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.

Can I just put a new open fire or wood burning stove into my existing fire place or chimney?

The situation in the UK is the same across the EU. Outside this area I cannot comment. In the UK some people watch the videos on Youtube and do it themselves. This is because the actual job isn’t very complicated so practically minded people feel they can do whats required. The catch is that a stove or fire isn’t just another item. Its great appliance that will give hours of joy and warmth but is also a box containing fire which in the case of a stove can reach temperatures of approx 650 degrees. Open fires are much less at around 350 but this is still very hot. Naked flames and heat in the home should always be treated with respect and this is where the DIY approach has cost people dear with houses reduced to ash or even the death of a loved one.

The skills required to identify the potential risks and actions to address them successfully are possessed by professionals who have studied the requirements of current regulations and had experience of installations to understand how to achieve them in each installation. 

Sometimes the actions are small - sweeping the chimney and adding a carbon alarm. Sometimes they are more extensive involving the lining of a chimney or even the installation of a whole new insulated flue. This can make a big difference to the cost and the disruption involved. Whatever the action putting a wood burning fire into your existing fireplace isn’t something you should do without involving qualified professionals who have the recognised HETAS qualification. 

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A Thermo vent Convector log burning fire is long lasting

Log burning fires are making a comeback. They can complement any style of room giving a retro edge to a contemporary style or fitting in beautifully to a vintage themed room. Log burning fires come in a range of styles and sizes so you can choose one that fits perfectly in your property. 

Modern log burning fires are much more efficient that traditional open grate fires. This is because in an old-fashioned style fireplace a considerable amount of heat can be lost up the chimney. Older style fires also often suffer from smoking problems which deter homeowners from making the best use of their fireplace. A modern log burning fire can eliminate these problems and make your fireplace a beautiful and useful room feature. 

It is hard to beat the image of a cosy log burning fire with the sound of crackling wood and the glow of the flames. A Thermovent Convector log burning fire is long lasting, attractive and increases the amount of heat released into the room so everyone can enjoy the warmth of the fire. These types of fires also have a baffle plate to enable an element of control of how much heat the fire emits. This would be impossible with a traditional open fire. 

As well as being a beautiful feature in your room, it is an added bonus that having a log burning fire is also good for our environment. If you are looking for a carbon neutral alternative to heat your home a log burning fire is the ideal solution. Wood is a biomass fuel meaning that it emits the same amount of carbon on being burned that it absorbed during its growth process. If the wood had been left to rot it would still have released the same amount of carbon as it does burning it and therefore it is practically carbon neutral. In comparison with traditional home heating methods, this represents a more environmentally friendly way to supply your home with heat. 

You can choose from a range of canopies for your log burning fire in different styles and fashioned from different materials. Select from different metals to create a totally different look. Add a grate front in a complementary style along with dog irons and you will have designed a practical fireplace that will really get people talking about your room. 

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Most important characteristics of the Dog Grates more suitable option

Many homeowners are keen to create a traditional open fireplace in their living space, designing an attractive feature which gives irresistible appeal to any room. One of the most important characteristics of the fireplace is the type of fireside furniture and grate which is selected for the hearth and fire space. Not only does the grate and tools for fire management play a key role in the performance of the fire once lit, they also provide plenty of visual interest and help to suggest a particular historical period, type of house or favoured style. Read on to discover how the winning combination of dog irons (andirons) and a grate can utterly transform your fireplace. 

Traditional Fireplace Furniture 

Dog irons have been used for hundreds of years to hold logs securely in place whilst they were burning. In days gone by they might also have benefited from spit attachments, enabling a spit or cauldron to be located above the heat in order to prepare food. The grate is a relatively recent invention, which became popular when coal began to replace wood as the primary source of domestic fuel. Today it’s possible to buy a selection of dog grates, which combine dog irons (andirons) and a grate into a single, spectacular fireplace item. 

A Range of Styles and Colours

If you are considering a dog grate largely for ornamental purposes, it’s possible to find designs which feature andirons finished in brass or other bright metals. Correctly maintained, these provide a beautiful, burnished accent which adds warmth and nostalgia to your home. If your fireplace is intended to be functional, a dog grate made from iron or some other dark metal, which won’t require constant cleaning to remove soot and ash, is probably a more suitable option. Dog grates can be sized to fit fireplaces of varying dimensions and there are also options to have the dog irons located on the hearth or in the fireplace itself. 

Excellent Performance

The main function of both dog irons and a grate is to lift the fuel from the fireplace floor, enhancing air flow to promote effective burning and therefore heat generation. Take care here if you burn mainly wood as the additional air from underneath a grate may mean you burn much more wood than you need to. Solid based are better for wood but a grate is a must have for coal. A well-made dog grate not only looks fantastic, it also ensures that your fuel burns properly, minimizing the need for continual poking and stoking. Dog grates can accommodate coal or wood fuels, giving you plenty heating options. The ultimate in open fire performance are what are known as Convector fires. These fires are a modern take on the traditional fire grate etc but they have been refined to offer significantly increased performance (up to 5 times greater) and distribute that heat around the room much more effectively. 

All our convector fires are hand crafted, demonstrating exemplary build quality and giving you a product which will last for decades. Drawing on inspiration from a wide variety of historical sources to ensure each of our open fires showcases the very best period features. We can create an item which is historically accurate for a particular era, (what better for a period home than period fireplace furniture?), or provide more generic designs which complement a range of décors. Offering warmth, comfort and plenty of irresistible visual appeal, why not invest in a Convecting open fire to give your interior space timeless charm?

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Using and buying Fireplace grates - common mistakes

There are few things which can compare to the beauty of a roaring open fire. Cosy evenings spent gazing into the flames and listening to the crackle and hiss of logs burning in the fireplace are one of life’s affordable pleasures. A glowing fire in the hearth instantly makes a house a home and gives us a sense of security, warmth and contentment. There is something about an open fire which prompts happy childhood memories and promotes a general sense of wellbeing. An open fire also acts as an attractive and practical focal point in the home and can encourage families to gather in the same room, enjoying warmth, each other’s company and the simpler things in life. 

Many people now choose wood burning stoves as an efficient alternative to the traditional open fire but there is really no substitute for sitting in front of a roaring open fire. Additionally, a well maintained open fire can be an efficient and environmentally friendly option, particularly if you choose to burn wood from sustainable woodlands which are ethically managed with the future of the forest and the planet in mind. Open fires create a dry heat which helps to keep your home damp free and reduces the need for central heating. This not only saves you money whilst maintaining a healthy and warm domestic environment but, should you decide that you want move house and wish to sell your existing home, the presence of an open fire act as great selling points. 

Fireplace grates are traditional component of an open fire but they are often mis-used. The grate sits on top of the ash pan of your fire and provides a platform upon which the fuel is burnt. The lateral bars of these grates allow a draft to flow beneath the burning fuel which increases burn . The fire grate also keeps the fuel together which helps to keep the heart of the fire together so it stays alight and prevents hot logs or coal from falling out whilst allowing the ash from the fire to fall directly into the ash pan below. This is where the mistakes start. Fire grates were apparently invented in the 1600’s when people weren’t concerned with efficiency – they just wanted to keep warm, the fire to perhaps look good as a piece of furniture in the room and keep the fire place tidy and safe as it was in use so much. In addition grates were developed and popularized in the 1700’s when we started to burn coal on our fires to heat the home. Coal burns in a totally different way to wood. When pushed together in the grate coal leaves hardly any air gaps to help the fire to burn. As such the grate provides the coal with more air from underneath so it can burn more easily. Wooden logs however create their own air supply when laid together between the logs. They don’t need the extra air from underneath the fire. In fact this extra air mean the wood burns faster, is less efficient and will use more wood. 

Fireplace grates come in many different designs and sizes in order to cater to the needs of the individual. If you rely solely on your fire for night time heating, for example, you may wish to choose a grate which is specially designed fore wood meaning it will probably have a solid base or a shallow box to build the fire on and no ash tray. There are many different sizes and shapes of traditional fire grates available. There are also modern versions of open fires designed specifically for wood which offer greater efficiency and heat output.

So, regardless of whether you are lucky enough to have a large, period fireplace or whether you have a more modest, modern fireplace at home, there are many fireplace grate options open to you to ensure you are using your fire in the most efficient way possible. 

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