The focus on Quality versus pricing and longevity is age old.
There are a few things to decide before you go shopping for a fireplace. What is my budget? Do I want a cheap unit that will last for a season or will I investment in a unit that will last many years? Do I prefer a rustic or modern style?
In this article, I would like to help you to focus on the quality question. This will enable you to make a better, more informed decision when investing in the right fireplace for your home.
At Fireplace City we have decades of knowledge, experience and technical know-how, and assure you that we are truthful about what we can provide. However, we do understand that our clients like to shop around, so here’s what you need to pay attention to.
Here are the top 5 most important – and probably the easiest – characteristics to look for in a fireplace to help you identify cheap-and-nasty wrapped in a red bow or a genuinely great product.
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Where was it made?
Generally speaking, if a fireplace was made in the more prominent European countries or the UK, where it snows through Winter and they have refined the art of heating homes effectively, then you are looking at mid- to top-of-the-range, good to excellent quality items that have an expected lifespan of up to 25 years. The quality of products tends to dwindle when you start looking at entry-level Chinese, east block European and South American products. More often than not, these latter fireplaces will last 5 to 8 years, after which you will have to replace them as the cost of repairing the old unit tallies up to the same price of a new unit. These “rules” are by no means set in stone, and on the rare occasion, you may find a diamond in the rough… or dirt among the diamonds… When combined with the rest of these points, you will be able to discern which is which. -
Quality of the steel:
It is not a question of cast iron versus steel. That perception can be a dangerous one to rely on, because there are good and poor quality options for both. Let’s begin with cast iron… The proportions of molten iron and additives mixed together plays a large role in how the end product can be used, and not all mixes are suitable for fireplaces. The mix has to be able to handle years of heating and cooling without warping, buckling or cracking. When the cast iron mix of a fireplace is incorrect, the body shape will warp over time and IF you are able to find replacement parts, you will not be able to fit the replacement parts because they are made to fit into the original shape of the fireplace. Good quality cast iron can, in fact, handle the years of fire-making as intended, which makes long-term maintenance much more pleasant. The weight of the unit also indicates the quality: thinner cast panels are lighter and tend to warp over time, while thicker cast panels are far more robust. In alternative non-cast iron units, Mild steel and Boiler-plate steel are most commonly used. Thinner steel usually has a more “tinny” sound when tapped, and the panels are often poorly welded together. The panels on better quality units are thicker, solid, completely seam welded, and often have front and sides bent from single sheet which give them a slightly round edged, non-welded, beautifully smooth finish on the front that is far more aesthetically pleasing. -
Finishes and fittings:
“Hands on” is the best approach! Photos of a fireplace online is not a great way to choose your fireplace, because touching the unit and seeing it close up can provide you with a myriad of clues as to the quality of the unit. Door hinges, handles, air vent controls, glass fitment and positioning, and other various bells and whistles will tell you a lot. Check the corners of the steel units for sharpness or rounding, and if there is pitting on the cast iron. Check how seams are welded and how the welding is cleaned off, etc. -
Vermiculite/stone/ceramic internal panels:
This point should be used in conjunction with the rest of these points! Good quality cast iron does not need protection from the fire’s flames. This is why you can cook with a potjie pot on open fire. Poor quality cast iron does because as the mix used is inferior for fireplaces and degrades very quickly. NB: There are a one or two fireplace designers that have included internal panels for a different reason – to increase the internal combustion temperature, rendering the unit more efficient – but the quality of the cast iron is still good. Even the best steel fireplaces do require an internal lining because this type of steel will burn through quickly. A steel unit without these panels (which is rare) will not last long. -
Replacement parts:
Lastly, ask the dealer you are buying from if there are replacement parts (grates, deflectors, internal bricks, glass, rope seals, hinges, etc) available at short notice. Dealers who retail reputable ranges will have parts in stock or will have a standing relationship with the manufacturer enabling them to order the parts from overseas. A good product line will still have spares available up to 10 years after a particular model gets discontinued.
The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. Most sub-R10,000 fireplaces will fall into the “cheapie” entry level range. Mid-range fireplaces will generally clock in at the R10,000 to R30,000 mark. Top of the range products are upwards of R30,000… and are totally worth the cost!