Fireplace Mantels and Surrounds

Historical fire pits were sometimes constructed from the floor, in caves, or at the middle of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of ancient, man-made fires is present on all five inhabited continents. The drawback of early indoor fire pits was that they generated toxic and/or annoying smoke within the dwelling.Fire pits developed into raised hearths in structures, but venting smoke depended on open windows or openings in roofs. The great hall typically needed a centrally located hearth, where an open fire burned with the smoke rising to the port in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be coated so rain and snow would not enter.

Also throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were devised to prevent smoke from spreading through a room and vent it outside via a wall or roof. These can be placed against rock walls, rather than taking up the center of the space, and this enabled smaller rooms to be warmed.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe from the 11th or 12th centuries and largely fixed the issue of fumes, more faithfully venting smoke out. They made it feasible to give the fireplace a draft, and also made it possible to place fireplaces in multiple rooms in buildings handily. They did not come into general use immediately, however, as they were expensive to build and maintain.

In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, increased the grate of the fireplace, improving the venting and airflow system. The 18th century saw two major developments in the history of fireplaces. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection room for the fireplace which greatly enhanced the efficiency of fireplaces and wood stoves. In addition, he enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a cellar and venting out a lengthier area at the top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace using a tall, shallow firebox that was better at drawing the smoke up and out of the construction. The shallow design improved greatly the amount of radiant warmth projected to the space. Rumford's layout is the foundation for modern kitchens.

The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took on a more traditional spectra based on rock and also deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Instead it relied on simple designs with small unnecessary ornamentation. In the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was placed on providing quality gems. Stone fireplaces at this time were a sign of prosperity, which to a degree remains the notion today.A fireplace is a structure made from brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a space. Modern fireplaces change in heat efficacy, depending upon the design.

Historically they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for domestic and laundry uses.

Related Images with Fireplace Mantels and Surrounds

Marble fireplace surround ideas bring a warm, comfortable and cozy feeling to your room

On the exterior there's often a corbeled brick crown, in which the casting courses of brick act as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A cap, hood, or shroud functions to keep rainwater from the exterior of the chimney; rain in the chimney is a much larger problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metallic liners compared with the standard masonry chimney, that soaks up all but the most violent rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor incorporated into the cap or crown.

The EPA writes"Smoke may smell great, but it's not great for you.

Kinds of fireplacesArtificial fireplaces are made out of sheet metal or glass flame boxes.Electric fireplaces can be built-in replacements for gas or wood or retrofit with log inserts or electrical fireboxes.

Masonry and prefabricated fireplaces can be fueled by wood, natural gas, biomass and gas fuel sources. In the United States, some states and local businesses have laws restricting these kinds of fireplaces. Additionally, there are air quality control problems due to the amount of moisture they discharge in the room atmosphere, and oxygen detector and carbon dioxide sensors are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces have been fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. They are totally sealed from the place that is heated, and port all exhaust gasses to the outside of the structure.

Fireplace surround ideas, best stone choices, installation and tips Sefa Stone

AccessoriesFor the inside, common in recent Western civilizations comprise grates, fireguards, log boxes, andirons, bark baskets, and fire dogs, all of which cradle gas and quicken burning. A grate (or flame grate) is a framework, usually of iron bars, to maintain fuel for a fire. Heavy metallic firebacks are occasionally utilized to capture and re-radiate warmth, to protect the rear of the fireplace, and as decoration. Fenders are low metal frames placed before the fireplace to contain embers, soot and ash. Other wider accessories may include log baskets, companion sets, coal buckets, cabinet accessories and much more.

Over time, the intent behind fireplaces has changed from one of requirement to one of visual interest. Early ones were more fire pits compared to contemporary fireplaces. They were used for heat on chilly days and nights, in addition to for cooking. They also served as a gathering place within the house. These fire pits were generally based within a space, allowing more people to collect around it.

Clean White Custom milled fireplace surround with shiplap and stone accents. BickellBuilt

Wood Fireplace Mantels Fredricksburg Custom Mantels MantelCraft

Many flaws were found in ancient fireplace designs. Together with the Industrial Revolution, came big scale housing developments, requiring a standardization of fireplaces. The most renowned fireplace performers of the time were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace design which was used for generations. It was smaller, more brightly lit, with an emphasis on the quality of the substances used in their construction, as opposed to their size.

By the 1800s newest fireplaces were composed of two components, the surround and the insert. The surround comprised of the mantlepiece and sides affirms, usually in wood, granite or marble. The fit was where the fire burned, and was built of cast iron frequently backed with ornamental tiles. As well as providing warmth, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were thought to add a cozy ambiance into houses.

Wood Fireplace Mantels Fredricksburg Custom Mantels MantelCraft Video

Some fireplace units include a blower which transports more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated space and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency is also enhanced by means of a fireback, a sheet of metal which sits behind the flame and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron, but are also made from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex notion though with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficiency tests consider only the effect of heating of the atmosphere. An open fireplace is not, and never was, designed to heat the atmosphere. The ideal method to estimate the output signal of a fireplace is if you detect you are turning the thermostat down or up.

Most older fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency score. Standard, modern, wood-burning masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of at least 80% (legal minimum necessity for example in Salzburg/Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces may also be altered by inserting special heavy fireboxes designed to burn cleaner and can reach efficiencies as high as 80% in heating the air. These modified fireplaces are often equipped with a massive fire window, allowing an efficient heating system in two phases. During the first phase the initial heat is offered through a big glass window while the flame is burning. During this time period the structure, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the warmth. This heat is then evenly radiated for many hours during the second stage. Masonry fireplaces without a glass fire window only provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on temperatures 1 to 2 daily firings are enough to guarantee a constant room temperature.fireplace surround ideas