The Versatile and Luxurious Cast Iron Fireplace

The material cast iron first came into production over 500 years ago and was most popular in America. It moved over to the British Isles in the early Victorian era. Cast iron was found to be a material that was too large to be wrought therefore had to be cast in a mould. Cast iron was cheap to produce and it soon became obvious that it was the ideal material to use for the larger appliance such as the fireplace. This idea soon took off in the nineteenth century, and more and more homes had cast iron heating devices in their kitchens and living areas. The using of cast iron then led on to the production saucepans and pots that we know today. It was more common for cast iron to be used in the kitchen in the form of the register gate; this was used to heat things such as the kettle or small pan. It also had the additional benefit of giving off enough heat to warm a small room. As time went on and fashions changed cast iron began to be used for fireplaces. Firstly it was the back panel that was made from cast iron, with the surround being made up of wood or marble. As the industry began to boom and the popularity of the fireplace increased with the home owner, blacksmiths started to use their creative talents to customise each cast iron fireplace. This led to many of the middle class and the wealthy having extravagant designs created on their fireplace and the surrounds. The Cast iron fireplace and the surrounds have made a large comeback in recent years, due to their luxurious appeal. They are manufactured from the finest cast iron and are so popular due to them being versatile and cost effective. Not only do they look the part in any room but they act as a fantastic centre piece that many people work their décor around. There are several different types of fuel that is used to burn within a cast iron fireplace. The fireplace its self looks very traditional however on today’s market they can be connected to the main gas supply, which gives it a modern feel. However if you wanted to keep the old fashioned way and use the small pellets that burn in the stove of the fire, they are easily obtainable. Wood and coal can also be used too. And if you wanted to use gas that is connected to the main supply or indeed manually heat the fire with wood or pellets you can, they are available to buy with both options. Having the option to heat a room with wood or pellets makes the cast iron fireplace very efficient too. When it comes to choosing the cast iron fireplace that is suitable for you take into consideration the size of your room. Remember that cast iron is a wonderful heating element and will heat a room very quickly and although this is what you want to be more energy efficient, you wouldn’t want to be too uncomfortable. The cast iron fireplace will stay rather warm for some time after it has finished burning wood or coal which made it so popular in poorer times. However if you choose for your gas supply to heat the fire then it’s not so much of an issue as this will cool down relatively quickly. When heating the room off the main supply there is also the point of not having to clean the mess up that conventional means would make. There are lots of designs to choose from too, you don’t have to have a cast iron fireplace that looks traditional, you can customise your own to look modern and suit the rest of your room.

The cast iron fireplace look fabulous in any home and are a great way to heat the house in a cost effective way. Go to Luna Home Store where you will see all the latest cast iron fireplaces and matching hand crafted surrounds.