electric fireplace recommendations please

jennieshrew

I am looking to get an electric fireplace with mantelpiece and hearth. Can anyone recommend one? We could spend £500 possibly more if needed - would we need to spend more? Don't want to spend more than needed, am overwhelmed by the choice and range of options.Just need a focal point for our living room.

rustyboy21

jennieshrew wrote: »

I am looking to get an electric fireplace with mantelpiece and hearth. Can anyone recommend one? We could spend £500 possibly more if needed - would we need to spend more? Don't want to spend more than needed, am overwhelmed by the choice and range of options.Just need a focal point for our living room.

What area of the country are you in?

Due to you wanting a complete fireplace ( i.e Mantel,Back and hearth and fire) I would advise against internet purchase as the majority of the time they are damaged. A fire by itself would be ok as is one box, but surrounds are normally a different matter, the packaging when it comes into me is fragile enough, it wouldn't stand a carrier delivering.

There are many fireplaces out there, you may even be better trying to mix and match surround/ B&H set and fire, so it makes it more unique and to your taste. When you are looking at the surround ask if it comes with a 1-3'' removeable rebate. Showrooms will know what you are talking about, internet guys wont. What this is , is a facility that if you do not have sufficient depth for the fire to fit into on a flat wall, you can unscrew the fillets of wood and create the extra depth. If you have a hole in the wall already, you will be ok with a 1'' rebate.

What you norally find in purpose built electric suites is that one part of it will let it down, what I mean is that the surround is ok, the fire is ok, but the backpanel is MDF painted which marks easily, or it could be the fire is of poor quality. You only want to buy once if you can help it, try to get something you can fit in with the rest of your decor.

You are buying at the right time, as the fire industry goes quieter now until mid January, so you may pick up a bargain in the showrooms. If you want to PM me I may know of a retailer in your area who may be of some good. A lot of us know each other as we meet at conferences and exhibitions. This industry is very incestuous !