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For people who love burning fires, fireplace grates are needed, which serve as the “holder” for the wood. Typically, fireplace grates are made from heavy wood to accommodate both the weight of the wood and the heat of the fire. During the fire-burning process, the grate is actually oxidized, which is why after having it for a few years, it begins to get rusty. At that time, the nice appearance and structural stability begins to fail.
If you are shopping for fireplace grates, you want to measure the firebox first. For this, make sure you add several inches on the sides, as well as front and back so the fireplace grate will fit. The goal with fireplace grates is to choose one that actually takes up the majority of the firebox. In other words, it would be to your advantage to choose one that will hold enough wood so you do not have to constantly, add on wood. With fireplace grates, you want enough surface space so you can create a wonderful fire with the right amount of wood but also one that keeps the wood in place. Otherwise, the wood would roll off into the floor of the firebox, which does nothing for the fire but waste wood. Therefore, fireplace grates should be made from quality iron, large enough for the firebox, and constructed so they will keep the logs securely in place. Something many people are not aware of is that fireplace grates, along with other accessories, are used to make the fire more efficient. In fact, experts estimate that up to 90% of heat generated by a standard masonry fireplace is lost up the chimney. Therefore, you want to do everything possible to ensure the heat is pushed out into the room and not thrown away, especially if you use your fireplace for a primary heat source. To give you an idea of the most popular types of fireplace grids, we have broken two down for you. First, there are tube-style fireplace grates, which are made from a series of U-shaped tubes, all securely fastened together. These types of fireplace grates are somewhat new and designed so the lower portion of the grate is curved making the wood stay in place so it burns a warm, beautiful fire. In addition to fireplace grates, you could also use andirons, which also help keep the wood in place. Andirons are two metal bars, also cast iron in most cases, designed with a decorative front shaft so the logs can be held. Therefore, when using fireplace grates with andirons, you get the best of both worlds. The purpose of fireplace grates is twofold, to pull air into the bottom of the opening, move it around, and then over the fire so air is warm and pushed into the room, as well as holding the wood in place. |
