All About Hearths

Home is where the hearth is

The hearth industry includes manufacturers, designers, and installers of fireplaces, wood stoves, gas logs and appliances, pellet stoves, barbecue grills, wood burning central heating systems, and fireplace accessories.  Although the image of a traditional, rustic fireplace springs to mind when people consider the term hearth, contemporary design, ecologically sensitive fuels, and technical enhancements have created many new varieties of home comfort systems.  Unlike older models of fireplaces and stoves, today's home comfort systems provide a fuel-efficient, clean method of heating a home, along with decorative elegance. 

What Kind of Hearth Do I Need?

Common methods and materials

Fireplaces and stoves come in a variety of materials, each with unique properties and advantages.  Here are the most common:

Cast iron, popular for centuries, predates welded or cast steel products.  Durable and traditional, these stoves distribute heat evenly, require relatively little maintenance, and can be outfitted to produce less harmful emissions.  Cast iron stoves can be accented with decorative flourishes and enamel coverings, making them very versatile in terms of interior design.

Steel plate, increasingly popular over the last few decades, offers an economical, stylish, and versatile alternative to traditional cast iron.  Mass-produced steel plate can be shaped into a variety of designs to match any decor.  Computerized cutting techniques allow for the creation of dynamic and sculptural forms.  Steel fireplaces and stoves are easy to modify and tweak, so they can be installed in a greater variety of locations than their cast iron counterparts.

Because of its ability to absorb intense energy and then release it slowly, soapstone-a soft material that can be readily cut and polished for use in wood and gas stoves-produces a gentle and even heat. 

European design favors the use of ceramic tiles in stove construction.  These artistic tile stoves can be disassembled and then rebuilt by a qualified mason or technician. 

Firebrick is often used to line the chambers of wood, pellet, gas and coal stoves. This material can withstand a great degree of heat, so it can also be used for industrial purposes.  Decorative firebrick can be cast with intricate patterns.

Pellet, Gas, and Coal

The internal temperatures of gas and pellet stoves can be regulated very efficiently, allowing designers of these stoves to use much thinner and more flexible materials. Coal, on the other hand, can burn much hotter than wood and great care must be used in the design of these stoves to assure a long life. When shopping for a coal stove it is important to make certain that interior parts such as grates and liners are easily and economically replaceable since they will eventually wear out from the constant exposure to high heat.

More information on hearths