There is a growing demand for solid fuel fireplaces. Wood burning & coal fires are nowadays gaining popularity. The past decade has seen the rise of gas fireplaces which are extremely easy to maintain and essentially do not require you to store any fuel in your home (as they work using piped gas rather than stored coal/logs).

Are all fireplaces suitable for coal fires?

1. Unfortunately all fire surrounds are not suitable for coal fires. Coal burns at extremely high temperatures and these fires are very different to conventional gas fireplaces or electric fireplaces for that reason.

2. Coal fires need a cut and rejoined back panel to allow the heat to expand and escape without cracking. Materials such as marble can not withstand the heat, and for this reason the back panel should be manufactured out of Granite, Slate, Stone or Cast Iron. It is also possible to purchase an entire cast iron back panel which has been specifically designed and manufactured for solid fuel fireplaces.

3. The process of cutting and rejoining the hearth (base section of fireplaces) and the back panel (section where fire is recessed) is known as slabbing. If you need any help or advice on solid fuel fireplaces please refer to the dedicated solid fuel section on our website.

 We often hear of bizarre scenarios in the fireplace industry and despite what you may think it is infrequent to get a bird struck down a chimney or flue. We however recently dealt with a customer that had a bird stuck behind a gas fire

Advice on bird stuck in chimney or fire

1. Firstly be careful to obviously not light the fire as this is a health and safety risk and cruel. Our customer had already called the RSPCA and asked for guidance (they suggested asking local experts such as ourselves).

2. It is important to turn off the gas supply to the fire

3. A certified gas safe registered installer should try to carefully remove the fire and release the bird.

4. The bird is likely to be terrified and you should be aware of this. It is advisable to leave as many windows open as possible because it will fly around frantically trying to escape once it has been released.

5. he bird can realistically not fly back up the chimney so you must do something about it.

6. To prevent this from happening you should install a cowl (grill) at the top of your chimney

Traditionally all the fire surrounds in the UK were solid fuel coal burning fires. Essentially modern fires are nowadays either gas fireplaces or electric fireplaces. However it is still unclear which fuel source is cheaper.

Are coal fires cheaper than gas?

1. Coal fires are unfortunately harder to work as solid fuel needs to be stored in your home. Essentially this means you will need to allow and keep storage facilities to keep these fires working. Gas fireplaces work using natural piped gas and do not hence require any solid fuel to be used.

2. Electric fireplaces are a great alternative to real coal fires if you use the flame effect more than the heat function of the fireplace. Electric fires essentially have the dual functionality of being able to use the flame effect independent of the heat source. This means you can have a lovely warm glow without having the heater on. Electric fires also do not have any real regulations that need to be followed and hence this means you can fit an electric fire yourself if you have a working power source and plug socket nearby.

3. Wood burning stoves are a great and more convenient way of burning solid fuel and are worth considering if you prefer solid fuel fireplaces

 Marble Fireplace Surrounds can easily be stained permanently by harsh bleach chemicals. These chemicals penetrate the polished surface of the marble and visually look like watermarks that can not be wiped off. 

How to remove bleach stains on marble fire surrounds 

(1) Marble fire surrounds will be permanently stained with bleach and this can not be removed. There is no hand held polishing tools that can be used on-site to remove dull patched that are caused by bleach stains on marble. Using hand held buffing tools and polishers will essentially highlight the affected area & in many cases make it much worse.  

(2) Many surfaces such as stone, limestone, and even natural oak will be permanently stained by bleach and unfortunately this can not be removed after the damage has occurred. 

Advise on how to deal with bleach stains on marble fireplaces 

1. As it is not possible to remove stains once they occur, it is possible to consider reading your home insurance policy. In some cases your accidental damage cover can cover the cost of replacing the damaged fire  surround. 

2. We have heard several stories where by homeowners have mistakenly hired local stone masons to try and work onsite to repair affected and damaged areas. Unfortunately the top service of the marble is polished using a flat bed polisher in a factory and no hand held tools will be able to re-polish the surface onsite (hence hand held polishers may make the entire situation much worse)

Marble Fireplace Hearths are not suitable for solid fuel applications. Most showrooms will advise customers about the suitability of products, however there is unfortunately a large percentage of internet websites and other newer showrooms that are not fully aware about the suitability of various materials.

Why is marble not suitable for sold fuel?

(1) Marble is a soft material that will essentially crack if it is used with solid fuel. Essentially the material can not withstand the intense heat generated from wood burning stoves or any solid fuel application. Other materials such as Stone, Granite or State are much harder and will be able to withstand the heat emitted from burning wood or coal.

(2) One of the most common misconceptions is that marble will be suitable for solid fuel if it is slabbed (this is incorrect). Slabbing is a process which involves cutting and re-joining a hearth to create expansion gaps and essentially allows the heat to disperse without forming a crack. Marble will not be suitable for solid fuel even if it is cut and rejoined.

(3) In some circumstances you may see marble hearths used as a front hearth which is not exposed to direct heat. In this scenario marble would be suitable as it is only used for decorative purposes rather than as a base for the solid fuel fire

Replacement back boiler fireplaces are extremely technical and require careful consideration and planning to ensure that everything fits & is compatible. 

Common problems with replacing back boiler fireplaces: 

(1) As you are probably aware back boiler fireplaces will soon be or are already a thing of the past & as a result are difficult to replace. Essentially the majority of boiler manufacturers are no longer making replacement gas fires for back boiler systems as there simply isn't the demand to warrant the time needed to modernize the range and offering. As a result you will have limited choice if you decide to keep the current back boiler and replace the gas fire. 

(2) It is not possible to simply replace the current gas fire for a new conventional gas fire as modern gas fires are not designed to work with back boiler systems and need to be vented in some manner typically. 

(3) When replacing an existing back boiler system you need to maintain access to the boiler which may need to be serviced. For this reason any decorative fire or fire surround that is placed in-front of the fire must be in a position where it can be removed to allow an engineer to service your boiler with ease.

The most common mistake when ordering a made to measure fireplace hearth is to measure the top size of your current hearth and disregard the bottom cut out in your wooden flooring or carpet that needs to be covered.

Boxed and lipped fireplace hearths

(1)The majority of fireplace hearths are boxed and lipped. This essentially means the vertical section of the fireplace hearth (called the riser) is recessed back approximately 1/2 inch and hence the top horizontal section overhangs and creates the overall boxed and lipped effect.

(2)The most common mistake (quite substantial error) is to measure the top section of a boxed and lipped hearth and disregarding the section underneath that needs to be covered. If you make this mistake you will order a hearth that does not fit as your new hearth will be made to the top size measurements you specify. For this reason it is always advisable to measure and specify the bottom section of your fireplace hearth that you need to cover when ordering a made to measure fireplace hearth.

How to Install a new made to measure hearth

Once you have received your hearth, it is advisable to bed it on a mixture of sand and cement. All marble fireplace hearths are hollow inside and by beding them on sand and cement you are reducing the risk of the hearth cracking if anyone was to accidentally stand on the hearth. It is also a requirement to bed the hearth on sand and cement if you are installing a gas fire.

We often get asked for advice on sourcing affordable fire surrounds and various methods of cutting costs. The traditional method to purchase a fire surround has always been to look for a local fireplace showroom or visit a large warehouse such as B&Q or Home Base. However, the problem is that most towns now no longer have gas shops or fireplace showrooms nowadays and there is also a limited range of choice at large warehouses such as B&Q.

Advice on sourcing a cheap fireplace

(1) Firstly it is always advisable to set a budget for your project. And make sure it is a realistic budget that you can stick to. Your budget should also reflect the type of product you had in mind, and hence should be larger if you are looking for a marble fireplace or limestone fireplace as opposed to timber

(2) Do your initial research online and if possible order samples and brochures as this is the best way to get a feel for the product you are considering purchasing. There are hundreds of websites that offer fire surrounds online and in almost all occasions, you are bound to find something that you will like

(3) Be careful when picking an online supplier as companies often seem larger on the internet than they are in real life. If possible it is best to always call the company and speak to someone if you need any help/advice.

Cheap Marble Fire Surrounds fromCreative Fireplaces

Creative Fireplaces owns a marble fireplace factory based in Worksop Nottingamshire. We manufacture all our own fireplaces and as a result are able to offer outstanding value and customer service by cutting our the middle man. If you are looking for a bargain then perhaps you should browse through our range of products and you will be pleasantly surprised by the low prices and high quality

Many homeowners would turn off a solid fuel fire prior to going to bed for safety reasons as there is potentially a open burning fire in your home. Arguably solid fuel fires should also be extinguished if your are using a sold fuel wood burning stove for the same reasons.

Should gas fires be turned off or left overnight?

(1) In our opinion the cheapest way to heat your home is to use an efficient central heating system. Gas fires (even high efficiency models) are currently not as economical to run as a conventional central heating system

(2) It is advisable to turn off your gas fire when you go to bed as there is a lowered risk of fire in your home. It is always prudent to fit a fire alarm (carbon monoxide) near a gas fireplace for obvious reasons

(3) For families with young children it is always safer to use a fire guard and closely monitor fires when they are on. children often get drawn to the warmth of fires, and are frequently not fully aware of the potential risks of playing with the fire or being so close to the open living flames

 Marble Fireplaces are extremely easy to maintain and look after as you simply need to clean them with a damp cloth and duster. Over the years, we have however had many circumstances where by customers have noticed dull patches on the marble surface (described as the polish being eaten away) or the appearance of water marks.

What causes watermarks on marble fireplaces?

(1) Typically marble fireplaces would have watermarks if the marble used to manufacture the fire surround was stored incorrectly (e.g. if it was left outside for many months and weathered). However, if the material was damaged due to storage issues then the fireplace would show this when you receive it. Hence, it is safe to assume that if your fireplace did not have such marks when you received it then the appearance of such marks is a result of something that has been done after you have used the fire surround

(2) The appearance of dull patches or watermarks is usually caused by bleach or harsh chemicals being sprayed on the surface of the material. Harsh cleaners such as cilit bang or bleach cleaners will permanently stain and penetrate the surface of your marble fire surround (as the material is porous). Typically bleach and similar chemicals penetrate the surface of the marble and can not be removed afterwards (as it is permanently stained like any other oak table or piece of fabric would be if it was subjected to the same chemicals)

Fireplace down lights are a great accessory for Marble Fireplaces if they are manufactured & fitted professionally in the fire surround. At Creative Fireplaces, the fireplace header is carefully crafted to incorporate 2 down lights and a recessed switch.

What you should be wary of when ordering a fireplace with down lights:

1. Some lower end manufacturers build fire surrounds with strip tube lights under the header. This light unfortunately does not look as elegant as two built in carved halogen or LED lights under the header. Tube lights also flicker extensively and have a different wider beam of light

2. Some showrooms use crude methods including recessed battery powered down lights under the fireplace header. Essentially this may work temporarily, however is far from ideal and the use of batteries to power down lights will mean you can only use the lights for a limited number of hours and then will have to somehow re-charge the batteries or replace them

3. LED lights are often fitted on premium fire surrounds. LED lights have a distinctive advantage over conventional halogen lights as they are much more energy efficient and last virtually forever (10’000 hours)

We recently received an email from someone asking for advice on marble fireplace hearths. The lady had purchased a marble hearth from a local showroom (nothing to do with us) and the hearth had cracked after installation for no apparent reason. They had installed a standard Valor Black Beauty fire on the marble carrara hearth and for some reason the hearth cracked down the middle. The local showroom offered a replacement and the replacement hearth was cut and rejoined into sections, yet still cracked

What can cause marble hearths to crack?

1. Essentially a marble hearth will crack if it is incorrectly fitted. This means if the hearth is not bedded on sand and cement then there is no heat soak and the hearth risks cracking as the heat can not be absorbed and has no heat soak

2. Natural marble hearths (such as Carrara) have veins and small cracks within the material. This vein is sometimes rumoured to lead to cracks if they are deep within the material. For this reason all natural marble slabs are filled by standard from the country of origion and this problem rarely occurs

3. Micro marble hearths are more stain resistant than natural marble & arguably more resistant to cracking due the resin in the material. This is an ambiguous and many specialists have different views

The average marble fireplace surround is supplied in 6 sections. At Creative Fireplaces we typically try and design our fireplace to be in sections that are easy to handle and fit.

Fireplace sections

1. The typical fireplace has a hearth (base section of fireplace). The hearth can simply be placed on a carpet or laminate flooring if you are fitting an electric fire. However, if you are fitting a gas fire then the hearth must be bedded on a sand and cement base (as this acts as a heat soak). 

2. The fireplace back panel is fitted next. This is the section where the fire is recessed and usually has a cut out 16.25 inches wide x 22.25 inches high. At Creative Fireplaces we make all our back panels in one piece (without a joint). Some cheap imports have the back panel cut into three sections as this is cheaper to manufacturer and saved space in transportation.

3. The fireplace legs are fitted using hidden internal brackets that simply screw into the wall. All our fireplaces are supplied with factory fitted hidden brackets

4. The mantle is fitted using clear silicon to stick it to the body of the fireplace. It is possible to use alternative permanent adhesives, however it is best to use something that can be removed if required

Solid fuel wood burning stoves has become increasingly popular in modern times and is quickly becoming one of the most popular fuel sources in modern and traditional homes alike. Large gas companies are seeing a decline in turnover due to the switchover which has happened nationally

Advices on picking a fire surrounds or wooden beam above stoves

Will solid fuel replace gas?

1. The answer is not as straight forward as it might initially appear, as both fuel sources have their distinct advantages

2. Solid fuel fireplaces give off much more heat than gas fires and burn at much higher temperatures. This means you can effectively replace several radiators by turning using a wood burning stove

3. Gas central heating systems are very efficient and a much more cost effective way to heat a home than alternatives such as gas fireplaces. The average gas fire is only 3kw in heat output and typically 60% efficient (hence 40% heat loss up the chimney)

4. This effectively means it is important to carefully consider how you are using your fireplace. If you intend you use your fireplace purely for decorative purposes, then perhaps you should even consider electric fireplaces. These fireplaces are 100% efficient at the point of source (as there is no heat loss up the chimney). It is also possible to use an electric fire for a flame effect only without necessarily having to use the heat element of the fire (saving money)

5. Some customers resent the constant increases in gas prices (however this is a worldwide phenomenon) and for that reason consider solid fuel a better alternative. Consumers often think wood burning stoves can use any type of wood and this is a misconception (incorrect statement). In actual fact, wood burning stoves need to use 2 year dried wood and you cannot simply cut down a tree and burn it in a stove (it will ruin the appliance)

The Dimplex Opti Myst Fire is a revolutionary flame effect fire with a cutting edge smoke machine built into the fire engine. Traditional electric fires work using a ribbon effect flame with a series of mirrors and bulbs. The Opti Myst Fire has a patented effect which has flickering logs and smoke vents under the fire. marble fire

Opti Myst Fire in Victorian cast iron inserts

1.It is not possible to fit a dimplex Opti Myst Fire in a standard cast iron fire that is designed for solid fuel or a compatible gas fire. The majority of Victorian Cast Iron inserts are designed to fit special compatible gas fires and solid fuel fires. To fit a Opti Myst Fire you need a standard opening in the back panel which is 16.25 inches wide x 22.25 inches high. If the cast iron back panel has this opening without the solid fuel or gas kit, then it is possible to fit any fire you like (including the Opti Myst)

2. As the Opti Myst has a deep engine, it should ideally be recessed against a chimney breast with sufficient recess depth for the full fire depth (160mm depending on the model). However, Dimplex are re-ramping this range of fires to fit into a 65mm recess, which means a fire surround with a 75mm rebate would have sufficient recess depth even if it is fitted against a flat wall with no chimney

At Creative Fireplaces, we are a specialist marble fireplace manufacturer. We manufacture all our fire surrounds in Nottinghamshire and are able to offer a full bespoke made to measure service

Made to measure fireplace hearths:

1. We frequently get asked to manufacture bespoke made to measure fireplace hearths to match our range of marble fireplaces. This is a great alternative to purchasing a new carpet if you have got an existing cut out that you need to work around

2. Essentially a made to measure hearth can be made in any size (or shape you require) and the idea is to cover the existing cut out, and hence avoid the need to having to change your current flooring

Will a made to measure hearth look good?

1. Conventionally there is a 2 inch overhang each side of the fireplace. Hence 2 inches overhang on the left and right hand side till the hearth and mantle start. Hence for example, we can manufacture a 58 inches wide bespoke hearth for a standard 54 inch wide fire surround.

2. This would essentially mean just an additional 4 inches overall and 2 additional evenly spaced inches either side of the fireplace body. Hence the overhang in this case would be 4 inches rather than 2 inches and would hence look fine

Firstly wipe the hearth down with a dry clean cloth

How To Restore Victorian Cast Iron Fireplaces

Advices on picking a fire surrounds or wooden beam above stoves

Advices on picking a fire surrounds or wooden beam above stoves

Will solid fuel replace gas?