The fireplace today rarely acts as a heating element, as was the custom in the old days. Of course, it can be warmer and more comfortable from him, but his main goal in a private house or city apartment is decorative. The living room immediately acquires the features of luxury and nobility. Sitting at the heat source with a cup of coffee in the winter evenings, or just after a busy day at work, you can relax and not think about anything, or just watch TV.
The assortment of modern models presents a large number of all kinds of classic and original options. One of the most popular is the corner fireplace in the interior.
Types of fireplaces
Depending on the type of fuel, installation method, style and location of the model, there are different types: wood, gas, electric, floor, wall, straight, corner, stone, cant. There are devices that do not even need a chimney. They do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere, although they operate on the principle of live fire.
Built-in options take up little space, but space for them should be considered in advance when designing the interior, so as not to disturb the design of the walls. If you decide to install the equipment after the repair, the best option is a wall fireplace. As for the exterior, it can be made of stone, brick, other materials.
In addition to the above, island and corner fireplaces are popular - they organically fit into the interior, becoming an integral part of it.
Design and benefits
The advantages of corner models are indisputable. The main one is a significant savings in free space. Being in the corner, the fireplace does not bother anyone, and at the same time performs all its practical and decorative functions in full. Chimney in this design is located in any of the walls.
By design, corner fireplaces are very compact, they can be installed not only in a large living room, but also in rooms with a small area - for example, in a bedroom or in an office. Due to the location between the two walls, this design heats the adjacent rooms, which is also very convenient and practical. Corner models can be symmetrical and asymmetrical.
Asymmetrical fireplaces
These models have a clearly rectangular shape and are mounted directly into the corner. Thus, space is saved and the fireplace clearly fits even in the interior where such equipment is not provided. The chimney can also be easily installed in an adjoining wall.
An asymmetrical fireplace is often used as a peculiar element for zoning a room. Much in the perception of the overall interior depends on the cladding and appearance of the fireplace, but these are questions to professional designers. If you wish, you can see the photo, choose the best option.
Symmetrical fireplaces
Symmetrical models are recommended to be installed in rooms where there is no question of saving space. This option is mounted across the corner. From a design point of view, an angular symmetrical fireplace is better perceived visually, since the fire can be seen from anywhere in the room. On the practical side, this option is also more acceptable, since the symmetric fireplace does a little better with the heating function, unlike other models.
Corner fireplace can be both natural and purely decorative, that is, not to heat the house, but simply to give it a noble appearance. In this case, the owner of the house gets rid of the problem of installing the chimney, which significantly saves time and money.
Stove fireplace
The main function of the stove is to heat the room. Such models are stone, metal. If you plan to use the structure for cooking, you should install a stove with a stove when a special cooking surface is built into the equipment. In addition, there are options with an oven, or a combined model.
Of course, it is not recommended to install such furnaces in the living room, even with a powerful hood, but this option is suitable for a large kitchen-dining room. Most modern stoves-fireplaces are metal furnaces of small size. They have high heat transfer and are able to heat a room up to 80-90 sq.m.
Where to install
Future owners of fireplaces often wonder: where is the best place to install a corner fireplace so that it is beautiful and practical? Installation of the fireplace is carried out on the inner or outer wall. If you choose the first option, installation problems may occur due to chimney elevation. In the second case, the installation is less problematic, but requires prior approval from the appropriate authorities.
Whichever choice of fireplace you choose (except for electric fire), everything connected with the presence of fire should be installed in accordance with fire safety requirements. Everything else is at the discretion of the owner. The only thing is not recommended to install a fireplace in front of windows and entrance doors, in order to avoid drafts.
If the fireplace is tight to the wall, take care of the installation of a heat-resistant layer of at least 20 mm thickness. Installation on a wooden floor also requires additional protection in the form of a metal sheet laid around the perimeter of the fireplace.
What corner fireplace to choose for the living room
In the living room, where there is usually enough space, it is recommended to install a luxurious symmetrical fireplace, next to which you can put a couple of beautiful chairs, a table for tea drinking - what is not a good idea? However, it is necessary to provide for temperature regimes, since there is nothing pleasant in sitting hotly at the fireplace, and not pleasant warmth.
Installing a fireplace in the living room should take into account the overall style of the room. Classic looks ridiculous in combination with hi-tech, just as the Provence is not friendly with pop art.
Brick firebox
In a country house most often for the manufacture of the furnace used brick. It is the most safe and durable material with good heat and high heat transfer. Even if there is a strong frost outside the windows, the brick firebox heats up quickly and retains heat for a long time in the house.
The brick is quite resistant to external influences and temperature changes, so brick fireboxes are considered reliable and durable. It is not required to clean as often as, for example, cast iron. High-quality heat-resistant (chamotte) material does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. Installing a brick firebox requires a good separate foundation, since such a fireplace is quite heavy. The average weight is 450-500 kg, and not every base can withstand such a burden. The base is decorated with special refractory materials - for example, marble tiles.
Independently, without special knowledge, it is unlikely that you will be able to lay out a brick firebox, therefore it is recommended to order the service to a qualified stove-maker who will make the fireplace in accordance with all safety rules.
Metal firebox
Many prefer strong cast-iron fireboxes that are able to withstand ultrahigh temperatures. Such a fireplace does not darken, does not fade with time, keeps heat for a very long time, is able to heat large areas, which significantly saves its maintenance costs.
You can buy a metal firebox as a finished product, or assemble it yourself, with the assistance of specialists. The pig-iron fireplace differs in lower price, in comparison with stone or brick that is also its advantage.
Pig-iron firebox can not be sharply cooled. If you need to quickly cool such a fireplace, do not pour ice water into it.
Do it yourself
If you have sufficient skills in construction and understand the principle of operation of furnaces and other heating equipment, you can build a corner fireplace with your own hands. It is difficult to say how much you will save on materials, but the work will definitely be released for free, unless, of course, you have to redo anything with the involvement of qualified specialists.
Before you begin to install the fireplace, it is important to draw up a preliminary draft in all details and carefully plan all stages of work. Do not forget to provide good traction, the right place for the chimney, the correct location of the fireplace. After installing the entire structure, it will be difficult to redo something, especially if the fireplace is of built-in type.
Materials
Regardless of what type of fireplace you decide to stop at, it will take a lot of materials to make it. First of all, you should take care of thorough waterproofing, which can serve as a roofing material, polyethylene. It is also necessary to stock up with a sufficient amount of sand, crushed stone, cement, clay, which will be useful for the manufacture of mortar and other construction purposes.
In the process of making a fireplace, you will need boards or metal sheets for formwork, mesh, rods for concrete reinforcement.
For the direct manufacture of the fireplace and chimney materials are used, depending on the type of heating equipment. It may be a brick (simple and fireproof), metal parts, etc.
Preparation and first rows
First of all, you should take care of the foundation, which should be more than the base of the fireplace itself. To create a foundation, dig a foundation pit, then well tamp the pit and put wet sand in it. Top gravel is poured, wired mesh is installed.
The next stage is to protect the walls from overheating with the help of special asbestos strips. After that, formwork should be installed and all other procedures for filling the foundation should be completed. After the base is manufactured, a technological break should be made for a period of 18-20 days.
As for the order for laying the fireplace, there are two of them in the corner version; one model is simpler in laying and the other is more complicated. A lot depends on the placement of the first row, since any mistake can be negatively reflected at all other stages of work. The first row sets the overall dimensions of the entire fireplace, so the thickness of the seams should be respected with maximum precision.
Firebox
To the fireplace not only served as a decoration of the room, but also gave the maximum heat, you need to properly lay out the furnace. At the same time, its walls should be located at a certain angle to each other - the lateral ones are slightly turned outwards, and the back one is inclined forward.
Fireplace fireplace in its volume should be 1/50 of the total size of the room. It is also important to take into account the depth that must be correct. If the firebox is too deep, the fireplace will not be heated enough and the room will be cold. If, on the contrary, the depth is shallow, smoke may occur.
The fire chamber happens closed and open type, can be integral or combined. To calculate the correct dimensions of the flue window, the area of the room should be divided by 50.
Pass
In order for the sparks not to fly out of the chimney and no air surges to occur, a special threshold is established between the firebox and the smoke chamber, or pass. It can be both lottoobraznym, and even. The pass should not make the pipe narrower.
The arch and the output of the chimney
The arch is a portal overlap, it can be semi-circular, luchkovoy, straight.
The chimney can be bought off the shelf, but such options are usually expensive, so it is easier to make it with your own hands from metal or brick. The walls, through which the flue outlet passes, should be as insulated as possible with asbestos material, should also be protected between floors.
Do not use the same chimney for different heating installations, for the fireplace it must be completely autonomous. The correct chimney height is at least 5 m, if not more. It all depends on the height of the floors of the room. The chimney is made of refractory material. Brick version can be made of steel pipe. The optimal shape for the chimney - the cylinder. The fewer obstacles to the passage of smoke, the less soot will form on the walls.
Finish
The final stage in the complex process of installing a fireplace is the process of finishing. Here, a lot depends on the style and personal tastes of the owners. Finishing is carried out from decorative materials, ceramics, stone, marble. For example, the fireplace and chimney itself can be trimmed with stone, the upper part of the fireplace can be covered with decorative plaster.
Before you start decorating, you should cover the surface of the fireplace with a reinforcing primer. To the brick planes to be trimmed with stone, it is necessary to attach a welded mesh with cells 10x10 mm using self-tapping screws. If necessary, the upper part of the fireplace is leveled with gypsum plaster. A glass cloth mesh with a cell size of 5x5 mm is used to strengthen the surface.
Budget decor involves the manufacture of a special box of drywall, followed by lining.
Exterior cladding can be very diverse, both in texture and in color. Plaster is applied on the previously prepared samples of decorative materials, after which tile is laid on the area of the floor around the fireplace. The following work on the finishing of the fireplace are made no earlier than two days.
Conclusion
Fireplace - a great invention, bringing warmth and comfort to the house in which it is installed. In order for it to serve you for a long time, you should adhere to the basic safety rules when designing and installing it, and also do not forget to clean it from soot and ash in time.
For the fireplace insert, use only fuel specially designed for this purpose. The power of modern fireplaces is enough to warm the room up to 200 sq.m. In such a house will never be damp and musty smell, which is important for maintaining warmth and comfort. Having installed a fireplace in the hall, you will be able to enjoy comfort every day, spend wonderful time with your family, invite friends to get a meeting over a cup of tea, and have parties.
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