Original ideas with modern fireplace models are always interesting and unusual. When thinking about the interior of a country house, there is always more space for implementing interesting ideas. Therefore, suspended fireplace designs are often used here. Wall-mounted fireplaces are no longer a new product on the Russian market, but some users are still wary of using them in home improvement. In this article we will look at this type of fireplace, and also answer the main questions - can a hanging fireplace become a full-fledged heating device, and also whether it is possible to make a hanging fireplace with your own hands.
The flame in the fireplace always has a fascinating effect on people, attracts attention and enchants. A fireplace installed in the center of the room has even greater magic and becomes the center of attraction. That is why most owners of country houses strive to install a living hearth, and not an imitation fireplace. And it’s good that you have such an opportunity in your own home.
The history of the hanging fireplace
A fireplace symbolizes warmth and comfort in the home, and the wall mounted version is internationally recognized as the most beautiful structure in the world. The first model of such a fireplace was invented in the 60s of the twentieth century, and even then it won the hearts of many people. It was made of metal plates and hung on the wall. Now this same model “lives” in the Museum of Modern Art in France and takes pride of place in the exhibition. This invention was named the most beautiful object in the world in 2009.
In most cases, a metal hanging fireplace hanging from the ceiling is used in high-tech and modern interiors. Designer models have a high price, but if desired, and with accurate sketches and calculations, such a structure can be made with your own hands.
Peculiarities
Hanging hearths are usually used to decorate high-tech style. Of all the variety of models, you simply will not find classic fireplaces, the shape of which will resemble the device we are familiar with.
However, the main feature of such fireplaces is their firebox. After all, its installation does not involve inserting it into a wall; it is suspended in the air, at the level of human eyes. Agree, this is a very unusual solution that requires a special approach, especially with regard to fastening. Such fireplaces often use glass as decoration.
Distinctive features
Fireplaces hanging from the ceiling have a metal body, the main part is attached to the ceiling structure or the pipe runs through the wall. All models of hanging fireplaces are lightweight so that they can be installed calmly and without fear of collapse. Modern models are distinguished by an elegant and sometimes sophisticated design, but their weight is always light. Metal is a malleable material, so it can be used to create the most unimaginable designs of any shape. Therefore, hanging fireplaces are distinguished by their extraordinary beauty and grace.
For example, metal structures that resemble a flower or a fantastic animal in appearance cause delight and look very unusual.
The design of fireplaces is made of two types of materials: heat-resistant steel or fire-resistant glass. In both cases, it turns out to create beautiful structures that can make the room special. The lightweight steel used for such purposes is no more than six millimeters thick, so the fireplace itself will not be heavy. Fireproof glass, which is usually used to decorate the firebox, adds lightness and color to the design. A three-dimensional and full view of the flame is also created.
Main characteristics
A hanging fireplace is a pipe mounted into the ceiling, and the firebox is located below. The pipe acts as a chimney; it is a very convenient and at the same time stylish solution. But if you don’t intend to heat the fireplace with wood, then the pipe serves more of a decorative function.
The suspended structure can be used not only for a wood-burning fireplace; the firebox can be electric or based on biomaterial. In this case, you can place this installation in an apartment.
Types of hanging fireplaces [ads-mob-1][ads-pc-1]
Homemade hanging bio fireplace
The firebox can be closed or open. The closed one can be metal with a glass door or completely made of heat-resistant glass. The suspended structure of the fireplace is made of metal, the most common is stainless steel, as it is durable and resistant to high temperatures.
Traforart FREE fireplace in use
Cast iron is also used; it has similar heat resistance characteristics. External finishing is not used in this case, since it will additionally make the structure heavier and this is considered inappropriate in this design of the fireplace. You can play up the style with metal color, chrome plating, matte or glossy surface.
Installation of hanging fireplaces
The main point for choosing a suspended structure is its weight; it should be borne in mind that standard ceilings cannot support more than 160 kg. Taking this into account, manufacturers make lightweight hanging fireplaces, made of thin sheet steel (up to 1.5 mm), their weight is about 60 kg.
Fuel for hanging fireplaces
Typically, wall-mounted fireplaces are made into three categories: gas, wood-burning and bio-fireplace.
A hanging fireplace that operates from a chimney most often resembles a cylinder in shape, since it is very important to indicate the correct connection to the chimney. Models that resemble a cone-shaped tent are also popular. The firebox of the presented models can be either open or closed. The closed version is complemented by tempered panoramic glass for a better view of the flame. There are models with a 180 and 360 degree view of the flame in the firebox. The door is made of fire-resistant ceramics. Whether the fireplaces are open or closed, it doesn’t matter, the beauty of the burning fire will be visible in any case.
A design in a simpler and lighter format is a biofireplace; they are made of lightweight steel and have a weight not exceeding 10 kg. The advantage also lies in the fact that to install a suspended biofireplace, you do not need to install a chimney, performing complex manipulations that are time-consuming and require more significant capital.
When installing a wood-burning or gas fireplace with an open firebox, it is best to choose open rooms with a large area, and also ensure the exit of combustion products by making supply and exhaust ventilation. Such a structure is usually free-standing so that it does not touch surrounding furniture - thereby avoiding the creation of fire hazards.
An electric wall-mounted fireplace also exists - and such models can be easily used in a city apartment.
If you want to install a hanging fireplace in a room, you need to reconsider the arrangement of furniture in accordance with fire safety requirements.
Electric fireplace
One of the simplest options for building a fireplace in your home is to choose an electric type. The design of such a fireplace is based on a metal heating coil, so it is very simple to make. Its shape and size can vary depending on desire.
Considering that the heating coil tends to reduce the oxygen level when in contact with air space, it is necessary to take care of insulating this element. This can be as simple as separating it from the external space with a well-thought-out design of equipment, for example, quartz glass, or providing a vacuum shell. The latter option is not particularly necessary, because the combustion of oxygen from the air will be reduced with the help of a glass door.
As for the manufacture of the heating element itself, you can build it yourself:
- This can be done using the spirals that are in the iron. Their total power should be up to 3 kW.
- The appropriate number of quartz glass tubes must be purchased, taking into account the dimensions of the spirals.
- When ensuring the insulating properties of the spirals, you should use a sealant for furnaces and an insulating material, which is a basalt fiber cord. They are wrapped around spirals and then placed in glass tubes.
- When a sealant is applied, this happens from one end of the tubes; it is necessary to insert a match into the future plug, and after the sealing material has completely hardened, the match is removed from it. This is necessary in order to provide an opening that will allow the required amount of air to pass through to the element.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hanging fireplace
This fireplace model has impressive characteristics. Among the advantages are the following qualities:
— light weight (you can install the fireplace without a special foundation, on a heat-resistant platform);
— beautiful and unusual design;
— simple installation;
— wide view of the flame.
There are also significant disadvantages.
If you need a fireplace to fully heat the room, then a hanging model is not suitable here at all. It produces too little heat to heat even one room in which it is installed. The small heat output of hanging stoves indicates that the installed fireplace structure will play the role of a decorative element and provide little heating. Of course, wood-burning and gas fireplaces will provide more heat, including thermal radiation, than lighter versions of fireplaces running on alcohol and biofuel (bio-fireplaces).
Another disadvantage is the high price of the structure. You can independently carry out the construction and installation of a fireplace, but most often these types of fireplaces are still purchased.
Aesthetic practicality
Although these products are rather a protest against the theories of functionalism and rationalism, they are quite practical. Such “floating” structures can be installed in almost any part of the room, if the room has suitable load-bearing characteristics. Since the weight of these designer fireplaces is relatively small, these models are well suited for objects where it is not recommended to create a large load on the roofing or ceiling elements. Another practical advantage is saving space. But chimneys can be quite long.
These products look especially harmonious in a two-color design. They play the role of a vertical dominant, visually increasing the height of the room. Such a hearth can give any type of room a special atmosphere.
Operating pendants
This is not to say that hanging fireplaces require any special application. If you previously had a regular wall-mounted or corner wood-burning or gas fireplace, then all you need to do when using a wall-mounted, centrally standing fireplace is to get used to the operation of the new device. Otherwise, operation is no different from other types.
Gas and wood hanging fireplaces are in great demand, so we’ll talk about them below and outline the operating rules.
— After heating, always clean the firebox and ash pan. If this is not done, then subsequent ignition will be complicated.
— Use fireplace accessories to avoid getting burned. Usually these are forged cast iron tools that help put firewood inside, clean the firebox, and open the door. They go well with a forged wood firewood to match the style.
— When the fireplace is open, be sure to use devices to protect against sparks and falling coals (protective screens).
— For comfortable use, choose models of hanging fireplaces with additional options - automatic glass cleaning, air supply regulators, ash pans, etc.
Varieties
Since the hearth is, first of all, a fire, it must burn inside the structure. This means that the fire will require fuel, which will be the determining factor in choosing the type of device that suits you. There are only two main types of such ovens:
- Wood burning
- Biofuel
The first will require the mandatory presence of a chimney to which the chimney will be connected. The composition turns out to be quite massive, although there are many models of such stoves and among them there are quite compact ones.
Biofuel stoves do not require combustion products to be removed and they do not need a chimney. Due to this, you can find models that are very small in size and weight. This can be decisive in cases where the hanging fireplace is attached to not very strong floors. Special fuel burns inside them, which does not emit substances harmful to humans when burned. However, you should not think that such devices will not be able to warm you up - the heat generated when burning such fuel is very high.
Electric fire in the rack
Architect Andrey Galushko: “We wanted to preserve the feeling of spaciousness in this small apartment, create an atmosphere of sun and joy that would brighten up the gray days. One of the finds was the fireplace. We created an open plan for the living room, and next to the TV area we designed a custom shelving unit with facades made of large-format porcelain tiles and installed an electric fireplace in it.”
Stylist: Julia Yanson. Photo: Ivan Sorokin
Stylist: Julia Yanson. Photo: Ivan Sorokin
Swedish stove with tiles
For an apartment in a historical building in the center of Moscow, designer Ekaterina Fedorchenko chose the style of French classics from the same era, combining it with modern designer items. Molded cornices and decor, elegant doors with rounded portals and glass inserts set the character of the living room interior. The original solution was to replace the traditional fireplace with a Swedish stove, decorated with glazed tiles.
Photo: Giorgio Possenti
Photo: Giorgio Possenti
