Stone fireplace & gas or electric fire?

adandem

Hi, we want to replace our current fire surround with a stone one. I have seen some which say 'reconstituted' stone. Are these okay? I know it will need sealing etc. but this is not our forever home so I don't want to spend a fortune.n


I also would like advice on whether to get a gas or electric fire? We don't use it a great deal but wondered which would be best, a highly efficient electric or lower efficient gas? We are restricted to slimline gas fires. Hopefully our new boiler with extra rad in the lounge will be sufficient so we won't rely on it.

Thanks very much.

cyclonebri1

adandem wrote: »

Hi, we want to replace our current fire surround with a stone one. I have seen some which say 'reconstituted' stone. Are these okay? I know it will need sealing etc. but this is not our forever home so I don't want to spend a fortune.n


I also would like advice on whether to get a gas or electric fire? We don't use it a great deal but wondered which would be best, a highly efficient electric or lower efficient gas? We are restricted to slimline gas fires. Hopefully our new boiler with extra rad in the lounge will be sufficient so we won't rely on it.

Thanks very much.

Then you are talking flueless gas fires, they are not liked by the trade for good reason even if they are cheap and reasonable.

They are fairly new in concept and are seen to be a disaster waiting to happen.

To explain, they rely entirely for safe operation on the room having the correct level of ventilation at all times the fire is in use.

The fumes are expelled into the room, not up a chimney. :eek::eek::eek: You go figure that 1.

Here rests the case for the prosecution:D:D

Gas would be cheaper to run but..

adandem

The fire we have has a flue, just not a chimney so it's not full depth, the fire is quite old though.

rustyboy21

Why not go for a Slimline HE gas fire.

Valor do a few, which are 89% efficient, only about 90mm deep and give 3.1kw output. I sell them in my shop and I have had no complaints at all.

If you do need heat, it is hotter than an electric nd cheaper to run.

Will be fine with stone surrounds. Best getting one with a 3 piece back panel.

Have a look here.http://www.valor.co.uk/product_details/0596392.htm?ref=/catalogue/Valor-Centre/index.htm

If you can give the details of what surround you like, I can check if it is ok with an HE gas fire. Some are not.

cyclonebri1

adandem wrote: »

The fire we have has a flue, just not a chimney so it's not full depth, the fire is quite old though.

Ok, in that case I think the running costs of gas would still be less than an electric unit, even taking into account being just a little less efficient;);)I think they are much more convincing as real flame fires

cyclonebri1

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok, in that case I think the running costs of gas would still be less than an electric unit, even taking into account being just a little less efficient;);)I think they are much more convincing as real flame fires

Whilst I'd sooner have a carved stone fireplace than a cast re-reconstituted one, it does come down to cost. It will be fine, natural stone also needs sealing.

Jonesya

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Why not go for a Slimline HE gas fire.

Valor do a few, which are 89% efficient, only about 90mm deep and give 3.1kw output. I sell them in my shop and I have had no complaints at all.

I went for one those when replacing an old radiant gas fire, it was the efficiency which won it for me, particularly as I use it regularly and gas isn't getting any cheaper. Surprised anyone buys the standard fires with efficiencies in the 50-60% range when you can get 30% more heat for essentially nothing except a glass front.

rustyboy21

Jonesya wrote: »

I went for one those when replacing an old radiant gas fire, it was the efficiency which won it for me, particularly as I use it regularly and gas isn't getting any cheaper. Surprised anyone buys the standard fires with efficiencies in the 50-60% range when you can get 30% more heat for essentially nothing except a glass front.

They are surprisingly hot for such a little fire Glad you like it.

Just have to take into account, you get more convected heat from them, than radiant as with the open fronted fires. If you like the ' Burn the back of my legs' feeling from a fire, then an open fronted gas fire will always win out.

cyclonebri1

Many years ago we went with a Gazco Brunel gas stove.

It's set in a mini inglenook fire place with an especially long black iron flue pipe. It was rated in the mid 80's re efficiency and the heat given off from the body of the unit and it's stove pipe is worth it's original high cost. Glass fronted again but very effective

Even 3ft above the stove the flue is too hot to touch, hence the high lintel.

Yes we get extra heat from the flue pipe, but I was just making the point as to where the other 15% or so energy goes;)

adandem

Thanks for all your help. love the Petrus but is the glass very obvious?
I had a glass fronted fire years ago and it was nightmare to keep clean.
Thanks

rustyboy21

Petrus is lovely, glass isn't too obvious

Go into your local dealer , there is a similar product which has been discontinued by Wonderfire, who are a brand within Valor. They are a slimline product, but what makes it different, is that the back of the fire is Black Mirror glass, which makes the depth of the fire look a lot deeper.

Ask for the Wonderfire Bauhaus c2 HE. It is in Black nickel or pale gold. They should be able to get it for you, fro their distribution network. This is it.
http://www.wonderfire.co.uk/assets/brochures/Wonderfire_Style_Brochure_Low_Res_Spreads.pdf

page 14 in the PDF file, page 26 in the brochure.

You will only get 12 months warranty, not 5 years as discontinued now ,3 years if you buy from a valor centre showroom.