January 27th, 2012
Slate is a lovely matt black material to use for fireplace hearths & is ideal for anyone looking for a dark background colour without the gloss effect associated with black granite and marble. In the UK, Welsh slate has always been used to manufacture fireplace hearths. In modern times, slate is also imported from other European countries such as Germany, Italy, France
Slate Hearths for Wood Burning Stoves
Cheap Welsh slate fire hearths
1. Welsh slate is an elegant material that is often not the affordable to many homeowners with a modest budget when purchased through conventional high street retail showrooms. Online, manufactures such as Creative Fireplaces have distinct cost advantages and are able to offer our customers large savings by supplying direct from our Nottinghamshire factory and cutting out the middleman in the process
2. Slate is available in two main finishes. Honed slate is a matt black consistent background colour, where as Riven slate has gentle indentations running through the material. Honed slate is an ideal material to specify if you’re looking for a dark matt background colour. Riven slate is much more rustic and for that reason often used for traditional wood burning models
3. Solid fuel slate hearths need to be cut and rejoined into sections to create expansion joints and allow the heat to disperse. If the slate hearth is not cut into sections (assuming its being used with a solid fuel fire), then the hearth will crack in due course as the material is not strong enough to withstand the extreme temperatures generated by solid fuel fires
January 26th, 2012
Answer: No, the hearth must be cut and rejoined for solid fuel
With the growing popularity of solid fuel stoves and wood burners almost all fireplace showrooms and online retailers are receiving more inquiries for made to measure granite hearths suitable for solid fuel. Unfortunately most retailers (supposedly specialists) are unaware about the requirements of solid fuel products and missives customers which will eventually lead to a crack forming in the hearth in due course.
Suitable hearths for wood burners
1. The hearth must be cut and rejoined for solid fuel and stoves. The joints on the hearth allow the heat to disperse without cracking the hearth. The back of the hearth should also be filled with cement on site (some people call this ‘Slabbing’). Bedding the hearth with sand and cement (at the back) will increase its resistance to heat and extreme temperatures by creating a heat soak. It is possible to purchase a hearth or back panel (section where fire is recessed) which has already been filled with sand & cement during the manufacturing process; however this makes it extremely heavy and unpractical to handle
2. It is commonly assumed that hearths for wood burning stoves do not need a cut and rejoined hearth as they are on feet. This is incorrect as there is immense heat near the hearth and this will eventually lead to a crack
3. Marble or Micro Marble (artificial stone) is not suitable for solid fuel applications whatsoever regardless of how it is manufactured
January 25th, 2012
A Fireplace hearth is the base section of your fire surround and arguably an important decision to make when purchasing a new fireplace. Some fire surrounds can nowadays be supplied with a choice of hearth edge profiles (see example of some of the finishes we offer at Creative Fireplaces below) & heights. The most common hearth type which is pretty much standard in the UK fireplace industry is known as the “boxed and lipped effect”.
This hearth has a 20mm horizontal section with a 40mm vertical section recessed about ½” (12mm) back. The overall hearth is hence 60mm thick (2 ½ inches) and has a ‘boxed and lipped effect’ just like the name suggests
Advice on picking the right hearth
1. If you’re worried about children hitting their head on the sharp edge of a raised hearth, then it is possible to curve these edges. At Creative Fireplaces we even offer a specialist range of boxed flush hearths with rounded corners which is ideal for this requirement
2. Another space saving solution is a bowed (curved) fireplace hearth. The hearth has the same 15” (380mm) depth in the middle & hence will comply with the Gas Safe Register regulations of a 300mm overhang from the front of the hearth to the edge of the fire, however will visually look smaller due to its curved design
3. It is also possible to have a flat hearth, which does not have a raided under section. These hearths are typically 20mm or 30mm thick and not very common as the majority of the hearth will be hidden if you lay carpet (due to the pile of the carpet) or wooden flooring up to the hearth. For this reason a standard 2 ½ inch (60mm) fireplace hearth is the most common height
January 24th, 2012
White marble fireplace & hearths (base section of fireplace) are a lovely neutral colour and would complement virtually any decor or interior. Marble is a lovely material to use for fire surround however is soft and porous and for that reason is not suitable for solid fuel fires:
Common misconceptions
1. We often get emails and have conversations with customers whom have clearly been told by other fireplace companies that marble will be suitable for wood burning stoves (as the fire is on feet). This is incorrect as the marble will crack regardless
2. people often think that as long as expansion joints are created the heat will disperse and there will be no problem using a marble hearth. This is also incorrect as the hearth will almost certainly still crack due to the immense heat generated from solid fuel fireplaces
3. It is often argued that 100% natural marble will be able to withstand solid fuel fires where as micro marble (engineered stone) is not able to do so. However, this is incorrect as natural marble (even if it is cut and rejoined) will not be able to withstand the heat from a solid fuel fire
4. Solid fuel fireplace hearths need to be bedded on sand andcement to gain full strength and to be able to withstand the heat emitted from solid fuel fireplaces. This is a necessary process that some people refer to as “slabbing” and can either be done on site (preferred option) or during the manufacturing stage. It is much more practical to fill the hearth on site, as the hearth is very difficult to handle and transport if it is filled with cement during the manufacturing process
January 23rd, 2012
Answer: Yes electric fires are ok, however gas and solid fuel are not suitable
Perhaps the most convenient place to locate youe new television is in the centre of your living room. However this is typically always where the fire surround is located. For this reason, many homeowners would ideally like to position a television above the fireplace, however is this a good idea?
What you should know
1. Gas Fireplaces & solid fuel fireplaces give off a large amount of heat when compared to electric fireplaces and for this reason you cannot place an electric fire above these fuel sources
2. Regardless of the efficiency rating on any fire, it is almost certain that the middle column of the fire surround will get hot as there is unquestionably some heat loss up the chimney. If your television is positioned in this area, then there will be a large amount of heat and this will affect the working parts of the television and almost certainly cause issues
3. Electric fireplaces work using a fan heater with a cleverly sophisticated optical illusion that creates the look and feel of a fire. Essentially the flame effect can be used without having the heating on. This means these fires are ideal to create the look and feel of a fireplace, without all the danger of damaging your television that will be mounted above the fire surround
January 22nd, 2012
If you’re looking to change your fire surround or just redecorating, then perhaps you’re considering what the best way is to sell your current fire surround. There are many ways to market and sell a used fire surround, however it is often difficult to value these
How much can I sell my fireplace for?
1. If you have a marble fire surround, then it will be worth more than timber or cheaper alternatives
2. It you have a classical old Victorian fire surround, then the age of the fire surround is vital in determining its true value and marketing it as an antique fireplace. It is important to remember that there are several replica Victorian Fireplaces in the market & it is difficult to prove the authenticity of the age of a fitted fire surround
3. Car boot sales will often give you the lowest yield as you are relying on a buyer tying up on the day & being convinced to purchase your fire surround without measurements. Although it is possible to sell a used fire surround this way, you are likely to fetch very little money for it
4. Local salvage yards and specialists are often able to market and sell used fireplaces, however work on large selling fees and may make the entire exercise pointless. However, it is worth inquiring and trying to work out the best deal possible
5. Ebay is by far the easiest way to sell a used fireplace. The Ebay platform connects buyers and sellers from around the country and gives your used fireplace maximum exposure. You can even stipulate conditions and require the winning bidder to collect the fireplace from you
January 21st, 2012
Depending on the size of the fire surround, typically Marble Fireplaces weigh in excess of 250 Kg (23 stone). Due to the immense weight associated with marble fireplaces, we manufacture all our fire surrounds in sections to make each individual piece manageable and a weight that can easily be handled and manoeuvred
* Our fireplaces are supplied in typically 6 sections: (1) The hearth (2) The back panel (3&4) the fireplace columns (5) the header & (6) the mantle
* Each section is a reasonable weight and can be carried with ease and without the risk of injury
Our delivery service
1. At Creative Fireplaces we clearly understand that it may not be possible for you to assist our drivers in removing or handling your new fire surround and for that reason our drivers carry each section of your fireplace into your home for you and do not expect you to help them in any way whatsoever
2. Most fireplace companies do not offer this service as standard and deliver on a palletised courier. The main problem with a palletised service is the inevitable unreliability of this and it is often difficult if not impossible to maintain quality standards as couriers are not experienced in handling the products they are transporting
January 20th, 2012
* Customers often mistakenly refer to Black Granite as Black Marble, however the two products are very different. When someone typically refers to Black Marble they mean shiny polished black granite as can be seen from the image below
* Black Marble is a dark background colour with random veining running through the material. Creative Fireplaces has been in the fireplace industry for over 20 years, traditionally Black Marble (with the veining) was very popular in art deco fire surrounds. However, in modern homes with the simple clean linear look this material is rarely used in the fireplace industry
* Creating a contrast by introducing another colour is a great way to break up the monotony and symmetry of fireplaces. If used correctly the change of colour can create a stunning focal point (as can be seen by the image below)
* Black Granite is a more expensive material than marble as it is used in the Kitchen Worksop industry. For this reason having a fire surround with a Black Granite hearth or Panel would cost more than a full marble fire surround. Typically the extra charge is £100 depending on what is required
* Black Granite is also more heat resistant than marble and can even be used for solid fuel fireplaces if the hearth (base) and back panel (where fire is recessed) is cut and rejoined into sections
January 19th, 2012
Answer: Yeah- Creative Fireplaces
At Creative Fireplaces we are proud of our British heritage. It is rare to find anything these days made in Great Britain. Unfortunately almost all our manufacturing has been farmed off to low cost countries like China and India. We are different and believe that local manufacturing and direct selling is the future
What our customers get
1. Our customers get the strength of a high street showroom at trade prices. As a direct manufacturer, we are able to offer our customers the flexibility and customisation options previously only available to showrooms
2. By cutting out the middleman and pass on the cost savings to our customers, we are able to offer unbelievable pricing and value for money
3. Our local factory has distinctive advantages and is able to manufacture any fireplace in a colour & size of your choice, hence it is not a one size fits all strategy and products are truly tailored to your individual specific needs
4. As a local manufacturer, we are able to offer unbelievable support and our customers can have access to spare parts which was previously not possible in the fireplace industry when goods are imported from low cost countries such as China. For example if you damaged your hearth during installation (let’s face it these things happen), then we are able to manufacture you a replacement, where as imported products would not have access to any spare parts and damages cannot be replaced
January 18th, 2012
Answer: Contact the Gas emergency Service – 0800 111 999
You should always have your gas or solid fuel appliances serviced annually. However, very few homes actually follow these guidelines and gas fireplaces and solid fuel fireplaces are often rarely serviced
1. If you think you have a gas leak then you should immediately call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999
2. It is also advisable to open windows to create ventilation
3. If you can then you should turn off the appliances and if possible you should turn off the combustion at source. Hence switch off your gas supply for example
Maintenance advice
1. We strongly recommend you get a local Gas Safe or HETAS Installer to service your appliances regularly
2. Companies such as British Gas have affordable annual subscriptions that cover you for any call our charges that may arise and also minimise the risk of emergencies arising due to leaks as appliances are properly maintained
3. Read your instructions carefully as this avoids the possibility of any expensive or dangerous errors. We often get customers in the showroom which mistakenly believe you can burn anything (including rubbish) in a wood burning stove. By clearly reading the instructions you will eliminate any misconceptions
