Friendship of man and fire is known since the beginning of the history of mankind. Even then primitive people used the flame not only for cooking, but also received great pleasure from his contemplation. From the fact that mankind learned to build himself and his family at home, they moved fire to their home. Today the fireplace in the house is very fashionable and relevant. In order to build it, not small attachments are needed, but the result is worth it.
Content
Varieties of fireplaces
There are several types of fireplaces:
- electrical
- gas
- decorative
- wood.
Nowadays, the electrocamens began to be popular, as they simulate real fireplaces, are easily installed, they consume little electricity, as well as safe. The disadvantage is that they cannot be used for heating.
Gas fireplaces are very similar to wood, they also have an open fire, but natural gas is used as fuel. Require a careful relationship, besides, may be distinguished by an unpleasant odor if low-quality gas is supplied.
Decorative fireplaces are installed for beauty, it is impossible to drown them. They come in different sizes and forms, they are picking up to design in a house in any color. And to sit before such a fireplace also brings pleasure.
Wood fireplaces are installed in private houses, cottages, cottages. Wood or coal is used for the furnace. The main drawback is no cheap pleasure, as it requires the use of expensive heat-resistant materials. Nevertheless, this type of fireplaces is the most beautiful and enjoys the greatest popularity.
With such a variety of options, it is important not only to choose the right fireplace, but also to decorate it correctly. For these purposes, various types of decorative materials are used.
Types of materials for decorating
Mass options:
- tile;
- decorative plaster;
- a natural stone;
- fake diamond.
Today, finishing a fireplace with ceramic tiles, as popular as a stone finish. It looks very stylish and beautiful. The trim tile will not only transform the appearance, but also will save the comfort and heat in the house. However, for the installation of ceramics, glue and grout are used, which poorly carry high temperatures, so in practice this type of decoration will constantly need to be repaired.
A feature of the decorative plaster is imitation for any material, including a stone. Decorative plaster is characterized by environmental friendliness and does not harm the health of a person, the material is durable, does not absorb moisture and smells, is a sound forming. With all its advantages, decorative plaster is not suitable for wood fireplaces, as the soot, hitting the surface of the plaster, is no longer washed away, leaving ugly stains.
Fireplaces decorated with natural stones look luxuriously, they include fireplaces from granite, marble or white stone. However, this option has its drawbacks, firstly, it is expensive, in comparison with an artificial stone for a fireplace, the price of which is significantly lower. Secondly, if the fireplace is decorative, then under the weight of natural stone he can break. Therefore, the artificial stone is most often used for decorating.
Advantages and disadvantages of artificial stone
Artificial stone is produced using several technologies from which the physical properties of this material depend. The most common is casting from plaster and plastermers. This method allows you to create a beautiful, but unreliable stone. Gypsum turns away from moisture, poorly tolerates high temperatures and easily breaks even from minor mechanical shocks.
It is quite another thing - vibratingressing. This method involves the use of real stone crumbs and special polymer stabilizers. Options for external design set, from imitation of natural stone, to conventional red bricks. At the same time, the physical properties of many surpasses even marble and granite.
Such an artificial stone is characterized by high strength, resistant to any mechanical damage, withstand temperatures up to 1000 0 celsius, no moisture is afraid, does not allocate toxic vapors. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the artificial stone is sufficiently low, it is quickly heated and quickly cools.
With tangible pluses, there is a material and its drawbacks:
- badly processed,
- interacts only with specific adhesives,
- it is quickly removed rather removed from production (it is impossible to replace the spoiled stone, so it is necessary to completely redo the portal of the fireplace from artificial stone).
However, this material is rightfully considered one of the best options for decorating fireplaces, as it allows you to implement a wide variety of design ideas and it requires a minimum of investments. What does the finish of the fireplace artificial stone look like, the photo will show well.
Montaja technology
Fireplaces from artificial stone, unlike everyone else, suggest a very serious approach to the installation procedure. First of all, this is due to the fact that the material is although durable, but quite capricious. Depending on the type of fireplace, the procedure is significantly different, so we consider it in detail each of the options.
The easiest way to decorate electrocamines. For these purposes, it is enough to buy the finished portal of the desired width, which is simply glued to the surface of the wall. For sticking, any liquid nails are suitable. At the same time, the surface of the wall and the portal itself needs to be deguted using acetone, solvent or alcohol. Given the rich selection of forms and varieties of portals, no additional decoration is required. Optionally, a hypsopolymer stone is used.
Finishing the fireplace with artificial stone in gas analogues is a more laborious process. Gas combustion temperature only 300 0 Celsius (three times lower than the tree), nevertheless there is no need to use heat-resistant elements. Fully collecting the furnace from the furnace tile or brick washed there, but it is necessary to put the fireplace with ordinary silicate. The brick is placed on a conventional cement solution (2 pieces of sand, 1 part of cement). For decorating it is suitable for both the usual finished portal and plates from an artificial stone. Plates appropriately use if the fireplace has a non-standard design or raised above the ground level.
Decorative fireplaces are an accurate copy of the present, the exception that there is no chimney in them. Accordingly, it is impossible to turn them. The use of the standard portal in this case is inappropriate, since with the help of the plates, much more than different versions are created. For example, combine different shades or shapes. In addition, facing the fireplace with artificial stone is often performed in a monolithic style when elements of the fireplace decoration are used in the design of the whole wall. It is worth noting that this method will be relevant only if the fireplace is located in the center of the wall. In the corner versions, he will not look.
The most time-consuming process is to decorate wood fireplaces. Here you need to follow clear instructions:
- after installing the fireplace, it is necessary to put it with heat-resistant chimney brick (from burned clay), the use of tiles is not allowed, since the glue for the stone does not interact with its glossy surface,
- for masonry, a cement solution is used, which consists of 2 pieces of sand, 1 parts of asbestos and 1 part of cement,
- the next day after the work is performed, the fireplace must be protected well (at least one hour), it is done to put the laying finally,
- the layer of glue for an artificial stone should be minimal, so it is necessary to create a maximum smooth and smooth surface, for this brick surface is polished (the surroundings of the solution and the irregularities of the brick),
- the clay-cement dust will interfere with the normal stool process, so the surface is wiped first with a dry cloth, then degreased with acetone or solvent (alcohol is inappropriate, as the high consumption of the material),
- next, the surface is processed by anti-grapple protective mixtures and primer (average drying time 10-15 minutes),
- only after that go to the blowing of the portal or individual plates, and it is necessary to apply an adhesive mixture directly to the artificial stone,
- you can use the fireplace in 30 hours.
Advice: Liquid nails, as a rule, heat-resistant, however, high temperatures can melt the material, so it is better to use special mixtures, including Master Plitopol, AnsergLob BCX 35, Master Flex, Ceresit CM 17.
Manufacturers of artificial stone
The technology of production is relatively inexpensive, so in Russia there are quite a few private firms taken this niche. The quality of their products is almost the same and all differences are reduced exclusively to appearance and price. It is difficult to highlight real leaders, as it depends largely on the region.
Nevertheless, there are also European products on the market, which differs from domestic not only at a price, but also in quality. Among the recognized world leaders should be allocated:
- Hi-Macs,
- Staron
- DuPont.
Hi-Macs trademark belongs to LG corporation. The proposed stone is sufficiently durable, resistant to high temperatures and is presented in a rich assortment of varieties. The main emphasis was made on wear resistance, damage the HI-MACS stone mechanically impossible.
Staron refers to Samsung Corporation. With all the advantages of the previous version, the price is somewhat less. The only tangible drawback, the limit working temperature 160 0 Celsius. For wood fireplaces, this is not enough.
The unconditional leader is a concern Dupont. Despite the very high cost of products, the artificial stone of this brand is really one of the most reliable. It is easy to care, does not fade, does not burst from high temperatures, does not change color over time.
