper canopy because they like the way that light glints off the beaten surface.

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Wood burning fires UK

The tradition of open fires has always been practiced by many people around the UK. Wood burning fires in the UK or even real log fires were made during the cold season to help keep warm. The family and even friends would gather around the fire to make stories and have some laughs.
In recent times, this tradition has been dying because of the regulations that have been put in place by the government. These regulations have been due to real log fires being a health and safety hazard. Plus global warming has also played a large part in these regulations. Despite all this one company has stepped forward to preserve this long time tradition.
The company is Camelot. It is a company that in the past 40 years has kept this tradition going by specializing in designing and creating open wood fires. They are tested and certified by the government and meet all regulations that have been put in place. Camelot creates wood burning open fires that look as traditional as possible. A good example is the Thermovent Open fire which is the most effective HETAS approved wood burning open fire in the UK. It has a 144KW heat output provided through its built in convection system.
Camelot caters to the needs of its customers, so they provide there fires in both modern and traditional style. The traditional style has a Thermovent that includes a canopy that is handmade or a cast dog iron and grate front. Those who wish to have a more modern style can select design fire. This allows you to create your own by selecting colors or patterns that are good for you and your home.
For those who want to keep the wood burning or real log fires tradition alive then Camelot is the place to visit. There you’ll have all your needs catered for either by the traditional or more modern style.

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Modern open fireplaces - an essential part of house and home

When it comes to pairing practical utility with aesthetic considerations, there are very few investments a homeowner can make that outdo a modern open fireplace from Camelot. There are so many reasons why wood burning fires add something special to your home.

There is no question that having a modern open fireplace makes good practical sense. They are by design clean and energy efficient, and Camelot offers the very best example of a good thing. At 50% efficiency and 14KW of heat output, our Thermovent fireplaces are the most efficient HETAS-approved wood burning fires in the UK. In addition, our fireplaces are a significantly cheaper alternative to gas heating. Why should the comfort of you and your loved ones unduly strain your budget?

But the value of a wood burning fire goes beyond measured efficiency and financial considerations. From the collection of firewood on a brisk autumn day to curling up by a fire with loved ones, a modern open fireplace offers a sense of physical and emotional warmth that little else can match. Camelot fully appreciates this and takes it a step further with Designfire, allowing you to choose from a wide selection of beautiful heat-withstanding colour finishes and designs to best suit your personal taste and to complement your surroundings. Your living space should go beyond mere utility; it should express something about those who live in it. Given thus, a modern open fireplace from Camelot is an excellent way to transform a house into a home.

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Fireplace Surrounds UK Designers Make Your Home More Beautiful

People right around the world appreciate the beauty of an open fire. There are so many ways to install a fireplace grate or fireplace surrounds in your house that match your preferences. Fireplace surrounds UK professionals can handle all your needs for your home, whether you are planning to remodel or are building from scratch. 

Surrounds are attractive and they also make your fireplace safer. People who need to replace or install a fireplace grate or surround may choose to buy one that is ready made or have these designed and built to match your room. When you ask a professional to make your vision a reality, you are more likely to be pleased with the end result. 

It is usually important for fireplace design professionals to have a look at your fireplace before they offer any feedback on your ideas. They can also make recommendations on what is best to suit both your budget and your creativity. Usually, they aim to make your fireplace look interesting whether or not there is a fire burning.

There are many affordable options for surrounds. A traditional wooden mantel does not have to be expensive. You can make the fretwork as simple as you want it to be and stick to a shade that complements the rest of your home. A steel frame, polished by hand, will give your fireplace a classic look as well. Professionals at http://camelotrealfires.co.uk/ can usually help you with developing the ideas that you may already have or offer guidance on options for your home. 

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Relax at Home with Log Burning Fires

Many people throughout the United Kingdom appreciate the feeling of comfort and security that they get with log burning fires. Open fires inspire a sense of community among people of all ages. Having this feature in your home will help you to relax by yourself or with loved ones after a difficult day. 

Professionals at http://camelotrealfires.co.uk/ can assist you with installing a fireplace that is ideal for your home. This type of investment lasts and is well worth the time and money you spend. If you are not sure what would be best for your space, they can discuss ideas with you and make recommendations based on a visit to your home. At that point they can also do a sketch of what you desire. 

Screens and guards can often be found in front of log burning fires. These help to make them even safer. If you have always longed for the warmth of an open fire in your own home, treat yourself to it in time for a holiday. There are few things more relaxing than sitting with a good glass of wine or other favorite beverage, in such a cozy setting with good friends or family for special occasions. 

People who want log burning fires sometimes worry about the cost of materials. There are several ways to have your open fire look good without spending a lot of money. Some materials really give your home a classic look and you will be pleased with the effect after the accredited installers are finished with testing. 

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Wood Burners UK Provider Helps Make Your Home More Comfortable

A wood burner is a useful addition to any home in the United Kingdom. Wood burners UK providers can help you to find the one that's right for your needs. If you long for the look of a traditional log burning fire to match your decor, there is a wide range of choices available.

There is nothing quite like the warm feeling of home produced with a nice wood burning stove. Electrical equipment can warm up a room but the heat produced is not the same. People who grew up with this sort of fire know that when the weather gets cold, having one of these can help you to create a little bit of heaven right here on earth. 

Sometimes, people are hesitant about a log burning fire because they have never had one before. They are concerned that it may be too much for them to maintain. However, the shops that provide this sort of equipment are your ultimate source for information when it comes to wood burning stoves and open fires and related equipment. They will assist with answering any maintenance questions you have, so your home can always feel nice and warm. With HETAS accreditation for products and services you can be assured of the quality too. 

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Using Convecting Open Fires to Improve Your Home

Convecting open fires can help to make your home look more inviting. A warm fire is typically an indicator of security and safety. Even in climates which do not have prolonged cold seasons, the look of a fire makes a living room seem more intimate. The flickers of an open flame can help to create intimacy and encourage people to relax.

There are many different styles to choose from when it comes to high performance open fires. Quite a few people prefer smaller fireplaces for several reasons. These are usually easier to fit into a cozy living room. They make a space attractive without taking too much attention away from other articles of interest that may be present.

It does not matter when your home was constructed or what style it is in. You can find convecting open fires that fit conveniently into your budget and the layout of your room. You can have them as part of your plan while you are building a brand new home or add one to a your existing house.

Convection fires are specially designed to spread as much comfortably warmed air as possible through a room rather than just rely on radiant heat as most fires do. This is done without excessive noise or problems or problems as there are no moving parts – they just use the natural principle of hot air rising to create the movement of room temperature air into the fire and push hot out out. You can get a wide variety of styles at http://camelotrealfires.co.uk/ . Sales representatives can guide you in selecting the ideal high performance open fires for your needs, whether you want one for your own comfort or to add to the value of your home. 

To know more about High Performance open fires and Convecting Open fires visit to website.

Inglenook fireplaces

Inglenook fireplaces not only give you warmth and comfort, they offer you a focal point within your room, and a place to come together with family and friends. 

Traditionally the “Heart of the home” the Inglenook fireplace originally has acted as a heater, cooker and drier. Now, with modern central heating systems, in the vast majority of homes and even some with ‘green’ heating systems, Inglenook fireplaces are having somewhat of a resurgence as home owners look to instill that sense of “togetherness” and “homeliness” with a focal point for the room that can be somewhat lacking in today’s modern dwellings. There are many different designs of an open fireplace for Inglenooks from open grates for burning wood and coal, to complete free standing convector fires that are simply inserted in the fire grate space and connected in order to use the chimney. 

Whatever your design preference there are many options to suit your room, from ultra-modern to timelessly traditional. Fire surrounds are also to be considered, with many system available from brick to iron grating. Our team will be happy to support you through the decision making process for your open fire and can offer guidance regarding your fire surround, from initial concept to completion. 

You will need to ensure that the chimney you have in place is in a suitable condition with an appropriate gather and flue size that’s fits the size of the fireplace area. There will need to be adequate ventilation in place that offers a good draught up and out of the flue. If you would like to find out more about inglenook fires please visit the Camelot Real Fires website to learn more about how they can help. 

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Contemporary fireplaces are compelling additions to the modern household

There is, firstly, the warmth: the all-pervasive sense of comfort, of protection from the elements - this is the primal and most basic joy of an open blazing real fire. But the subsequent pleasures are of course equally compelling ... the random hypnotic dance of the flames, the crisp crackle that accompany them, and the flickering light that sends a deep shimmering glow about the room these all add up to create an atmosphere that we humans seem irresistibly drawn to. 

Contemporary fireplaces are compelling additions to the modern household: these can be sleek, double-sided, and ceiling-hung or glass framed ... choices truly abound. Or they can of course echo traditional values, sturdy and beautifully adorned grates for those burning embers, a nod to its importance as the focal point for any winter gathering. 

A chimney is of course a prerequisite, but these can be installed if you don’t have one, and has to meet the strict criteria of building regulations before the fire at its base can be created, let alone lit. Then the opening canopy is a critical part of the whole design too - not only is it often one of the most visible parts of the whole fireplace, and so aesthetically carries a lot importance, but it also plays a huge part in the proper functioning of the fire, drawing the smoke efficiently from the fire as well as often helping to radiate heat out into the room. 

Whilst all the various joys of summer may soon fade, those of us lucky to have real fires to stoke up come the winter have something truly wonderful to look forward to! 

To know more about real fire chimney opening canopy and contemporary fireplaces visit to website.

Getting more heat from an open fire

There are few things as satisfying as an open fire roaring away in the hearth. The sights and smells are hard to recreate with anything other than the genuine article. Some fireplaces, especially older ones or incorrectly fitted wood burning fires can sometimes be disappointing in terms of the lack of heat that they give off. If a fireplace has been designed and built poorly, or incorrect modifications have been made, much of the heat can be lost up the chimney, rather than heating the room and its occupants. People are also disappointed when a wood burning fire is too small to heat the size of room, giving off so little heat as to barely be noticed. Because heat rises, much of the heat from incorrectly installed wood burning fire will, instead of heating the room, go straight up the chimney. This leads to more fuel (coal or wood) being added to the fire in an effort to increase the heat output. Using extra fuel on a problem wood burning fireplace can prove costly, and is not good for the environment as it wastes excess fossil fuels. Not only can this be frustrating, it also has a detrimental effect on the reputation of wood burning fires, leading many people to believe that a stove is a preferable option.

Whilst stoves give out a high heat output, often they lack aesthetic beauty or desired ‘feel’ that can only be achieved with a wood burning open fire. The best of both worlds however can be achieved if you choose a convection fire such as Thermovent to enhance your wood burning fireplace. Thermovent is up to 5 times more efficient than a traditional wood burning fire in its heat output. It is designed to capture more of the heat into the metal of the convecting fire itself, this metal then heats the air that has been drawn into the system and pushes it back into the room at a hotter temperature. This raises the temperature in the room more evenly using natural convection caused by hot air rising – no need for noisy moving parts! 

A convection open fire is also great at reducing any smoke issues and leaving a cleaner fire, as the ash is contained in one area rather than able to spill out, and smoke is directed more efficiently up the chimney. It is easier to control a convection system due to baffle controls, which can be open or closed to increase or decrease the draw of the fire, and fully closed when not in use. 

To find out more about the unique Thermovent convection system from Camelot Real Fires please visit their website www.camelotrealfires.co.uk

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Case study - inglenook fireplace

A couple in West Sussex had recently purchased a thatched cottage in need of some repair, and decided to take ok the challenge of a full renovation. Among many other things in this large project, the whole cottage roof needed re-thatching and they needed a solution for their inglenook fireplace. They had their heart set on an open fire to match the aesthetic and heritage of the cottage, but many companies they approached seemed to shy away from the open fire option, as this required more specialist knowledge. Eventually they contacted Camelot Real Fires, who are UK experts in inglenook fireplaces and open fires,who were more than happy to help. The additional challenge in this case was a short timescale –the thatcher had already been booked to re-thatch the entire cottage roof. This gave Camelot a window of just four weeks, as once the thatcher had finished the roof renovation, there was no other way to access the chimney. 

After a speedy consultation, the couple chose a Thermovent open fire with a beautiful steel canopy, and bespoke dog irons and grate front to match. Because the living room of the cottage had no heat source other than the open fire, Thermovent was the obvious choice, giving them a 50%+ efficiency and a 14kW heat output. 

The couples insurance company required that any fire or stove installed in the inglenook should have HETAS accreditation for safety reasons, as non-accredited fires would potentially pose a greater risk of thatch fire. Following some research, the couple found that a Thermovent open fire in the inglenook actually meant a lower insurance premium as there is a far lower risk compared to stoves. This gave them maximum protection for their new thatched roof and allowed them to use their existing 200mm flue system. 

The project was completed in just 3 weeks,and their new open fire was installed in their inglenook fireplace with plenty of time spare before the thatcher was due to re-thatch the roof. 

"Great to find a family firm giving a truly professional service using their superior knowledge of open fires and chimneys to manufacture a perfect open fire. Our new fire is absolutely fantastic!! It is all we wished for and more. It has solved all our problems, no smoke or smells, perfect performance, warmth around the room and the added bonus of being handsome and elegant. We will be in touch with you again Paul for our next project." 

Robert and Susan, West Sussex, May 2015 Find out how Camelot Real Fires can help transform your room by visiting them at www.camelotrealfires.co.uk 

To know more about Inglenook fireplaces and inglenook visit to website.

Tips on log burning fireplaces and open fires accessories

There’s nothing quite like having a log burning fireplace in your home, the sights and smells, and the ambiance it creates is increasingly sought after. There is lots of information around on the designs and requirements of the fire or stove itself, however in order to make the most of your fire, you’re going to need to understand which open fire accessories are ‘must haves’ and which ones are going to make life that much easier! 

Perhaps the most important open fire would be a carbon alarm. This measures levels of carbon monoxide in a room and will warn you if there are dangerous levels. At Camelot Real Fires, we class these (along with fire alarms) as ‘ must haves’ when running a log burning fireplace. Another ‘must have’ is a good log store. Storing outdoor wood to keep it free from moisture will ensure it does not smoke, and storing indoor wood far enough away from the actual fire in a specially reserved area or a rack will minimise the risk of the wood catching fire before you want it to! 

Other open fire accessories that will make life easier are things like gloves, pokers, ash shovels, buckets, and tongs. The pokers and tongs will help you to start the fire and manage it whilst it burns, while the ash shovel and bucket will neatly clean up any ash residue from your log burning fireplace once the fire is out. For more tips on log burning fireplaces and open fires accessories, contact the team at Camelot Real Fires, UK specialists in real open fires. 

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Fireplace design and chimney size

The design and construction of an efficient yet aesthetically pleasing open fire is a science all in itself. Many shops selling stoves and open fires tend to direct their customers towards stoves because of the specialism involved in open fire design. Not least because it is not just the open fire involved, it is the additional elements such as the open fire cover, chimney, canopy, and the general construction of the house in which the open fire is to be installed. 

An open fire chimney needs to have a cross-section of 200 mm diameter minimum but 225 is the recommended minimum (for a relatively small opening). The chimney itself needs to be higher than 5 m and free from blockages, and be in good condition. This will ensure sufficient draw. An open fire cover or canopy is recommended in order to enhance the draw, and reconcile the difference in size between the fire and the flue to ensure the room is free from smoke. The issue with this is that often is the size of the canopy required is much much smaller than a customer initially expects, throwing the visual proportions of the open fire and the chimney out of kilter. 

Experts in open fires and chimneys, Camelot Real Fires decided to address this point by inventing the revolutionary Thermovent fire, which eliminates the link between open fire size and the chimney flue size. This does away with the need for a specifically sized open fire covers, allowing the customer to have whichever canopy looks the most ascetically pleasing. 

To know more about open fire chimney and open fire covers visit to website.

Fireplace Furniture Spotlight: Canopy

There are many aspects to fireplace construction, and in this series of spotlight pieces, UK fireplace experts Camelot Real Fires will highlight the essential pieces needed for period style, but functional open fire. 

Canopies can be quite versatile in their appearance and made from a wide variety of metals including steel, stainless steel, brass, and copper. Textures and mountings can be added to enhance the design and make a truly unique piece, a trend that is growing in fireplaces in the UK

Contrary to popular misconceptions about canopies in the fireplace, they are designed not to simply ‘catch’ the smoke, but rather to create airflow up the chimney and to address the size difference between fire and flue. Sometimes this means that to get the proper flow of air and smoke up the chimney , the canopy needs to get smaller, not bigger which is contrary to what you might expect. 

In many instances, canopies are made by general blacksmiths, great at working with metals but with little concept of the dynamics of fireplace construction and creating optimal efficiency. Camelot Real Fires are experts in fireplace construction and can make a bespoke canopy to match the desired look of your fireplace and make sure it is working to its best. 

Camelot have also revolutionised fireplaces in the UK with their Themovent fire, which allows any canopy to be used because it does not need to link canopy size with fire size like with traditional canopy use. Get in touch with them to find out more about the Thermovent open fire. 

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Many owners of open fires who are seeking open fire advice are facing the issue of inefficiency

Many owners of open fires who are seeking open fire advice are facing the issue of inefficiency. Their open fires are not giving them the heat they expect, or are taking too long to heat a room. There are a few handy tips that can help with both of these issues.

The problem usually arises from poor fire construction, either the actual design of the physical fireplace itself, or from the materials used to make the fire. 

Firstly, to get the most heat out of your open fire, use a wood that burns at a high temperature, something like Ash or Beach will burn slowly but give a good deal of heat. Using dog irons (sometimes called Andirons) will lift the fuel from the base of the fireplace, allowing air to flow around the fire and encouraging the fire to burn more intensely and so produce a more heat – but you will use more wood. 

If the issues stems from the fact that most of the heat from the open fire is going straight up the chimney rather than in the room, a great solution is a convecting open fire such as the Thermovent fire designed by Camelot Real Fires. This design ensure the smoke goes up the chimney where it belongs, but directs convected hot air drawn in at its base out into the room. Thermovent is up to 5 times more efficient than a traditional open fire. 

If you need more open fires advice, talk to the team at Camelot Real fires who are always happy to help. 

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Why I love my wood burning fireplace

As soon as I walk in to the house on a cold evening the first thing I do is check to see that we have enough good seasoned wood stored near our woodbunring fireplace along with kindling and matches to light it. I make a regular habit of checking our air vent is clear and we have the chimney swept every year to ensure there is no build up of tar or soot in the flue system.

It only takes a minute to form a V with two logs and load in firelighters and kindling in the centre and put a match to it. Having checked the flue baffle is in the open position I then walk away with the crackling of the think wood announcing the start of a warm fire for the rest of the evening. My advice is try not to sit and watch a fire start. It’s like watching paint dry and will feel like an age. With good wood in a well maintained log burning fireplace the fire will take. If you watch it you may be tempted to fiddle with it and end up having to start over. By the time I’ve made a decent cup of tea the fires is ready for some more attention when I will make a small adjustment to the position of the two logs to ensure they have the opportunity to take and pick out some more smaller logs to lay over the fire as it starts to take.

Once the fire in your log burning fireplace is well set don’t forget to make use of a fire guard if you leave the room for any reason.

A specialist in the UK in the field of open fires who will be happy to assist you in creating a fire for your log burning fireplace is Camelot Real fires. Search Google to find them.

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Why are fireplace grates either cheap or expensive?

With the popularity of stoves the market for fireplace grates has changed dramatically. Today there are a huge range of mass produced and cheap fireplace grates produced in China available – but they typically only offer grates of a relatively small size. Larger grates tend to have to be made to order or purchased second hand.

Second hand fireplace grates are often sold very cheap on-line – mainly because the owner has probably replaces the fire so its in the way and they are heavy and cumbersome to ship so can only really be sold locally. In addition they don’t offer any really efficient heating options. Such fireplace grates may also have suffered from heat distortion or deterioration if they are old as a result of heat - especially if the previous users burned coal.

If you are considering using a fireplace grate ensure you also use a fireback or over time (10-20 years) the brick or stone at the rear of the fireplace will break up and disintegrate requiring repair. These are sometimes integral to the fireplace grate but the more traditional designs have separate fireback.

If you need a larger fireplace grate the other option is to have one made for you. Blacksmiths can do this but also some specialists will create a fireplace grate for you including dog irons and fireback. Ths issues here is having items made to order will be quite expensive. Unfortunately there isn’t much in between in the market in the UK at present.

One final point in relation to fireplace grates is the difference between burning wood or coal. If you burn wood in a grate with a slotted base you will get less heat and go through a lot more wood than you need to. Wood fires should be burnt on a solid surface with some capacity to hold some ash. This will prevent the red hot embers falling through the grate and going cold before they are fully burnt. The result is more heat, less ash and less wood burnt.

One such specialist in the UK in the field of open fires will be happy to assist you in creating a fireplace is Camelot Real fires. Search Google to find them.

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Canopy or Hoods for an open fireplace

Fireplace canopies (sometimes called hoods) are features of many open fires. Often they are in place to make sure a fire doesn’t smoke but they can also add additional design detail into what otherwise can be seen as large dark space with a fire in. They also afford the opportunity to use different materials and colours to create reflections into the room when the fire is lit. Often a fireplace canopy will include a flue baffle control to make the fire more efficient also. 

A contemporary fire canopy can be seen as improving the performance of the fire as well as its appearance. Modern materials such as stainless steel can be used as can modern colour finishes. In addition laser cutting processes can enable intricate designs to be added to a canopy making it a real design feature of the overall fireplace. 

The size, position, shape and installation of a canopy, if its a working contemporary fire canopy, is critical to its success however. Too big or small, the wrong angles or air leaks around the fireplace canopy when it’s installed will mean the fire will smoke – which means it won’t get used and can be unsafe. This is a situation we have seen many times when we are asked to correct a smoking fireplace. It’s almost always down to the people who made or install the fireplace canopy not understanding the key criteria to create a canopy that works. 

A fireplace canopy can be quite discreet of nothing more is required – or they can be full of shapes, design detail and features to really stand out. One of the common situations that arises is blacksmiths for steel fabricators making canopies. These often don’t work and can look like a piece of engineering in the room rather than a piece of furniture – which is what a canopy should be. As the focal point for the room canopies will be looked at a lot so you want them to look good (and work). 

There are specialists who focus on contemporary fire canopies and offer their service across the UK and beyond. Search Copper canopies to find one such specialist. 

To know more about contemporary fireplaces and fireplace canopy visit to website.

Should I have a fireplace grate?

Modern can mean different things in this context. Modern in performance terms or modern in terms of the way modern open fires look. 

In terms of look, not having a grate will give super clean lines and reflect the first origins of open fires in the home when there were no fire grates. It may not however be practical if you actually want to use the fire.

The type of grate will depend of what fuel you are using – wood, coal, gas or electric. Solid fuels (wood, coal etc) will need something to burn in to contain the fire for safety reasons and to protect the fabric of the fireplace. If you don’t eventually the beautiful modern open fireplace will be full of cracks from the heat of the fire. Gas or electric are not so hard on the fireplace but you will need something to house the burner or elements so in effect a grate or similar. 

In terms of the performance of modern open fires having a fireplace grate will not necessarily improve things. It could make it worse in the case of a slotted fire grate with a wood fire. Too much air from underneath the fire and un burnt embers falling through the grate to go cold in the ash tray will mean lots more clearing of as than is necessary and more fetching wood than you need too with less heat from the fire also. Coal and some other solid fuels do need a grate to work effectively. 

In place of a fire grate there are other options to give much greater efficiency (0% increasing to 50%) and distribute heat more evenly around the rooms. These fires can suit more modern open fireplaces with inset designs and designs which incorporate more modern laser cut patterns or folded shapes. Search camelot fires to find one such supplier. 

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The beauty and challenge of an Inglenook fireplace

Inglenook fires are a classic feature of many UK houses. Featuring gnarly old beams and bricks made hundreds of years ago and Inglenook was the warmest place in the house in their heyday. They were created as the place to cook on and heat the room in an age when the kitchen wasn’t a separate part of the house. Many Inlgenooks are over 2 meters wide, over 1.5 meters tall to the underside of that impressive beam and over 1 meter deep. Some feature seats either side where the lucky occupant could keep warm as they stared into the flames – as long as they could put up with the smoke. 

Another feature of an Inglenook is the cavernous chimney that carried the smoke away. Most you can stand up in and many you can see the sky or the stars our of the top without any trouble. You will also see wooden or steel braces up in the chimney where meat would be hung to smoke or cure. Inglenook fireplaces evoke memories of a bye gone age but having one in modern house has its challenges. 

That cavernous chimney is needed to get a draw from that huge but beautiful fireplace opening. This is an issues however if you find there is leak in the chimney which means it needs to be lined. Reducing the size of the chimney diameter will mean the Inglenook will smoke. It’s also an issue in that such a big chimney will take huge amounts of air from the room – whether the fire is lit or not. This is air that your other heating source (radiators or underfloor heating for example) is trying to keep warm. Many Inglenooks offer negative efficiencies because the heat they add when they are lit is less than the heat they lose when they are not lit. 

There are options however from specialists in the UK who offer open fires that will close down that massive opening and work on an 8 inch (200mm diameter) flue to reduce heat loss and increase efficiency (50% ). Some also offer convection systems built in to take heat away from the fire and move it around the room. Camelot Real fires have designed their Thermovent open fire to offer a wood burning fire that if made to order and CE marked. Hand made canopies, grates and dog irons ensure you get the right look to replace your wood burning grate with increased performance and they fix smoke problems. 

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Why have a fireplace grate?

Fireplace grates weren’t a feature of orginal fire places. Dog irons (which grates often sit on with one each side) were introduced first as something to lean logs on to get air under the fire to make them burn more readily. Fire grates were introduced to the UK when people started to burn what was originally called sea coal as it came from abroad. As a fuel coal offered more heat per ‘lump’ and was thus more compact to store and handle (although its much more dirty) which was an advantage during the industrial revolution in the ever growing cities and towns.

Coal burns just like wood but because it comes in lumps rather than ‘sticks’ it has a tendancy to fall into a pretty solid mass when you put a load of it on the fire together. This means no air can get in to fuel the fire if its built on a bed of ash as a wood fire should be. Hence the creation of the dog grate in all its forms.

Many of these still exist and are in use in period homes all over the UK but the users are often disappointed with the heat they get from them – usually when they are burning wood. In a grate a wood fire gets too much air so it roars uncontrollable gobbling up the logs at a rate and with rush of air to the fire it takes the heat up the chimney. 

If you have a fireplace grate and want to burn wood look for a solid base to put in it to hold some ash to build the fire on. If you burn coal a grate it the right tool for the job.

There are alternatives to grates for people who want to burn wood that look the part and can offer greater heat out put (up to 14KW and 50% efficiency) along with convection systems to move heat away from the fire and into the room. Camelot Real fires have designed their Thermovent open fire to offer a wood burning fire that if made to order and CE marked. Hand made canopies, grates and dog irons ensure you get the right look to replace your wood burning grate with increased performance and they fix smoke problems

To know more about fireplace grates and fireplace grate visit to website.