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. 

To know more about Modern open fires and Modern open fireplaces visit to website.