Fireplace Screens Are For Every Type of Fireplace

By Jeff Bridges

Fireplace screens are an important addition to your fireplace, both for safety and for decoration. They are absolute necessities with wood fires. But even with electric and gas, your fireplace just will not look complete without a screen.

Screens keep sparks from wood burning fireplaces from entering the room and setting anything on fire. They also help keep ash and smoke from escaping the fireplace. You can also get a style of screen that will help to hide the fireplace bottom where ash builds up.

Screens also protect children and pets from getting dangerously close to the heat. This is an important safety feature for whatever type of fireplace you have, wood, gas or electric. It is easy to forget that there are dangers associated even when there is no open flame.

Many people opt to have gas and electric fireplaces in their homes. They are far easier and cleaner to maintain. However, everyone wants these fireplaces to simulate the traditional ones as much as possible. And a fireplace screen is an important finishing touch, as one almost never sees wood fireplaces without one. Even when the fireplaces are hardly ever used, screens are often used just for decorative purposes.

There are many materials and styles of fireplace screens on the market. They are usually either glass or metal, with an iron, gold or brass look. Styles may be folding, single pieces or multiple. The designs cover a wide range from very basic to ornate and everything in between. You will definitely find one to match the style of your home.

To ensure that your fireplace screen actually fulfills the purpose of safety, it needs to be sized properly. This means that for screens that are not fitted directly into the fireplace, you need to account for the sides, not just the very front of the fireplace. It will need to extend higher as well.

You will also want to ensure that freestanding fireplace screens are stable. Especially if you do have pets or small children, you want to make sure that they are not easy to knock over. Folding screens in particular can be somewhat more unstable. If necessary, you may need to consider attaching the screen somehow to the fireplace to prevent accidents.

With the variety of fireplace screens on the market today, you are sure to find one that answers your needs. You can protect your home and family as well as add to the beauty of your fireplace and the room it is in. - 30198

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here