Ways To Choose Fireplace Screens For Safety

At one time most homes were heated by fireplaces. Today, fireplaces have become much more ornamental than decorative. Most homes depend on central heating and use the fireplace to add ambiance and charm to a room. To enhance the effect of the fireplace, fireplace screens, tool and accessories work well. These tools and accessories are available in many different styles.

Although fireplace screens can certainly add beauty to most fireplaces, they also have a practical purpose that they serve. It is not uncommon for firewood to give off sparks when burning. The fireplace screen serves as a spark arrestor to keep live sparks from landing on carpets or floors. Before using any fireplace, a screen should be put into place in front of the fire.

Traditionally fireplace screens are very simple and classic in design. They are usually clean and able to work with almost any decoration. Traditional screens are made of copper or brass. The could be made with one or more panels. They are available in several sizes.

Other fireplace screens are antique in design. They will work well in Victorian themed rooms. The look great with the tapestries and other design items. The screens can use rounded designs with swirls, scrolls and flowers. They may be used in formal homes and require the matching fireplace tools to look their best.

There are also some screens that have been designed by very talented designers that come as a part of a fireplace set that may be perfect for your home.

To measure for a fireplace screen, use a tape measure and write down both the height and width of the opening to your fireplace. Add approximately five inches to the height and twelve inches to the width of the fireplace. This will give you the ideal size for your fireplace screen.

The extra width allows the side panels of the fireplace screen to fold in and give it stability. This helps to keep the screen from tipping over but still cover the entire opening of the fireplace.

You will also find fan shaped fireplace screens. While many of these screens are beautiful, they do not offer adequate size to be effective at spark arresting and may allow sparks to fly out of the firebox onto nearby surfaces. Therefore, fan shaped fireplace screens should only be used for decorative purposes.

Jeff Bridges has always enjoyed a warm fire on a cold winter’s night he currently helps run a fireplace screens website, which promotes fireplace screens in all shapes and styles.