Wood burning fireplaces

Types of wood burning fireplaces

Despite the fact that classic fireplaces are often referred to as utilitarian elements of private ownership design, which can create a special atmosphere in the living room or are used as structures that are interesting decor details, their construction is subject to certain rules and is classified by type.

So, fireplaces, for which firewood or other solid fuel is used, experts usually distinguish between:

• by the architectural features of the structure;
• by the design of the combustion chamber;
• according to the location in the room.

The architectural style of design of such structures involves subdivision into:

• classic style fireplaces;
• performed in the so-called "rustic style";
• modern;
• high tech.

Regardless of the design features, fireplaces are divided into open and closed types of combustion chambers.

The location of the fireplace is important for the design and heating of the room:

• next to the wall and, in this case, their elements are built wall-mounted or built-in. Such structures practically do not take up useful space, especially if the entire structure is mounted in a niche;
• in the corners of the premises, and, also, take up little space, however, the installation work of such fireplaces requires special attention when organizing the fireplace area;
• island fireplaces, which are able to evenly distribute the heat of the fire to the sides, but free space is required for placement.

Features and Benefits

Today there is a huge variety of types and models of wood-burning fireplaces and accessories to them. They can be bought ready-made in the store or made to order, or you can build them with your own hands and decorate to your liking and desire.

A real wood-burning fireplace has the following advantages and functions:

• able to heat a room with an area of ​​20-25 m2;
• some models can be used for drying food and wet items;
• serves as a decoration for any interior and creates a unique atmosphere of comfort in the house;
• easy to maintain and operate;
• able to work on different types of fuel
• helps ventilation of the room.

He also has disadvantages:

is only an additional heating method;
due to the fire hazard, requires caution in use;
there is a need for a supply of fuel and a special place for storing them in the house;
correctly installing or laying out a fireplace is a laborious and costly business;
it is necessary to constantly clean the chimney.

Materials (edit)

The material affects the ability of the fireplace to transfer heat, its reliability and service life.

Brick models of wood-burning fireplaces are traditional and serve to heat the room as quickly as possible. Their efficiency is low, but they do not require a lot of fuel and are presented in a very wide assortment and price range.

Metal - cast iron and steel - fireplaces have a higher efficiency factor, since they are assembled using materials and technologies that provide the best heat transfer. The firebox can be both open and closed. Models of this type are somewhat more versatile than their brick counterparts: in addition to the surface for cooking, many metal fireplaces are also equipped with a water or air circuit for using it for heating purposes (fireplaces-boilers).

Glass is also often used in the assembly of fireplaces, although more often for decorative purposes. There are also models made entirely of glass. This design approach allows you to enjoy the contemplation of the flame from anywhere in the room. Of course, glass for wood-burning fireplaces must meet a number of requirements, first of all, be durable and heat-resistant.

Gas fireplace without the use of wood

A gas fireplace is much safer than a wood one. The current gas furnaces are equipped with automatic remote control, equipped with a gas control system, they can be connected to a thermostat. The room is heated instantly.Gas furnaces do not need wood, there is no smoke during their operation. Hassle-free and easy to maintain. Gas fireplaces consist of a steel or cast iron firebox, chimney and burner. The cladding is decorated with any heat-resistant material.

To install a gas hearth, the mandatory requirements are the presence of a connection to the gas network and a permit from the gas service. Like a gas water heater or a heating boiler, such a fireplace must be equipped with a chimney. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the outlet of the chimney to the street.

Types and designs

A fireplace is a stove, only with a firebox open to the side of the room. It consists of a portal that frames the fireplace and performs a decorative function, a firebox in which firewood is burned, a chimney into which smoke is drawn. To remove gases and fumes, the stove is equipped with a smoke collector and a chimney - a special vertical pipe that removes combustion products from the firebox to the street using a chimney pipe.

Despite the simplicity of the design, there is a wide variety of types of wood heating systems. For fuel, you can use all combustible material, for example, firewood, cardboard. Firewood of long burning - pellets is made especially for fireplaces.

The hearths differ at the place of installation for outdoor and domestic ones. The first ones are mounted on the street and are used for cooking in the barbecue area, heating water and, of course, for decorating the area in front of the house. The second are internal for installation in rooms.

The division also goes according to the method of placing the furnace in the room. Island structures are placed in the middle of the room at a distance from corners and walls. This method is considered the most laborious, but such an island looks impressive, it is often double-sided and heats a much larger area than other species. A hanging fireplace looks unusual, the fire portal of which can be either glass or open.

Corner fireplaces fully justify their name and are located in the corner of the room, usually they are floor-standing, built-in ones. They give less heat than island ones, but they create a real corner for relaxation and look very elegant. It is easier to lay out such an oven than a free-standing one.

The wall version is the easiest to perform. Such a fireplace is built into a wall, most often a load-bearing one. It saves room space, but part of the heat goes into the wall, so its thermal efficiency is lower than that of other types. Hanging models are also placed on the wall, wall-mounted or portable models against the wall, which can be installed in any safe place in the room at the request of the owner.

By the type of execution, indoor fireplace structures are divided into several groups:

• Classic performance. This is a stove made of traditional natural materials according to the standard technology proven over the centuries. Its furnace portal is rectangular or square in shape.
• A model in a modern design with various shapes of fireboxes and made of metal, glass and other original materials.
• The specific D-shape with a wooden beam at the top looks impressive and robust.

By the way of use, fireplaces differ, which, in addition to their main decorative function, also perform additional household tasks:

• a fireplace-stove, on which there is a hob on top and you can cook food;
• fireplace-boiler, which is used as a boiler, water heater;
• heating type of the stove, almost smokeless, which is the main heating element in the room. Ready-made stoves with the ability to connect a heating circuit, pellet-wood boilers are produced.

Furnaces are made with two types of furnaces - open and closed. The first option is very popular because of the sensation and aroma of an open flame, the second is safer, in which the flame is covered with fireproof glass.

Interior design examples

In the living room

Most often, fireplaces are purchased for installation in the living room. This is not surprising - it is the living room that is the traditional gathering place for the whole family, and it requires warmth, coziness and a homely atmosphere. Beautiful fireplaces are a great tool for creating such an atmosphere.Various design options, decorative portals, claddings from various materials - manufacturers offer a lot of options for a wide variety of interior types.

There are several common styles of interiors and their corresponding varieties of fireplaces.

Classic

Usually these are brick wood-burning fireplaces. The traditional look is versatile enough to suit the interior of different rooms, including living rooms and offices. Simultaneously austere and stylish appearance will never go out of fashion and will always be popular. It is characterized by clear geometry, symmetry of shapes and a neutral color palette.

Modern

In living rooms and rooms, made in a modern "modern" style, electric fireplaces are most often used: suspended, floor-standing and portable. The design of such fireplaces is distinguished by originality, extravagance and at the same time attractiveness and harmony. The goal of people choosing this style for interior decoration is to find an unusual combination of elements, to create a beautiful and expressive artistic ensemble.

All these features should be taken into account when choosing a fireplace both in the cottage and in the apartment, both in the living room and in the living room or office.

It is important to remember one thing - in interior design, the main role is played by its harmony and completeness. A beautiful and stately fireplace will look ridiculous in a small, sparsely furnished living room.

A correctly selected model will not look shocking, but at the same time it will emphasize the originality and uniqueness of the entire room.

Cast iron fireplaces. What you need to know about them

The main distinguishing feature that allows cast iron fireplaces to stand out favorably against the background of all other heating equipment is the presence of a firebox. This structural element is considered today as the basis of any modern fireplace. Many leading experts identify a number of features characteristic of cast iron fireplaces: 1) high heat transfer rates - provided by the use of special materials in the manufacture of cast iron fireplaces; 2) almost complete absence of combustion products.

There is a widespread misconception that cast iron fireplaces allow you to heat large rooms without any special effort. The firebox of such structures, due to the use of a special technology of its production, ensures the rapid spread of heat throughout the room, but does not warm up the space.

If you light a cast-iron fireplace, you can get rid of all sorts of unpleasant odors present in the room, for example, dampness. After a while, a special and extremely pleasant aroma appears, emanating from a smoldering tree. It is he who gives the atmosphere of the room a special coziness and comfort.

Cast iron fireplaces can be equipped with either polished or matte inserts. The middle part of the firebox is usually made of cast solid metal. Outwardly, it is very similar to a metal tray or basket. Cast iron fireplace insert must be solid. This is explained by the fact that when burning firewood, a lot of sparks are usually formed, which scatter in all directions, and due to the special design of the firebox, all combustion products are kept inside it, without going outside.

It is worth noting that thick logs burn much slower and more efficiently in fireplaces than briquettes or small chips. Choosing the former allows you to get much more heat.

When choosing a cast-iron fireplace, do not forget that it can only work on one of the many types of fuel available today, namely on wooden logs and sawdust. However, such designs are in no way inferior to traditional stoves in terms of heating quality.A modern cast iron fireplace is a safe, economical and efficient heating equipment.

When choosing a cast iron fireplace, attention should also be paid to various accessories for it. If they are not purchased, it will be extremely difficult to remove the ashes generated after the combustion of wood or sawdust from the firebox. If, after buying a cast-iron fireplace, it turned out that it does not fit very well into the existing environment of the room, then you can use one effective solution

It involves facing the structure with a certain material, which will give it the necessary harmony with the interior.

If, after buying a cast-iron fireplace, it turned out that it does not fit very well into the existing environment of the room, then you can use one effective solution. It involves facing the structure with a certain material, which will give it the necessary harmony with the interior.

The main types of fireplaces operating on wood

As a rule, people first of all look at the external design of the device, but in reality it is necessary to first determine the dimensions. This element is very important, since the fireplace should not look ridiculous in the house. If the area is small, then you need to choose the appropriate model, which will not take up much space and will fit into the situation. In the large hall, a small fireplace will look out of place - it will be invisible, lost among other objects and simply will not bring the desired result. Here the fireplace should be massive, made of brick or finished with stone tiles.

There are several classifications according to which wood-burning fireplaces are subdivided, but it is the classification by the location of the appliances that is considered the key one. Let's get acquainted with it.

Option number 1. Wall-mounted models

1. Fireplaces that are adjacent to the wall with the back wall. They are a traditional option, and are designed not only for small-sized, but also large enough rooms, since they can have different sizes. The fireplace can have a rectangular shape or it can be made with protrusions and a narrowed chimney. The choice of a particular option depends on personal preference and on what the environment of the room is.

Fireplaces that adjoin the wall with an end wall. The preferred option for rooms with an average area, which, in turn, can be conditionally divided into two separate zones. In the case of a through combustion chamber, there will be a pair of glass doors, one on each side.

Option number 2. Corner models

Such devices are also divided into two subgroups - models designed to be placed on the outer corner and those that seem to be built into the corners, connecting the adjacent walls diagonally.

1. Outside corner devices. Obviously, they are intended for large rooms with a non-standard layout. This can be, for example, a corridor combined with a fireplace, as a result of which a protruding corner is formed. Here, the fireplace, as it were, decorates two walls at once, and the combustion chambers illuminate two rooms at the same time.
2. Inside corner fixtures are more common. They take up little space, so they can be installed even in small rooms. The shape and dimensions may be different, there may also be additional elements (the presence of the latter is dictated by the area of ​​the room where the fireplace will be installed).

Option number 3. Island models

We are talking here about structures that are located in the center of the room and are not connected in any way with the walls. Such fireplaces can be either metal or brick, and their shape can be very unusual. It is curious: such devices can also be mounted, that is, hang over the floor.

In the photo below, you can see a brick fireplace that is installed in the middle of the room. Such fireplaces are called island.

Obviously, for medium or small rooms, such structures are not suitable, since they are intended exclusively for overall halls and high ceilings. These fireplaces add coziness and a warm, homely atmosphere to the room.

But for the model, which is presented below, it requires the allocation of a separate room, since the main focus of the design will be on it. The number of pieces of furniture here should be minimal, otherwise the room will look cluttered.

The chimney is made in the form of a suspended metal cap fixed in the ceiling.

A suspended iron fireplace will also look good in a modern interior - it can be of different sizes and design options, in addition, the colors can also be different.

To install such a fireplace on wood, high-quality fasteners are required, since the weight of such a structure is considerable. Note that such models do not heat up the air in the room very much - the thermal energy spreads to a maximum of 1.5 meters. But the atmosphere in the house will be cozy and pleasant!

Option number 4. Built-in models

These fireplaces can be built into an external or internal wall.

1. It is better to give preference to those options in which the chimney is located in the outer wall. The fact is that the chimney in this case will not take up space in the room, since it will pass from the street, and the house will only have a portal and a firebox.

In the second version, the pipe is built into the inner wall of the house, while only a small portal is brought into the room.

If there is a desire to heat two rooms at the same time, then the fireplace can be divided into two parts and projections can be made. It is better to use a sandwich pipe as a chimney, insulating it from heating surfaces.

Do-it-yourself decorative fireplace made of plasterboard

A living room with a cozy burning fireplace can only be afforded by owners of country cottages or private houses built within the city. In modern high-rise buildings, installing a fireplace is a rather difficult task, and most often not at all feasible. However, if the desire to have a fireplace in the living room is very great, there is one, fairly simple solution - you can create a high-quality imitation of such an interior item. The process of making a false plasterboard fireplace with your own hands is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Thanks to modern materials and strict adherence to instructions, even the most daring design decision can be realized.

Drywall for DIY decorative fireplaces

A do-it-yourself decorative plasterboard fireplace will become a worthy element of the living room interior design, complementing the room's furnishings with originality, and giving it a classic nobility. Drywall is the most common option for creating decorative fireplaces due to its affordability, flexibility and ease of use. You can create the most incredible designs from it, without limiting the flight of imagination.

Preparation for work

First you need to decide where the decorative fireplace will be installed, make an example of a sketch and calculate the amount of material required. An artificial fireplace is placed, as a rule, near the side wall of the room, but so that it does not obstruct the passage. In the process of developing a sketch, it is necessary to think over everything to the smallest detail: both details, and dimensions and fasteners.If difficulties arise here, you can find projects of decorative plasterboard fireplaces made with your own hands on the Internet. When choosing or drawing up drawings, you need to soberly assess your capabilities: will you be able to complete the task on your own. For self-production of a false fireplace you will need: * profile; * drywall; * jigsaw; * screwdriver; * scissors for metal; * materials for decoration.

Making a frame for a decorative fireplace.

The work is divided into three main stages: 1. Profile marking according to the drawing. 2. Cutting drywall. 3. Joining the resulting pieces into one structure. After making sure that there are no errors in the drawings, you can transfer the required dimensions to the profile. Next, using a hacksaw or metal scissors, cut the workpieces. If you plan to create an arch, then you need to make several transverse cuts on one side and bend it in the form of any desired shape. The collection of elements into one frame is carried out using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. In order for the structure to be stable and not distorted in the future, it is desirable to have transverse bridges. If the sketch turns out to be a heavy and bulky fireplace, or, conversely, too narrow, you should attach it to the walls and floor.

Plasterboard cladding and finishing of the fireplace

At the end of the installation, the frame can be formed into a draft version of the fireplace. To begin with, you need to cut out the details from the material according to the sketch and try them on the fireplace, adjusting, if necessary, to the required dimensions. This can be done with an ordinary sharp knife. The parts are attached to the profile with black hardened self-tapping screws. The hats should be deepened a little, and then putty. This will make the product look more aesthetically pleasing. After the structure is assembled, it is necessary to process all joints and fasteners. The corners should be reinforced using a paint net. It is advisable to level the surface of the hearth with a putty. Further, only the design of the hearth will remain. You can decorate the product using artificial stone, tiles or stucco moldings; fireplaces with imitation of brickwork and a mirror surface of the back wall of the hearth look very advantageous.

Installation and operation

When building a fireplace, special attention must be paid to the chimney. Correct installation of the channel will provide good traction and normal burning of firewood

In order to protect yourself and not be poisoned by carbon monoxide emitted as a result of wood burning, it is necessary to choose the correct diameter of the chimney.

A high-quality fireplace installation will ensure fire safety and health protection for people living in the house. Therefore, it is recommended to entrust its installation to professionals who have been engaged in this business for a long time and know all the features of installing heating equipment.

Wood-burning fireplaces will serve you for more than a dozen years if they are installed taking into account all the requirements and standards of the manufacturer. During operation, you will only encounter cleaning the chimney from the soot collected there. Especially often this problem worries the owner of the house, when the use of wet firewood is practiced to light the fireplace, which give a large amount of smoke and carbon monoxide.

In order to protect yourself from harmful emissions, pay attention to the fuel requirements. Use only dry wood that does not contain chemical impurities (paints and varnishes) that emit harmful and poisonous substances during combustion.

Fireplace classification

Such units can be divided into several types: open, closed, free-standing and built into main walls.

Closed

Fireplaces of this kind are equipped with a special fire-resistant glass door, which increases the efficiency by 70%. The device gives off heat by reflecting currents with its inner walls. Such equipment is recommended to be installed in houses with small children and animals, as well as if there are increased requirements for ensuring fire safety.

The firebox and chimney are built into an array of walls, so the fireplace takes up a minimum of space in the room. Installed only during the construction of the house.

Semi-open

The semi-open fireplace, unlike the previous model, can be installed at any time: when building a house or when it is already in use. The chimney can be attached or built in, so the appliance is not connected to the wall structure. Connecting the fireplace above the dampers allows you to use two heaters separately. It takes up more space in comparison with the built-in one.

Open

This type of fireplace is quite simple to manufacture, efficient in operation and good heat dissipation. It has an attractive appearance and has a certain design twist. An open fireplace is installed in the central part of the room. The only drawback is its massiveness and additional fire safety requirements.

Open hearths are installed on square and round platforms with a height of 35-50 cm. On top of springs or chains, a smoke collector and a chimney are attached. An open fireplace can be installed on the terrace, summer kitchen or garden. In this case, the smoke collector is fixed on racks that rest on the platform. A similar design can be modified into a grill fireplace by increasing the platform height to 70 cm and placing the skewer stands on opposite sides.

Fireplaces combined with a stove

For heating a house, a stove is considered more efficient. The fireplace is more suitable for temporary heating and interior decoration. If desired, you can combine these heating devices. The open hearth is attached to the stove and has a joint foundation with it. The chimney can be either general or separate, but they have different fireboxes. The combined design provides space and material savings.

Corner

These fireplaces are one of the variants of the built-in unit type. Such a heater can heat three rooms at the same time, but it does so ineffectively. Due to the peculiarities of its location, the corner fireplace takes up too much space, therefore it is not very popular.

Operation efficiency

The peculiarity of wood-burning hearths is that they heat the room only when the timber is burning. When the fireplace cools down, the room temperature drops sharply. That is why the device cannot be used as a heating system. There are heat exchangers installed to fireplaces, but they also cannot provide the living space with the necessary heat.

In country houses, installing a fireplace does not solve the heating problem, therefore, the rooms are additionally equipped with a heating boiler, which has a completely different principle of operation. This device can operate on gas, diesel fuel, coal, pellets, and some of them on wood.