If you’ve begun to think about the process involved in revamping your fireplace then a fireplace chamber could be the key ingredient that to making the focal point of your living space look amazing. When adding to the aesthetics of where your fire basket or stove is going to be situated there is much to consider. In this article, we will try to guide you through which fireplace chamber might be best for your home and hopefully help you to choose the right colour and style for your living space.
What is a Fireplace Chamber?
Firstly, let us explain what a fireplace chamber actually is! A fireplace chamber generally consists of walls within the fireplace opening or recess; it includes the back wall and two sides. A fireplace chamber is essentially three walls that ‘house’ your wood-burning, gas or electric stove.
Lots of focus usually sit around which fire surround or hearth you should purchase but don’t overlook the importance of having the right fireplace chamber in situ, it has both aesthetic and practical uses.
How are Fireplace Chambers Made?
As we’ve mentioned above, our fireplace chambers typically consist of three panels (sometimes there are header pieces and returns included too which create a traditional look).
Fireplace chambers are made using real brick or stone that is fixed to a vermiculite board to create the perfect backdrop for fire baskets and stoves. The bricks are carefully cut and glued onto a vermiculite board that can withstand temperatures that exceed 1000C. The three-piece cuttable panels enable you to transform your fireplace opening to a superb standard, we offer bespoke non-standard sizes for larger fireplace openings, you can contact us with your measurements in order for us to quote you.
What are the Different Types of Fireplace Chambers?
There is a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing a fireplace chamber and we stock a vast amount of styles including real brick, stone, cast iron and slate materials. Whatever the finish is that you are looking to achieve we’ll have a fireplace chamber that you’ll love. Below we’ve set out some of the most popular types of fireplace chambers that we and our customer love.
If you’re looking for a traditional or period aesthetic, then why not take a look at our rustic-looking chambers, we’ve included red brick, cast iron and aged stone in our top picks.
For a super modern or contemporary-looking fireplace chamber, why not browse our most popular perfectly constructed trendy fire chambers below?
If you’re looking for a minimalist look to your fireplace, you can purchase the vermiculate boards on their own and they can be painted to a colour of your choosing.
Guide to Installing a Fireplace Chamber?
If you’re looking to buy one of the stylish fireplace chambers we’ve mentioned above then the installation is generally super straightforward and if you have basic DIY skills it could be something you could undertake however if there is building work involved we would recommend that you look to employ the services of a competent installer.
Traditionally, altering a fireplace chamber involved knocking-out brickwork and in some instances, this can be costly as the fireplace opening may require a rebuild. Using our fireplace chambers makes the process more straightforward.
Below we’ve set out a brief guide to the installation of a fireplace chamber.
- You’ll first need to ensure the surrounding area is suitably prepared, when installing a fireplace things can get messy so we recommend using sheets to cover flooring or furniture within the room. Suitable tools including a tape measure, cutting equipment and heat-proof cement will be required.
- If you have a fireplace surround in place you’ll need to remove this to provide you with easier access to the fireplace when it comes to fitting the chamber. The hearth can be left in place as the fireplace chamber panels will sit perfectly on top of the hearth.
- Measure the chamber panels so they accurately fit within the inside of the fireplace cavity. If the fireplace cavity is larger than the fireplace chambers we supply then remember we offer a made-to-measure service for these larger openings!
- Fix the chamber panels directly to the cavity walls (existing opening) using heat cement. We recommend fixing the rear panel first, followed by the two side panels. Once the fireplace chamber is fitted and the cement has dried out you can fix your fireplace surround back in place and you’ll have a beautifully finished fireplace!
- If you’re looking to achieve an extra neat finish to your fireplace, why not try installing one of our chamber trim kits. They are cuttable and provide you with an ultra-clean look!
How to Clean a Fireplace Chamber
Fortunately, your fireplace chamber shouldn’t require too much cleaning as the debris from your stove or fire usually fall onto the hearth. If you need to clean your fireplace chamber we recommend dusting it occasionally with a dry cloth. Depending on the material of your chamber if it needs further cleaning put a few drops of a mild washing-up liquid into a bucket of hot water and wipe down the stone with the solution using a non-abrasive cloth or sponge.
We hope we’ve given you some creative ideas that will help you choose the perfect fireplace chamber for your home. To help you decide on the other components you’ll need to complete the look of your fireplace we’ve listed some of our best-selling fireplaces, hearths & beams below which help to complement your fireplace.
