Gas fireplaces have become increasingly popular in modern times and all homes in the UK (virtually all) have access to piped natural gas which makes it very convenient as the homeowner does not need to store any fuel (unlike solid fuel fires).  Gas fires can easily be turned on and off by using the pilot light which is located under the fret of the fire (bottom grill section).

Confusion between heat outputs on gas fires

1. With the incredible number of gas fires in today’s market, it is not surprising that there is confusion about the heat outputs on gas fireplaces. Essentially most homeowners simply want to know how hot the fire can get and want to be able to compare different fires and efficiencies. This is not as straightforward as it initially appears as there is plenty of jargon and ratios that are difficult to interpret 2. The gas output [minimum]  is the figure that tells you how hot the fire gets 3. The gas input is the intake of gas needed to create the minimum heat output. Hence a 3kw gas fire may have a 6 KW input 4. The efficiency is technically a percentage calculation of the ratio between how much gas the fire takes and how much heat it emits. Hence if the fire has a heat output [minimum] of 3KW and a heat input of 6KW, then the efficiency is 50%. In some circumstances the calculation is not as straight forward as this, because testing agencies certify the fire on an average taken over several readings whilst testing the fire

Gas fires work in the same manner in which all gas appliances are designed, and they all work using the same fundamental frame work. The natural gas (or LPG) is dispersed into the fire chamber and ignited with a spark. The spark can be created by a simple batter ignition system or a sophisticated circuit using a side control or remote. Regardless of the input method, the fire needs a spark to ignite (just like your gas hob does). If your gas fire stops igniting automatically then intuitively there is a problem with the sparking mechanism of the fire.

What you should try:

1. Consider trying to replace the battery (if the fire has a battery). Essentially even if you can hear a sparking noise, there may not be enough power in the battery to cause the fire to ignite. The battery is located under the fret of the fire (bottom grill). 2. The position of the fuel bed (logs or coal on top of fire) may affect the ignition of the fire and make it work inconsistently. This means the fire may not function properly if the coal/logs are blocking the air flow of the fire. On most fires, the fuel bed (pebbles or coal etc) are clearly labeled at the back and the fire instructions clearly specifies how you should position them 3. If you are unable to get the fire to work after following these simple steps then you should contact the manufacturer and also contact a Gas Safe registered installer to inspect the fire and offer any advice based upon inspection. It is important to never carry out any gas work yourself as this sort of work must be done legally by a qualified tradesmen for health and safety reasons

At Creative Fireplaces, we are a specialist manufacturer of marble fire surrounds and have a vast amount of experience in manufacturing fire surrounds to fit certain specifications and bespoke requirements

Frequently requested bespoke fire surrounds scenarios:

1. We often get asked to make smaller fire surrounds for homes with restricted space. Frequently the fire surrounds need to be 36 inches wide or even smaller due to the current width of the chimney breast. Standard fire surrounds are 48 inches wide and would be far too big for such properties. At Creative Fireplaces, we are able to modify a vast range of fire surrounds to fit smaller homes. We would also advise on the best type of design depending on the size required 2. We also often get asked to manufacture a bespoke fire surround to fit between the gap in existing dado rail and hence avoid having to replace this around the property. Essentially this is a complex task as the entire fire surround must be redrawn to achieve this. However, we are able to offer this change of a range of our fire surrounds at a fraction of high street prices. We would also be happy to offer specialist advice on the type of fire surround that would ideally fit the specified size 3. We also frequently manufacture bespoke fireplace hearths to cover an existing cut out in flooring. This essentially means the fire surround remains the same size, however we manufacture a bespoke hearth (to the dimensions specified). This is an extremely useful service as it means the current flooring does not need to be altered as the hearth will cover an existing opening

If you are looking to fit an gas fire in a room without a chimney or flue, then you have probably already considered a balanced flue, power flue or flueless gas fire. The difference between all these fires is often difficult to work out and it is often not clear which fire would be most suitable in a given situation. The article below will help highlight the most important issues you should be aware of

The difference between balanced & poweflue fires and flueless

1. Balanced flue fires are vented through an exterior wall and your fitter will simply remove external brick work and vent the fire in this manner. Balanced flue gas fires are glass fronted 2. Power flue gas fires are also externally vented, however they are open [living flame] and some homeowners prefer these fires as they are seem more natural 3. Flueless fires work using a catalytic converter which changes harmful vapour to a safe vapour

Recommended gas fires for homes without a chimney

1. Fortunately there are many options available for homeowners looking for gas fireplaces in a home without a chimney or flue. Essentially the final decision is based on personal preferences, however there are a few points that you should consider: 2. Powerflue fires often lead to a draft, and most fitters would hence recommend balanced flue fires (glass fronted). Some showrooms have even discontinued power flue gas fires due to the number of complaints from numerous customers 3. Flueless gas fires are 100% efficient and this often attracts many people to this option 4. Balanced flue fires are extremely efficient, however the fire is often very expensive to purchase

At Creative Fireplaces, we are a local manufacturer of Marble fire Surrounds and for that reason are partially biased towards the view that UK manufactured British fire surrounds are superior in many ways to cheap imports. The below article will highlight the key components that you should consider when deciding where to purchase your fire surround from.

UK Manufactured Fire Surrounds:

1. UK manufactured surrounds from Creative Fireplaces are available is a wide range of colours, sizes and designs. All imported fire surrounds are essentially purchased in one specific size and colour. Essentially this means it is a one size fits all strategy and you can never really have the perfect fire surround as it will either be too large/small or in the wrong colour 2. UK manufactured fire surrounds are made by local stone masons and essentially they have local knowledge. This means our stone masons will ensure quality standards are high enough to be acceptable to the local community. All the imported fire surrounds that are manufactured in low cost countries are assembled by stone masons on low incomes and it is difficult to explain the quality standards required as a result as they are not aware of the social circumstances in society. In the UK a scratched fire surround is absolutely worthless and it is difficult to explain this level of tolerances to low cost countries. As a result UK manufactured fire surrounds are always higher quality unless each container is manually inspected prior to dispatch from the low cost counties in which they originate

After sales service

If you purchase from Creative Fireplaces, then we are able to offer a unique after sales service and even offer replacement parts if you were to damage certain sections of your fire surround. With cheap low cost imports this is not possible, as the supplier will not be willing to open a new package to give you a replacement hearth or any damaged section and would subsequently insist that you purchased a new fire surround

The Dimplex opti-myst fire is beyond all expectations and is an absolutely brilliant fire. Almost all good fireplace showrooms will have several displays of the dimplex opti myst fires. At Creative Fireplaces our showroom always has every model in the Opti-myst range for our customers to look at.

Changing the bulbs on opti myst

1. The traditional opti-myst models have the bulbs located under the tray where the water tank is stored. To access the bulbs you need to remove the water tank and then you will be able to gain access to change the 4 halogen bulbs (will depend on model) 2. It is important to note that the bulbs will be hot if they have recently been used, so you should avoid touching them if this is the case until the bulbs cool down 3. The Dimplex opti myst uses regular halogen bulbs which are easy to source from almost all electrical outlets including B&Q. As this is a standard bulb, supermarkets such as Tesco or Sainsburys will also stock these bulbs frequently

Water chamber in Opti myst fires

The Dimplex opti myst uses regular filtered tap water to create the effect. It is important to use filtered water (eg put through a Brita filter) rather than ordinary tap water to avoid timescale build up in the working parts of the fire. The fire simply needs filtered water and does not mineral or bottled water to work. This means the fire is extremely cost effective to run

Marble fireplace hearths are very popular and frequently used with almost all gas fireplaces to provide a suitable non combustible surface for the inset fire. Essentially there are several colours of marble to choose from, however certain colours tend to be more popular than others

Marble fireplace hearths

1. Marfil marble has a light background colour with a uniform pattern 2. This material is homogeneous and consistent 3. Marfil is a man made marble which is manufactured using small pieces of marble crushes up and bound together using special resin. This material is essentially manufactured to create uniform consistent colour and texture that can not be found in 100% natural marble. It is often misunderstood and mistakenly argued that micro marble is inferior to natural marble because it is engineered. However, in actual fact micro marble is often a better surface than 100% natural marble as it does not have any natural cracks and is colour consistent. With natural marble you are purchasing a concept and the actual fire surround you receive may look totally different to the sample you have seen in a showroom or in a photograph/sample

Cheap Marfil fireplace hearths

At Creative Fireplaces, we manufacture hearths in our very own Nottinghamshire factory. These hearths can be made to any size or shape you require. We offer a colour called Milano Beige which is identical to what some manufacturers call Marfil stone. Please remember that different manufacturers call the same material a variety of names to confuse customers and to make it harder to compare prices

In many circumstances homeowners want to install their own fire surround to save time and money. There is however several things you should be aware of if you decide to install your own fireplace

What you should know:

1. By law all gas products including gas fireplaces must be installed by a gas safe registered installer. This is essentially designed to protect you and others from the likely immanent risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if there is a leak. It is also important to note that gas is extremely flammable and hence it is a fire risk that needs to be installed by an experienced professional 2. Solid fuel fires should be installed by HETAS engineers or certified by your local buildings authority to commission them. This is again designed to provide necessary safety 3. It is possible to fit a marble fire surround and electric fire yourself. Electric fireplaces simply plug into a standard 13amp socket and for that reason can be fitted in virtually any room in your home. Electric fires do not need to be vented in the same manner as gas fireplaces, and for that reason are an ideal fire if you simply are looking to create a decorative focal point. Electric fires do not need to be annually serviced which will save additional costs as they are effectively low maintenance

At Creative Fireplaces, we are very different to the vast majority of other websites and showrooms you will come across when looking for a new marble fire surround. We actually manufacture all the fireplaces you see on our website ourselves in our Nottinghamshire factory. The fireplaces are available in a vast array of colour and sizes and can be tailor made to suit your individual circumstances. Our entire range is fully customisable in any choice of colour or size you may determine, and essentially you can pick any fireplace in a colour of your choice and have it manufactured to your preferred size for the same price. This means you do not need to rely heavily on off the shelf products that will probably not match your exact requirements.

Are Marble Fireplaces cheaper online?

1. Without a doubt Creative Fireplaces is far cheaper than all retail showrooms and similar websites we have come across. By purchasing from a direct manufacturer, you are cutting out the middle man and essentially making the cost savings by not having to pay excessive prices. We are typically 70% cheaper than most showrooms 2. For other firms, in many circumstances online prices are the same as showroom prices as manufacturers restrict the minimum price that fire surrounds can be sold online for to protect displaying showrooms and their brand. For this reason, you will often find websites displaying recommended retail prices on their website 3. Certain fireplace websites also often market marble fireplaces made in China that are imported into the UK by wholesalers. The main problem with purchasing these imported fire surrounds is the lack of customer service when things go wrong, as there are no spare parts available. If there is a problem, then you will have difficulty resolving this as the distributor and retailer will argue amongst themselves as there is no clear way of identifying where the damage occurred.

At Creative Fireplaces, we specialise in manufacturing marble fire surrounds from our fully owned fireplace factory in Nottinghamshire. All our fireplaces are made in the UK and we are one of the largest manufacturers in the UK at present. We often get asked what the most popular marble fireplace designs are for a modern home, and the below range will help provide you with further information: 1. It is important to note that we only sell a range of marble fireplaces manufactured in our own factory, and for that reason our statistical knowledge on other product sales is limited to what we hear from our customers and from the trade in general. From our range, fireplaces with a minimalist undertone such as the Cambridge seem to do really well. The down lights option is also a great feature that is often specified by customers as this creates a unique and unusual focal point 2. From other manufacturers, the Gallery collection is extremely popular. Essentially this is a range of marble fireplaces manufactured in China and is ironically more expensive than our range of fire surrounds which are manufactured in the UK. The Gallery collection is available in fixed sizes, colours and rebates as it is ordered and stocked extensively by the network of dealers through the country. There are also several showrooms that display these products 3. The UK also has an array of Portuguese suppliers which specialise in limestone fireplaces which are imported and manufactured in Portugal. These fire surrounds are typically available to view in specialist showrooms around the country. Limestone is a wonderful material which has a lovely matt texture and uniform pattern. The main disadvantage of limestone is the fact that it is extremely easy to scratch and damage because it is much softer and more porous than marble

Recently the UK has had severe weather warnings that seem to be similar to what we experienced last year. Severe weather and extensive snow seems to be a reoccurring phenomenon & possibly due to the harmful effects of global warming. At Creative Fireplaces, we often get asked how to heat your home with a carefully selected fireplace, and this article will help highlight some of the most important aspects that you should be aware of: 1. Fireplaces are nowadays intended to be a decorative feature to your home rather than a principle source of primary heat. Despite what other fireplace specialists say, we would strongly advice that you invest in an efficient central heating system as this is the most efficient method to heat your home 2. Solid fuel wood burning stoves are often argued to be more efficient than gas central heating systems, however as most homeowners are aware this involves storing wood as fuel and is a hassle & storage issue to say the least. There is however something magical about a real wood burning fire that creates a wonderful atmosphere and these fires have considerable heat outputs. For this reason wood burning stoves have again become very popular in today’s market 3. High efficiency gas fires are a cleaver alternative if you’re considering using gas as a heat source. These fires are on average 95% efficient (depending on the model) and are hence extremely efficient 4. Electric fireplaces are not as effective at heating homes as the maximum heat output is only 2kw (remember they plug into a standard socket). However, most homeowners often consider this as the best option as they have rarely used their gas fire and simply want a fire as a decorative focal point rather than a principle source of heat

If you’re considering a fireplace as a principle or supplement heat source then there are many aspects you must consider and be aware of. In modern times, the majority of fireplaces are simply decorative and do not really serve a purpose other than being an attractive focal point for your living room. If the fireplace is intended to generate part of the warmth needed to heat your property, then you should consider the room size verses the heat output of the fire 1. Most conventional gas fireplaces have a 3kw heat output. This is sufficient to take the chill out of a modest sized room. However, this is not suitable to heat larger rooms and frequently the main drawback of conventional gas fires is their 60% efficiency rating. This effectively means 40% of the heat generated is lost up the chimney 2. High efficiency gas fires do ‘exactly what they say on the tin’, and are essentially gas fires with a glass front with improved efficiencies up to 95%. This essentially means you do not get the ambiance of a open flame (as it is behind glass), however the fire is much more efficient and the majoiry of the heat is radiated into the room

We often get asked if it is possible to install an electric fire against a flat wall and this article will highlight the most important aspects to consider and be aware of if you decide to do this. Essentially all electric fires can be fitted against a flat wall with no chimney or recess whatsoever. Electric fires do not need to be vented in any way and simply plug into a standard conventional plug socket. [caption id="attachment_3295" align="alignnone" width="350" caption="Slate Hearths for Wood Burning Stoves"][/caption]

Fitting an electric stove against a flat wall:

(a) Electric stoves have a large depth which is usually recessed into an inglenook or deep open chimney (b) Although it is possible to recess the fire against a flat wall, there are two main methods of installation (c) Method 1: At creative fireplaces, we manufacture our own marble fire surrounds and are able to build a fire surround with a deep enough recess to accommodate the depth of the electric stove. This means the fire surround will have deep columns and the back panel will be pushed touching the wall & the electric stove will fit in-between the opening of the fireplace. We can even integrate down lights into the fire surround and make the back panel in one solid piece so you cannot see behind the electric stove (d) Method 2: Alternatively it is possible to manufacture a conventional fire surround with a deeper hearth and let the fire surround fit between the opening within the fireplace. The majority of the electric stove would hence sit on the hearth

Real fireplaces are often referred to as solid fuel fireplaces or wood or coal burning fire surrounds. There are many choices available in today’s market which often confuses customers as there is plenty of jargon and sales pitches to decipher when making such an important decision

What you should know about solid fuel fireplaces:

1. It is more expensive to fit a solid fuel appliance, as compared to gas fireplaces and electric fireplaces. This has always been the case, as your chimney or flue needs may to be lined and the materials needed to install solid fuel appliances are always more expensive (such as flue pipe which can cost in excess of £500 per job). Due to the high cost of installation (typically twice the spend on the appliance), the true financial benefit for solid fuel fireplaces is often less than it initially appears 2. Solid fuel appliances (especially wood burning stoves) rely heavily on 100% dried wood. Many people think you can simply burn anything, including freshly cut wood, unused pallets or even household trash for heat. This is incorrect and will ruin your wood burning stove or cast iron fireplace and invalidate your warrantee 3. Solid fuel requires a constant supply of coal or logs which must be stored. In most homes this is a hindrance as storage space is limited

As unconventional as it may sound, a marble fire surround can be transported in a regular car if it is manufactured in sections. At Creative fireplaces, we would ideally we would prefer to deliver all our fire surrounds direct to our customers homes to ensure they reach in the same condition they left our factory. However in some circumstances, customers prefer to come and collect the fire surround. We would still recommend hiring a van rather than a regular salon or hatchback car; however it is certainly possible to fit most fireplaces in a car.

Fireplace handling and transportation advice:

1. As a specialist manufacturer, we are obviously biased towards delivery rather than collection. Over the past 22 years, Creative Fireplaces has built an outstanding reputation for quality and value for money. The majority of our business is based on referrals and the word of mouth. For this reason it is imperative that the fireplace reaches your home in the same condition in which it left our factory, and delivery, packaging and logistics is core to our business 2. If you do however decide to collect a fireplace, then you should always bring suitable packaging material including soft blankets to lay in the car boot and seats. Any other soft cushion type material that you have would also be useful. Our warehouse manager & team would always be happy to help and assist in any way possible to make sure we package the fireplace in a manner whereby there is minimal movement in the vehicle (as this can lead to chips) 3. If you hire a van, then it is important to bring straps as this will ensure that the fireplace does not fall when you’re taking turns or comers

Perhaps one of the most daunting aspects of purchasing a new fire surround is trying to organise installation and making sure it is something you can either fit yourself or working out if you can find a competent installer/tradesman to fit your new marble fire surround. At Creative Fireplaces, we manufacture marble fire surrounds for the trade and public and have different criteria to follow depending on the channel of distribution

Trade fireplaces preferences

1. Essentially the design of the fire surround will determine how it is built and how many sections the fire 2. Typically the UK trade prefer to have marble fireplaces manufactured in one piece. This means the body of the fireplace is made in one section and the mantle, hearth and back panel are in separate sections. Hence the total fireplace is manufacture in 4 sections

Retail fireplace preferences

1. At Creative Fireplaces we can easily manufacture our entire range in 4 sections, however we feel 6 sections make the fire surround much easier to handle, install and transport 2. Retails fire surrounds should be carried into homes and for this reason making the fire surrounds in sections is a much better alternative. Many online companies do not do this however, and simply use pallets to deliver fireplaces. This is not an ideal situation as each fire surround can weigh in excess of 23 stone

Valor Dimension Electric fires have made an outstanding name for themselves in the fireplace industry for realism and have an outstanding flame effect In our experience this range of fires will appeal to almost all homeowners looking for quality products, however the fire has several main considerations you should consider:

Valor Dimension electric fire review

1. Ideally you should always be sat looking at the fire vertically in-front of it. If your seating arrangement has several viewing positions at an angle to the fire, then you will not see the optimal effect. The first valor dimension models had a major problem with this as the fire appeared to glow green when viewed from an angle. Modern versions of this fire do not have this problem 2. This fire has a recess depth of 145mm which is extremely deep if it is to be installed against a flat wall with no recess (as many electric fires are). The fire is supplied with a 75mm spacer kit (a black trim that hides the depth of the fire and sits on the hearth). By using a spacer kit and a fire surround with a 75mm rebate, the total recess depth can be achieved as this will give you 150mm recess depth available within your fire surround to recess the fire (75mm + 75mm). However, many homeowners do not like the look of a spacer

Valor Dimension Alternatives

1. If your looking for a high end electric fire, then perhaps consider the Dimplex Opti Myst range of fires as these have an even more realistic flame effect than the Valor Dimension and have a built in smoke machine. These fires are more expensive and are typically £400 - £650 depending on the model selected 2. If you have a lower budget then consider look at the Dimplex Opti Flame range which is extremely affordable and starts from £120 from B&Q as well as Homebase 3. It is possible to purchase electric fires for as little as £70, however these fires will look terrible and it is highly advisable that you do not purchase something with a poor flame effect as it will ruin the entire look and feel of your fire surround

Answer: No this is not possible Gas fireplaces have become extremely popular with the vast adaptation of piped gas to every home in the UK around forty years ago. Gas fires are much more practical and easy to maintain than solid fuel alternatives, as there is no need to keep a large supply of fuel at home to burn. Gas fires work using gas outlets (nozzles) . These outlets evenly disperse a open flame onto a bed of ceramic coal, pebble or driftwood. The fuel bed (Eg Coal, pebble or driftwood) is ceramic and purely decorative to create the effect and does not need to be replaced

Can you change the fuel bed on a gas fire?

1. We often get asked if it is possible to change a coal fire to a pebble fire (or vice versa). Unfortunately this is not possible, as each fire is carefully supplied with a special pre fabricated layout on its fuel bed. For this reason replacement coal or pebbles will not be able to create the same flame pattern and for that reason it is not possible to do so 2. You must clearly decide on what colour of fire you would like (brass, chrome, black etc) as the outer frame and fret (bottom section of fire) can also not often be replaced 3. More up-market gas fireplaces are supplied with one piece trims (the outer frame) rather than 3 sections

Almost anyone who has experience shopping online will like the experience. It is very easy to compare prices, review feedback and source goods from all over the country. Creative Fireplaces are a specialist manufacturer which specialises in made to order marble fire surrounds manufactured direct from our factory and delivered to your home. We often speak to our happy customers who tell us how reluctant they were about purchasing online and the below article will examine the most important aspects you should consider:

Dangers of buying fireplaces online:

1. High street showrooms often argue that internet businesses have a low cost structures and hence are cheaper. This may be the case as warehouse space is cheaper than high street showroom rent. For this reason online retailers often have lower cost structures. However, it is important to consider that most online retailers hold stock and may have more money invested in the business than high street showrooms. At Creative Fireplaces, we have a 45’000 sq foot warehouse with 40 staff and a fleet of vehicles. We have much higher overheads than high street showrooms; however as a direct manufacturer we are able to offer much lower prices on marble fire surrounds as products are made in our own factory 2. Online fireplace websites arguably are destroying the lively hood of high fireplace specialists by selling goods for a cheaper price and delivering nationally. Although this is probably true, the progress towards online distribution is happening in every industry and every trade nationally and globally 3. Almost all high street showrooms will argue that online retailers sell seconds and damaged goods. This is obviously intuitively untrue, and designed to spread fear and confusion

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 [caption id="attachment_3295" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Slate Hearths for Wood Burning Stoves"][/caption]

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