Modern fireplaces/contemporary fireplaces
How can I convert my traditional fireplace to a modern fireplace?
A traditional fireplace typically has a Class 1 UK chimney opening, with a fire surround made of stone or wood that includes a mantelpiece above and a hearth below.
If you are converting the traditional fireplace to a modern fireplace such as, for instance, a DRU Global 100 ‘letterbox’ gas fire, the fire opening has to be moved further up the chimneybreast.
Firstly, the old surround, mantle and hearth have to be removed and the Class 1 chimney opening bricked up.
Next, a new opening has to be created in the brickwork at the desired height. The fire assembly is inserted, cassette-like into the opening.
If it has a conventional flue, the connection to the chimney cavity is already built into the fire.
If it has a balanced flue, an additional vertical opening must be made in the brickwork to house the concentric flue. This will measure at least one metre above the fire opening.
Depending on the condition of the existing chimney, a flue liner may be required. Your installer may also have to employ the services of a chimney sweep to ensure that the external air flow for the fire is clear and safe to use.
Once the installation is complete, the front of the chimneybreast is plastered and made ready for decoration.
The modern fireplace can be left simply as a ‘hole-in-the-wall’ gas fire or it can be enhanced by the addition of an attractive outer frame.
The entire process normally takes less than one day and, once the plaster has dried, you are ready to enjoy your new modern fireplace.
If I buy a modern fireplace for my existing chimney, how much building work is required?
The amount of building work required very much depends on the condition of your existing chimney and the type of modern fireplace you select to replace your traditional fireplace.
In most cases, a traditional fireplace has a fire surround, with a mantelpiece above and a hearth below. This will all have to be removed in order to reveal the existing Class 1 UK chimney opening at the foot of the chimneybreast.
If you have selected a modern gas fireplace insert, such as the DRU Global 40, to replace your old fire, very little building work is required. The fireplace insert is designed to fit directly into the existing chimney opening, with a simple air connection to the chimney cavity. Once it is installed, there is just a small amount of plastering needed to render the chimneybreast and make it ready for decoration.
Depending on the condition of the existing chimney, a flue liner may be required. Your installer may also have to employ the services of a chimney sweep to ensure that the external air flow for the fire is clear and safe to use.
Once the fireplace insert is in place, it can be enhanced by a modern stone or synthetic fire surround or by a simple but elegant outer frame.
If you intend to replace your traditional fireplace with a larger, widescreen gas fire such as the DRU Global 70XT, more building work will be required. The Class 1 opening has to be made bigger by removing some of the bricks and creating a larger cavity to house the fire assembly.
The same operation is required for a modern, letterbox-style gas fire, such as the DRU Metro 100XT. In this case, the opening is made further up the chimneybreast, with the existing chimney opening below being completely bricked up.
If it has a conventional flue, the connection to the chimney cavity is already built into the fire.
If it has a balanced flue, an additional vertical opening must be made in the brickwork to house the concentric flue. This will measure at least one metre above the fire opening.
Whichever option you choose, the entire process normally takes less than one day and, once the plaster has dried, you are ready to enjoy your new modern fireplace.
Do all modern fireplaces have glass fronts or are some open-fronted?
Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a growing trend for all UK gas fires to be glass-fronted, room-sales appliances.
There are several factors driving this. New building and environmental regulations require all new properties to have a AAA energy efficiency rating. When this is calculated, all aspects of home heating, insulation and sustainable building materials are taken into account, including fireplaces.
This means that all gas fires or wood burners that are being installed in new homes have to achieve the same energy efficiency ratings as, for instance, combi boilers in order that the property can pass its energy efficiency assessment.
In addition, new European-wide legislation coming into effect before 2020 will require all gas fires that are sold to have a certain standard of energy efficiency and emmissions ratings. This can only be achieved by buying glass-fronted, room-sealed appliances, which is why all of the gas and wood fire manufacturers are going this way.
It is still possible to buy open fronted gas fires in the UK, but they are increasingly becoming the exception rather than the norm. Many are still produced as fireplace inserts to fit Class 1 chimneys with traditional coal or log basket designs. Others have more contemporary styling such as letterbox-shaped pebble gas fires.
The problem is they have, in general, much lower energy efficiency ratings and are in danger of becoming obsolete once the new legislation is fully implemented.
All DRU gas and wood fires and stoves are glass-fronted, have high efficiency and low emmissions ratings and comply with all current European efficiency and emmissions standards.
How do you achieve a realistic fire effect with a modern fireplace?
Modern gas fires incorporate several features that contribute to the achievement of very realistic looking fire beds and flame effects.
Firstly, there are the ceramic logs and twigs along with the organic stones and pebbles that make up contemporary fire beds. The design and manufacture of these components has advanced greatly in recent years, so that it is difficult to tell the difference between the synthetic version and its organic counterpart.
Next you have modern gas burner technology. New burners, such as the system found in the DRU Maestro gas fires are fully embedded inside the logs. Rather than emanating from one source, they create flames both around and between the logs to generate a dense flame effect that is strikingly authentic.
As well as creating impressive flames, today’s fire bed materials also have the capacity to create glowing embers that further emphasise the fire’s realistic appearance.
The balanced flue system, which is used on the majority of DRU gas fires, is known to create much higher flames than ordinary gas fires. This is due to the efficient way that air is drawn through the system for combustion. It is a powerful way of forming the flame picture and successfully creates high, natural flames that replicate the look and feel of a real fire.
Finally, new advanced remote control systems, such as the DRU Eco Wave app for tablets and smartphones give you more control over the appearance and consumption of your gas fire. You can select from a range of flame patterns until you find the one you like best and you can set the app to use less gas per kW hour, saving money in the process.
All of these factors combine to make today’s gas fires as realistic as a real log or coal fire.
How much more energy efficient are modern fireplaces than traditional fireplaces?
A traditional fireplace is usually based around a standard sized fireplace insert that is installed directly into a UK Class 1 chimney opening.
The fires typically have the appearance of a traditional hearth or basket fire, with log or coal effect ceramic fire beds. They are almost always combined with a stone or wood fire surround to complete the classic fireplace look.
However, these kinds of fires have their limitations in terms of the variety and height of the flames and the amount of radiant heat they are able to generate.
Also, because they are open-fronted, a great deal of the energy they consume is dispersed throughout the living room, rather than contained in the fireplace. This results in an energy efficiency rating that is normally less than 50%.
Modern gas fires are invariably glass-fronted, room-sealed appliances. Whether they are connected to a chimney or concentric flue, these fires contain their combustion process within a compact cycle. Air is drawn from outside for combustion, with waste gases expelled up the chimney or flue, so that very little fuel is wasted.
Modern gas fires typically have energy efficiency ratings of between 75 and 90%, so they are much more economical and environmentally friendly to run than traditional, open-fronted gas fires.
Are modern fireplaces more expensive than traditional fireplaces?
When you compare like for like, there is essentially no difference.
You can buy modern versions of traditional gas fire inserts, which will fit your chimney and closely resemble a classic fireplace. Good examples of these are the DRU Global 40, 55 and 55XT gas fires, which are contemporary in design and yet made to fit the UK Class 1 chimney with minimal conversion work required.
Although these fires are a little bit more expensive than traditional open fronted fire inserts, the running costs are considerably cheaper, so you will save money in the long run. This is because they have energy efficiency ratings of over 85%, as opposed to less than 50% for open fronted gas fires.
They also have sophisticated remote controls with room temperature monitors, so you can easily control how much energy you are using without sacrificing any comfort.
Of course, as you move up the price points into much larger, contemporary gas fires such as the DRU Metro or Maestro series, then the purchase prices become much higher. But although they are obviously luxury appliances, and priced as such, the efficiency ratings are correspondingly very impressive, so they make a good investment and will enhance the resale value of your property.
I would like to install a modern fireplace in my loft conversion. Is this possible and who could do it for me?
The great thing about modern gas fires is that there is virtually no restriction on which part of the home they can be located in.
If your chimney runs through the loft, it will be possible to install any conventional or balanced flue gas fire into the chimney, subject to your dealer doing a full assessment of its condition and employing a chimney sweep if necessary.
Even if the loft has no chimney, it is possible to install a modern, balanced flue gas fire, which can be housed inside a false chimneybreast with just the realistic fire display visible behind the glass window.
As long as it is feasible to extend your domestic gas supply into the loft space and insert the flue through the roof or outside wall, you can be sure of an authentic log or pebble fire display that will make a magical addition to your loft conversion.
Your DRU approved dealer employs fully qualified Gas Safe engineers that can expertly and safely install a beautiful contemporary gas fire into the loft. Even if the flue has to be extended over a greater than average distance, DRU has a patented PowerVent system that can overcome this problem and ensure that your modern gas fire works perfectly.