Stone Age

Fireplace burning in the middle of the living room, you meet with us too often. And it's not in the expensive models, or the complexity of installation, just not in every country house there is a room of about 30 m2, is optimal for single fire. But for the near-wall unit (ie, standing against the wall of a room) will be able to carve out a corner of any, even the most modest house. Most often the device leans against the wall with the long side. Portal at the same time may act only slightly, or unavailable, and the loss of usable area would be minimal. The angular variation of wall fireplace is also suitable for smaller rooms. If the dimensions of the room can donate a couple-three square meters, you can choose the model, adjacent to the wall of the narrow side. Firebox like fireplaces equipped with two or even three glasses, which provides an excellent overview of a burning flame. And finally, mounted modification Mounted on the wall and floor slab, is recommended for any premises. True, it should be noted that by virtue of its specific features (in order to reduce the total weight they are usually made of metal and are faced with) such fireplaces have small size and modest power. But look just great. Design of their highly unusual, and there is no doubt that such a "fiery eye" would be a real adornment, self-sufficient and dominant piece of furniture. "Anatomy" fire And now look more "anatomy" of the heating device. The main part of the fire, his heart is a furnace, where there is a fire. This is the overriding component of the "hearth", and that it should pay special attention when choosing a particular model. If the problem is not heating costs in your home too sharply and the fireplace will be playing a rather decorative role, there's nothing better than an open hearth in a stone niche, and you can not come up with. It can be decorated with panels of chamotte clay, cast iron casting or forging, but the main decoration - it's the flames, which you will enjoy, without any kind of interference. Certainly, open fireplaces are beautiful, but alas, not too practical. As heaters are inefficient (efficiency - not more than 20%), and the burning rate of wood is almost unregulated. In addition, a fire can not be left unattended, especially if a family has young children. Perhaps precisely because of the above reasons do not use open fires have increased demand. Much more frequently closed firebox - in the form of a metal chamber with a door from the stable to high temperature quartz glass. Not making it impossible to enjoy the fire, such furnaces is also well heated room - their efficiency reaches 80% or even more. Heating occurs due to thermal radiation through the glass and ribbed shell wall. Almost all current models have built-ui-gate valve, through which you can adjust the traction, and hence the rate of burning firewood. Only, perhaps, a lack of podobnyhtopokvtom that eventually the glass will inevitably be covered with soot, and him will have to take care with special detergents. As a material for walls of the combustion chamber using iron and steel. Cast-iron furnace steel are far superior thermal conductivity and durability (lifetime - 20 years and over). On the other hand, they are rather expensive, difficult to install and are limited in size and shape. For lovers of exclusive solutions to more suitable steel furnaces, which can be very different, even bizarre shapes. To protect the steel from the heat and mechanical impact, the inner chamber wall panels are often spread from chamotte clay, but in any case, the furnace will last no longer than 5-7 years. Another important point - how to open doors. The simplest and cheapest option - opening to the side. But there are models in which the glass is equipped with a lifting mechanism. Raised screen hidden in the body cladding, and the fireplace becomes open. These models - two in one "- a truly universal, however, should be borne in mind that they cost considerably more expensive than usual. Mantel carry out various kinds of natural stones (the most common sandstone, coquina, granite and marble) and its synthetic analogues, refractory bricks and ceramic tiles. It is possible also to use for decorative purposes fine wood such as beech, cherry dubirokkoi. But fire from an accidental spark can not be afraid. Facing always mounted so that it does not touch directly with the combustion chamber. Design Variation Design trim fireplace literally innumerable. Because this type of heating system is the most popular, manufacturing companies are offering us a model for a "taste and color." And of course, to any interior. Devotees of the classics can advise building a P-image-nym portal, trimmed with natural or artificial stone, tiles or cast. Such models are in the lines of almost all manufacturers, but would particularly like to highlight the company's products STOVAX (UK). When looking at these fireplaces impression that their design and decor has not changed since the days of Queen Victoria. Compact cast-iron fireplace with beveled walls made of old technologies, and the frontal part can be decorated with cast iron canopy or tile, painted in the art of Italian majolica. For Baroque peculiar marble veneer and a large number of decors. This may be columns, bas-reliefs, and even small sculptures. That is, in particular, a monumental model of Rotreua ARRIAGA (McnaHHfl), portal that resembles an ancient Greek temple walls. Polished marble surfaces are decorated with a symmetrical pattern, while standing on the sides of the fireplace caryatids give grace and majesty. For ethnic, "village" style is the best fit D-shaped portal and finish unhewn stone, limestone, brick or wood. Ever-popular country music can be found in the line companies RENE BRISACH, SUPRA, LA ROMAINE (all - France), PIAZZETTA (Italy) and many others. Very interesting fireplaces Pevele, Borny, Sommaing and Moncheaux from CHEMINEES PHILIPPE (France) with coarse portals of the artificially aged stone. Well, fans of the avant-garde for sure will be thrilled with bold and original models of FOCUS (France), with the deceptive simplicity that hides thoughtful artistic image and fine engineering calculations. Surprise with their originality and fireplaces otGODIN (France) with portals, resembling the cockpit an ultra-modern lift or even ... the door of the washing machine. So, the choice of wall fireplace is indeed enormous, and the more difficult to determine the specific model. The question is really difficult, because it's not a piece of furniture, cabinet or table, which at any moment, you can move, and if bored, then throw it away. Even the simplest fireplace - a monumental structure, and it is unlikely in the next five to seven years, you decide to demolish it. But even when the decision is made too early to relax. Before the model they like to decorate the walls of your home, will conduct a thorough preparatory work. It provides for choice of location, preparation lean against the wall of a durable non-combustible materials, a solid foundation and chimney, made by the rules and in accordance with the requirements of a particular furnace. We consider these aspects in detail. Location Of course, the choice of places to trim the fireplace (as, indeed, any other) case purely individual and depends on many factors, such as engineering and aesthetic sense. But there are some general rules. First of all, the fireplace should be located in a warm part of the building, near the inner walls of the capital. Why have the inside? The fact that in our difficult climatic conditions in winter, spring and fall of chimneys channel will inevitably freeze. This would cause problems with traction, difficulty in firing, smoke, and just blowing out cold air from the non-working fireplace. Of course, you can take further action on warming the mine, but it means the financial and time costs. Much easier and more sensible to put a fireplace in the center of the house. And the best way to pipe came out closer to the ridge of the roof, because, as you know, for optimum traction flue length must be at least 5 pm And now about the location of the fireplace in the room. It is advisable to put him in the middle of the wall, but if this is impossible, at least so that the sides of the portal remained no less than a meter of free space. It is necessary for normal circulation of warm air streams emitted from the furnace. Another common and perfectly acceptable option to install - in the corner. Incidentally, in this case will get a little heat and adjoining rooms. Should be placed opposite the fireplace wall with windows and doorways - drafts will create disruptions traction, and the unit will begin to smoke or go out. For the same reason "home" is not recommended to be put in the halls and not far from the stairs. But on the other hand, in a room where there is a heating device must be a constant flow of air needed for combustion. Therefore, to install a fireplace in a small area of ??less than 20 m2, a room should not - build it proper ventilation will be very difficult. Foundation of mass fire varies from an average of 500 to 1,500 kg. Obviously, that put him on the floor just can not. Require a firm foundation that will keep on not only self-heating appliance, but also lean against a wall (we'll talk about it later.) In those rare cases where the fireplace is not too heavy, it can be installed on the concrete floor, but it is more the exception than the rule. Most-fire based on its own foundation, rigid enough to avoid any slip design. Even the most minor changes in geometry can lead to the formation of cracks and, hence, loss of pressure the chimney or furnace. It is not necessary, perhaps, to say what may end up leaking carbon monoxide. On the other hand, training grounds "with reserve" cost is quite expensive, so the calculation is usually performed under a specific model of a furnace, and paneling. Most often the fireplace lay the foundation of the same type as that of the house. True, if the building is based on the tape base, there may be some problems, but this situation is a way out. For example, lean a monolithic concrete slab on the tape of the building, securing it with skirts. This design is robust enough to hold almost any size fireplace. Lean against a wall So, after the location of the fire is determined, the foundation is set, it was the turn wall preparation of contiguity, to which put forward a fairly stringent requirements. First of all, it should not pass any kind was communications - electricity, gas pipes and water supply. In addition, it should be resistant to high temperatures. Despite the fact that modern fireplace has a reliable thermal insulation back (usually from basalt slabs), he shall in no case should come into contact with a wall of combustible materials. But flammable-equate tree - naipopulyarneyshy building material for country houses. Hence, the need to shield the construction of brick, foam-concrete block or plaster Paso-ridge plates. There are two types of such structures. The most common and perhaps universal option - wall height from floor to ceiling and width dimensions greater than the fireplace. It is important that she and ponent one with the foundation of the fireplace and provide the needed structural strength as a whole. That is why such refractory "screen" often put U-shaped. The resulting protrusion can be sewn sheets of drywall, or simply plaster, using formed on the sides of the niche for built-in furniture. But unfortunately, in terms of design such a solution is not always acceptable. Reluctance of owners cozy wooden "huts" to build the drop-down style of interior white wall can be understood. In these cases, the "chimney Affairs Masters" may be advised to mount the wall of darkness, folded so that it is only a few inches protrudes from the combustion chamber and smoke collector hood. The edges of concrete blocks or bricks will be completely hidden behind the mantel. The chimney and foundation, and lean against the fireplace wall must bear not only the weight of the heating device, but its chimney. This should be considered, especially if the chimney is built on the old fashioned way - from the corpulent refractory bricks. The main advantage of this design is an exceptional strength and durability, the brick chimney can serve faithfully for many decades. However, only under the condition that he correctly folded. Requirements for quality masonry flue channel is extremely high, as you grout the inside can not - under high temperatures leveling compound be burned quickly and osypletsya. Ensure smooth, without cracks and sagging of the solution, the inner surface of the mine can only highly skilled artist, but it is not so easy to find. Therefore, in recent years have increasingly found "upgraded" brick chimneys, which wound up inside a thin-walled tube of stainless steel. Thus, one can kill two birds with one stone. First, it no longer needs to be carefully selected materials, observe absolute tightness and perfectly smooths the seams, and secondly, a metal pipe, as opposed to brick mine, has no corners where there are smoke swirls and the accumulated soot. But anyway, the erection of a brick chimney - a long and laborious process. Much easier to deal with the ceramic blocks - vertical fragments of the smoke channel, of which, as of the dice, going to the chimney. Each block is a double-walled construction. Internal circuit - refractory fire-clay pipe clay, external - case of lightweight concrete. The inner space filled with insulating material so as to remain between the walls of emptiness. They provide ventilation facility, warning it getting wet, and consequently, loss of key properties. Ceramic blocks have a special lock connection that simplifies installation (it is carried out using heat-resistant putty). Moreover, the design laid metal rods, which penetrate the chimney vertically and attached to channel additional rigidity. But in addition to ease of installation of ceramic chimneys have other advantages. Their internal surface is smooth, with rounded corners, so that the walls will not settle soot. Mass of such pipes is about four times smaller than a brick, and a half times the size of modest "old" analog. True, it is worth slightly more expensive ceramic chimney. Building "blocks" for the chimney have a lot of sizes (cross-section of flue channel 20 x 20 25 x 25 30 x 30 20 x 40 cm, etc.) that allows to build a design, ideal specific model fireplace. On the Russian market the product supply company SCHIEDEL, RAAB, TONESCHORNSTAINE, HART (all - Germany), HONKAHORMI (Finland) and CHEMINEES PHILIPPE (France). For all its up-mUhmN merit of both brick and ceramic pipes have some disadvantages. They have a fairly large mass. Such designs can not be transferred, it is difficult to fix and very difficult to disassemble. It is no wonder that instead of a "fundamental" chimneys gradually come easier. Most probably the prevalent option - it is double-walled metal products. The inner contour is made of stainless steel with thickness 0,5-1,0 mm and an outer tube made of stainless or galvanized steel, among them - a layer of insulation on the basis of basalt fibers. Such chimneys, called "sandwich" different set of advantages. They are not afraid of condensate, have a fairly wide range of sizes, ensuring compatibility with all types of fireplaces. But most importantly - thanks to a small (compared with the fireplace itself) mass, they do not require reliance on the foundation of a metal tube can lean on the wall in-sloneniya or bearing elements ceiling. However, in the latter case, the connection with the chimney pipe cap dymosbor-nick must be flexible, or even at the low shrinkage of the tightness of the building design could be compromised. For these purposes, there are special additional elements - flexible double-walled chimney, made of stainless steel. The minus metal chimneys are fairly high cost, low bearing capacity and not very presentable appearance. If a brick pit in a country house will be quite appropriate, then enter the steel pipe to the interior is likely to fail. As a rule, it "stitched" box in the plasterboard, which can be in favor of style solution room plastered, painted, oblitsevat tiles, etc.