Types Of Fireplaces You Should Know About

Fireplaces can enhance a room’s attractiveness. In the cooler seasons of the year, they may also offer a lovely means of keeping warm. Having some understanding of the various possibilities is beneficial when thinking about building a new fireplace. We will discuss the specifics of various fireplace types in this guide so that you have all the knowledge you need to choose the one that best suits your heating and aesthetic needs.

The four main types of fireplaces are solid stone/mortar, masonry, inserts, and prefabricated. However, there are other hybrid fireplace styles, including metal fireboxes.

The type of gasoline, the mounting options, the design aesthetic, etc. are further variables. Here are 21 of the most typical fireplace types:

• Gas Fireplace
• Fireplace with Ledge Stone Veneer Panel
• Insert Fireplace
• Built-In Fireplace
• Concrete Fireplace
• Tabletop Fireplace
• Aluminum Fireplace
• Fieldstone Hearth
• Electric Fireplace
• Mortar and Wood Fireplace
• Fireplace with Venetian Plaster
• Fireplace Mounted on a Wall
• Gel Fireplace
• Ethanol Fireplace
• Marble Hearth
• Valor Fireplaces
• Mounted Fireplace
• Independent Fireplace
• Contemporary Fireplace
• Traditional Open-Hearth Fireplace
• Burning Wood Fireplace

When it comes to the choices for a fireplace, there is a vast range. Let’s go through some of each type’s characteristics and when each one performs well.

Gas Fireplace

Gas fireplaces are efficient since they heat through combustion. They typically consist of a gas pipe that delivers fuel to the fireplace directly. The majority of gas fireplaces typically have a surface area of 180 to 200 square inches. and range in depth from 12 to 15 inches. Given that they create an actual fire, they can significantly increase a room’s warmth. Gas fireplaces can be installed in a home’s main room as a standalone unit, suspended from the ceiling, or built into a wall (which is most common).

Classic Open-Hearth Fireplace

These kinds of fireplaces have long been commonplace in homes in North America and Europe. They usually use wood as a fuel source and are most frequently found built into the walls of houses. They can, however, be ordered with gas, ethanol, or gel-based fuel. The majority of open-hearth fireplaces are 500 square inches in size and 12 to 14 inches deep. They are often built out of stones and bricks, and they need a chimney (or another sort of ventilation) to vent.

These kinds of fireplaces also work well as standalone pieces, giving any room personality and coziness. Options like gas and wood are quite efficient and produce flames that will immediately remove the chill from smaller places.

Burning Wood Fireplace

Since the beginning of time and most likely till the end of time, fireplaces that burn wood have existed. Despite the fact that they can certainly function as freestanding or suspended devices, they are nonetheless typically found embedded in walls. Although there are some types of “quick-fire wood,” the wood used in fireplaces may take a little longer to warm up, but the amount of heat they can produce is on par with that of gas fireplaces. These fireplaces can be found in tiny sizes or enormous ones with lengths of up to several feet. Modern variants can generally be installed quickly and easily, and they typically cost less to install than other kinds of fireplaces.

Fireplace With Ledge Stone Veneer Panel

With ledge stone panel fireplaces, homeowners may design their fireplace in a variety of contemporary and traditional styles. This kind of fireplace has a stone veneer or ledge overlay that creates the appearance of a dry stack installation. They may be installed in one or two workdays and are compatible with fireplaces that are powered by gas, electricity, or ethanol. Typically, these panels are placed up to a home’s ceiling or about 5 to 6 feet tall.

They can also be fitted as embedded fireplace units or standalone fireplaces. Because ledgestone panels are made of stone, they don’t offer any particular fire risks and have no effect on how much heat a fireplace emits.

Insert Fireplace

The same category as traditional hearth fireplaces includes insert fireplaces, which are manufactured fireplace units. They have been more well-known in recent years as a result of their chic and cutting-edge design. The majority of gas or wood fireplaces can be made into insert fireplaces. Inserts are far more efficient than a normal wood-burning fireplace and produce a large amount of heat.

Depending on the kind of insert you buy, these fireplaces can run on gas, ethanol, or electricity. Electric inserts can be up to 4 feet long and available in wall mounting varieties. The electric inserts are primarily utilized for cosmetic reasons because they don’t emit any heat but rather seem like real fireplaces.

Concrete Fireplace

Concrete fireplaces can combine minimalism and contemporary sophistication. For versions powered by wood, gas, or ethanol, this kind of fireplace addition can be effective. They come in a variety of sizes and are more frequently discovered in bigger homes with spacious rooms and high ceilings (with the fireplace typically reaching the ceiling or at least near it). Other than the usual risks associated with a flammable indoor fireplace, concrete fireplaces do not present any additional health risks.

Hanging Fireplace

For the same reason that people adore suspended lights, many people adore suspended fireplaces because they draw attention to them in a room.

Suspended fireplaces are popular and can use a variety of fuels, including wood, gel, ethanol, and gas (a vertical gas line is required). Since they can take up some room, the majority of models fall between 300 and 700 square inches in size and are roughly 14 inches deep. The majority of suspended fireplaces are made of metal and are capable of heating a home adequately.

Independent Fireplace

In most cases, standalone fireplaces can blend in with any style of interior design. They can be powered by electricity, wood, gas, or gel, among other fuels.

The majority of standalone fireplaces are built of metal, while more recent models may have a front glass window or a double-sided glass unit. They are normally only 4 to 6 square feet in size, which is on the smaller side.

These fireplaces might have more classic stove units or sleek, contemporary designs for a more modern appearance. When using them, you should exercise caution because the open flame can cause a fire.

Small Fireplace

The most typical settings for tabletop fireplaces are upscale dining establishments. They work well for adding a little heat to outside spaces like patios and decks.

Their flames are normally small enough so as to not pose any substantial fire hazards to table settings or other things on the surface. They can be driven by ethanol, gel, or oil.

These fireplaces typically measure no more than 5 to 6 inches in height and range in size from 20 to 100 square inches (the latter being more typical in residential settings). They are more portable and lighter than other kinds of fireplaces, making it simple to transfer them to new areas or quickly refill them with fuel.

Metal Fireplace

Metal fireplaces may give a home setting a really distinctive and vintage atmosphere. They can be added for a cozy rustic appearance or a more straightforward, contemporary appeal. These fireplaces can be purchased with options for burning gas, ethanol, or wood. They are available for purchase as ceiling-mounted or standalone units. The majority of metal fireplaces are between 300 and 400 square feet in size and 14 inches deep.

They may produce the same amount of heat as any gas- or wood-burning fireplace, but caution should be exercised when using them because flammable materials can result in a fire hazard. Operating stand-alone and suspended units should be done with caution because to their exposed and immediately accessible flame, especially if there are kids around.

Fireplace With Mortar And Wood

These fireplace kinds are likely the oldest and most commonly used ones. These fireplaces, often known as “brick & wood” fireplaces, can fit practically anywhere. Brick and wood fireplaces have a design that combines the two types of fuel and can be lit by gas, ethanol, wood, or electricity. Most are 14 inches deep and range in size from 300 to 400 square inches.

These fireplaces can be purchased as standalone fireplace units, however they are most frequently encountered built into walls. They can produce a decent amount of warmth for both small and large places, and they emit just as much heat as any sort of flame-burning fireplace (with the exception of electrical ones).

Fieldstone Fireplace With Veneers

Fieldstone veneer fireplaces offer a stone-based covering to a fireplace’s façade to add extra visual appeal, comparable to ledge stone panels. They have been around for millennia and are frequently found in many homes in North America and Europe. Any living space or leisure room can benefit from its prominent character-enhancing stacked brick design.

Depending on the preferences of the home buyer, these fireplaces can be designed to reach the ceiling or to only provide a foot or two of covering on the top and sides of a fireplace. Any fireplace that burns wood, ethanol, electricity, gas, or is powered by any of these may normally have a fieldstone covering placed.

Electric Fireplace

In many homes nowadays, electric fireplaces are becoming more prevalent. These fireplaces now have the appearance of a real wood or gas fireplace as well as the capacity to make the distinctive crackling sound that fireplaces are known for. These fireplaces do heat up, but they are unable to reach the same high temperatures as gas- or wood-burning fireplaces.

Electric fireplaces are available in standalone units and can also be suspended from a home’s ceiling. Electric fireplace models come in a variety of sizes, from modest 200-square-inch units to large 400-square-foot models (some can even run the length of a wall).

These fireplaces typically cost more to buy and to operate than other types of fireplaces (since electric power is still more expensive than gas).

Fireplace With Venetian Plaster

Fireplaces made of Venetian plaster can look really gorgeous. Numerous types of house dcor might be included into its straightforward and timeless form. These plaster fireplaces, which are frequently installed in the wall of a house or used as standalone devices, are compatible with any electric, ethanol, or gas-powered fireplace.

Because this kind of fireplace casing is made of plaster, which is essentially a very thin form of cement, it cannot catch fire.

Plaster fireplaces can come in a wide range of sizes depending on the size of the home, with many being erected as high as the ceiling. They can also be utilized as a decorative frame for the fireplace’s four sides and for mounted fireplaces.

Fireplace Mounted On A Wall

Another common choice for fireplace design is wall-mounted fireplaces. Some designs call for the usage of a chimney, while others could not even require any ventilation. The sort of fuel that would be used for its functioning is the main determinant in this. Wall-mounted fireplaces can have a wide range of shapes, sizes, and casing materials, including glass and ceramic.

The majority of wall-mounted fireplaces are fueled by electricity, so while they may warm a room evenly, they won’t become as hot as fireplaces that burn fuel (i.e., wood, gas, ethanol, etc.). They provide homeowners with the additional benefit of saving more space in a room due to their location.

Gel Fire Pit

Although they are beginning to receive more attention, gel fireplaces chimnare still not as popular as their electric equivalents. Given that the alcohol-based gel that powers them costs approximately $3 and can only burn for a maximum of two to three hours, gel fireplaces can be fairly expensive to run. The finest feature of these fireplaces is that they don’t need any kind of electrical wiring, piping, or venting to work; instead, all they need is a chimney.

This means that you won’t need to bother about starting them with pricey gas hookups, interior smoke, or ashes. Gel fireplaces can be utilized as a stand-alone unit, suspended, or as a typical fireplace that is embedded in the wall. They can be a safety threat for combustible or flammable goods because the fire they produce is as hot as fireplaces that burn gas and wood. Depending on the model you purchase, they can also vary in size, with some versions being as tiny as 200 or 300 square inches and others being up to 700 square inches.

Biofuel Fireplace

Liquid bioethanol, a very effective fuel, is used to power ethanol fireplaces. In order to create a flame, the liquid is often poured into a metal container inside the fireplace. These fireplaces have a substantial warming effect and can do so quickly. Although ethanol fireplaces can be utilized in suspended or embedded inserts, they are more frequently used in contemporary stand-alone fireplaces.

Their sizes can vary, with some measuring less than 300 square inches and others exceeding 700 square inches. They offer tremendous convenience, as they are very easy to install and don’t require any gas lines or chopped wood to function. Their primary drawback is that they are inefficient, which is primarily brought on by the high cost of ethanol fuel.

Marble Hearth

Beautiful marble makes an excellent surround for contemporary and new-age fireplaces. These fireplaces are typically found in five-star hotels and posh condominium complexes. They come in a variety of sizes, some reaching the ceiling, and can function well with any fuel type or electric fireplace device. Being non-combustible, marble won’t pose any particular fire risks to the fireplace. However, given that this stone isn’t the most affordable, it might result in a rather pricey installment.

Valor Fireplace

Natural gas and propane fireplaces by Valor are highly creative and energy-efficient. They are primarily used in new building and home renovations. They can also be purchased as inserts or standalone stove types. These fireplaces may be put in just about anywhere and provide a room in the house an elegant or rustic look. They can take the place of an existing fireplace stove or oven and are available in a variety of models.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has clarified many of the options available when it comes to setting up a new fireplace. To evaluate which fireplace options are appropriate for your particular home, it is usually advisable to contact a respected contractor in your neighborhood.