Majestic Direct Vent Fireplaces

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By Fanny Ungar. Fireplace. Published at Wednesday, September 26th, 2018 - 02:48:40 AM.

Wood burning fireplaces can become complex even when we are building outside. The atmosphere created around a wood burning fireplace is comforting, calming. The crackling and popping of the wood and the smell that permeates the entire yard adds enjoyment to the functional heater. However, building a custom fireplace can become expensive and complicated. In addition to the firebox and the mantle that we devise as the custom plan, a flue and chimney must be built up through the roof and terminated above the roof line. For many homeowners we have worked with, the expense of cutting through a roof, plus the associated laws and inspections attached to resealing a roof and the expense of building a chimney places the project outside an acceptable budget.
While we were deciding on that particular fireplace, a few others came to mind. A lazy "S" shape and a circle were two that struck us. Each design is perfect for housing a firebox. Set a fake log set inside and burn some gel fuel. You have a completely original fireplace design because it’s custom made with your personality in mind. It’s not hard to use your imagination to come up with completely original home improvement designs. It will make your home say more about who you are and your guests will absolutely appreciate that. People love when they see interesting designs that they haven’t seen anywhere else. It always seems to spark new ideas and get people more into their own home improvement projects. Grandma’s fireplace was certainly beautiful and traditional. I enjoyed sitting there watching television while she rocked in her rocking chair and made blankets out of yarn. But, contemporary times often call for contemporary measures. If every fireplace were the same, the world would be a boring place.
Alternatively you can use veneer stones which are in fact real stones but thinner and therefore easy to work with. They give your fireplace the look of real stone but will save you money since they are much cheaper. One important point to consider when installing a heavy stone fireplace; do make sure that you have a strong ground floor which can support the weight of the structure. If you have any doubts, have a professional surveyor check it out before you start building. You may just need to reinforce the floor to support the weight of your new fireplace. More and more frequently I have clients who want me to custom build outdoor fireplaces in their backyards. Especially in this economy as homeowners maximize their property investment by taking "staycations" the backyard is becoming an oasis of outdoor enjoyment. Fireplaces have traditionally been thought of as wood burning but more and more homeowners are using gas logs as a beautiful and simple alternative to the wood burning fireplace.
This said however, in any wood burning fireplace it is vital to use the right kind of wood that is cut to a convenient size. Hardwoods such as oak or fruitwood are the best option as they give off the most heat. Softwoods such as birch give off a good heat but tend to be consumed pretty quickly, while pine contains a lot of spark forming resin that can spit all over your floor or rug. Ideally, logs should measure between 9 and 14 inches long although it doesn’t hurt to use a couple of larger logs on your fire to give it a bit of character. Only ever use seasoned wood in your fireplace. If you try to burn green wood the heat produced by combustion must dry the wood before it will burn and you risk a buildup of creosote in your chimney which creates an imminent fire hazard. In addition by using well seasoned wood you will you get a much hotter fire; thus creating more heat for your home. It is worth bearing in mind that all wood for burning should be seasoned for a minimum of six months and stored under cover, so it is best to buy and stack firewood well in advance of the coldest months.