Almost all home retailers sport a wide variety of fireplace screens just to suit any fireplace style. Screens are not only used for utilitarian purposes, but also for decorative intents when the fireplace is not used during the summer months. For those scouting for screens, what should we look for or consider when buying these?
Types of Screens.
There are three main types of screens to choose from when you are visiting your favorite home depot. There are single panel screens that are straightforward, and, well... flat. They are almost always your cheapest alternatives, and are entirely suitable for small fireplaces.
Multiple folding panel screens are the norm in hearth screen designs. The most common type is the 3-panel screen, consisting of a main flat portion, and the left and side wings which fold inward to cover the fireplace from the sides. There are also 4 and 5-panel screens as well, and since they are larger, nearly all of them have mini-doors.
The full gate screen is a very functional tool that absolutely keeps the children and the pets away from the fireplace. The screen is largely made up of metal bars grids that can be installed semi-permanently, and can enclose the fireplace at a safe distance. Many do not come with glass covers, although some are furnished with leather or thin fireproof sheets.
Choosing the Right Screens.
Glass screens are mainly used for decorative purposes only. Yet they are also the most widely used among the types of screens because of their aesthetic effects. Take a stroll through a fireplace retailer, and most of the merchandise in the front areas are dozens and dozens of ornamental screens.
However, glass screens do not provide full protection against escaping flames and sparks. Decorative glass will warp and break under intense flames. For superb protection, you must place spark protectors behind the screens. These metal or ceramic enclosures cover the fireplace opening completely when it is not in use. Spark protectors, like screens, have doors in order for you to access the hearth inside. For total effectiveness, use glass screens and spark protectors.
Fireplace screens should ideally be bigger than the fireplace itself. Before going out to purchase a screen, make sure to measure the dimensions of your fireplace first. Take note of the width and the height of the fireplace. In the home retail store, before selecting that screen you've had your eye on, make sure to measure its size. As a rule of thumb, a good enough screen should be wider than your fireplace by 10-12 inches, and higher by 3-5 inches. That should adequately keep the sparks and wild flames from going outside the perimeter.
Decorative Components. Almost all screens now have a decorative appeal to it, and so for the fashion-minded housewife or dad, being choosy over the right designs will pay off in an artistic sense. Factors to consider in choosing fireplace screens will either be the finish (the outer decorative coating of the metal frames), and the material of the screen.
Author Resource:-
Matthew Stanton writes an article about
Fireplace screens and some tips on how to have the best of these stuffs. Simply visit this site for information at http://www.fireplacescreensetc.com/
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