10 Reasons Why Natural Stone Is the Best Choice for Fireplace

What Is Fireplace?

According to Wikipedia, a Fireplace is a structure made of stone, brick, metal, or a combination of all to contain the fire. It is an essential component in a building in cold regions of the world to create heat to warm up space.

Historically, the fireplace was used for heating a dwelling, water, and cooking the food for additional purposes. Nowadays, the fireplace offers a relaxing ambiance and remains as a place to get together, be it a home or an office.

Typical Structure of the Fireplace

According to Wikipedia, an ideal fireplace has some essential structural elements in a layout.

“A foundation, hearth, firebox, mantelpiece, chimney crane, grate, lintel, a lintel bar, home over-mantel, damper, smoke chamber, throat, flue, and chimney filter or afterburner.”

However, variations occur in design and component-based on fuel used in the fireplace and regional needs.

Reason #1 – Natural Stones Can Fit into the Structure of Fireplace

Be it the traditional layout of your fireplace design or a modern design aligned to a theme, and you can find suitable stone types, sizes, and shapes of natural stones in desired colors, tones, and patterns.
You can use natural stones as a whole piece like stone brick or block as a structural element. You can apply stone tiles or slabs in the construction of horizontal elements of a fireplace and surround.
Stone veneers or stone tiles are excellent choices for vertical application in the construction of fireplace components right from bottom to top. Stone crafts have enough room to give the fireplace an artistry look-n-feel.

Different Types of Fireplaces

Traditional Fireplaces:

Typical fireplaces found in historical places, which burnt mostly wood, coal, charcoal, and coke like traditional fuels.

Wood Burning Fireplaces:

For centuries, we are witnessing different kinds of wood-burning & coal-burning fireplaces, such as traditional open hearth, enclosed fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and combined stoves.

Modern Fireplaces:

The modern fireplaces are mainly used flammable gases and Ethanol as bio-fuels. However, we have green options, which mostly use electricity to generate heat in environment-friendly ways.

Gas Burning Fireplaces:

Against wood & coal-burning fireplaces, gas and ethanol burning fireplaces have several advantages like cost-effectiveness and less hazardous fumes. Of course, gas-burning fireplaces come in different designs, including direct-vented built-in fireplaces, ventless built-in fireplaces, and modified/converted fireplaces.

Similarly, Ethanol burning fireplaces come with some inserts to convert your existing traditional fireplaces into ethanol burning fireplaces. In addition, wall-mounted and tabletop fireplaces are available in the market, which is adapted to burn Ethanol like fuels.

Electric Fireplaces:

Electricity-based fireplaces are the most advanced types of fireplaces found in the modern age. Electric fireplaces come with several advantages, including fuel efficiency, cost-effective, and the most convenient option to create warm ambiance without environmental hazards.

If you are fond of traditional outlook, you can get electric mantel fireplaces. Otherwise, you can get a custom design like a combination of modern equipment such as TV, or Game Console like entertainment centers. Here, the sky is the limit for designing.

Reason #2 – Natural Stones Can Fit into Any Type of Fireplace

We have seen that traditional fireplace designs and the modern structure of fireplaces. Fortunately, both types of fireplace categories permit the extensive applications of natural stones in their structural components and decorative elements.

Different Types of Fuels Used in Fireplaces

We know that traditional fireplaces are using a range of different traditional fuels to generate heat. Wood and coal are predominant fuels, while charcoal and coke, a carbonized coal, are available in certain regions only.

The modern fireplace designs allow the use of various natural gases like propane, butane, and methane. However, natural gas is mostly methane, while liquefied petroleum gas contains mostly propane.

Besides these, Ethanol, like liquid alcohol also available in gels. Similarly, electricity-based fireplace designs also available in the market.

Reason #3 – Natural Stones Can Fit into Any Type of Fuel Used into Fireplace

We know traditional fuels like woods and coals are emitting smokes and ash or carbon traces in the air. If you have used natural stones as stacked stones or veneer/tiles, cleaning and maintenance become easy. No profound damages occur in natural stone components that keep natural beauty intact.

Reason #4 – Natural Stones Can Tolerate Extremes of Heats of Fireplace

When fuel burns into the fireplace, it generates the heat, and fireplace structure must have heat resistant elements used in the construction to last for longer. Natural stone has a built-in capacity to tolerate high temperatures without any structural damage.

Reason #5 – Natural Stones in Fireplace Design Are Easy to Clean & Maintain

These natural fuel resources emit the carbon dioxide like gases, which are containing ash are other half-burnt substances, which create a black layer over the open surfaces in the fireplace and its different parts like the hearth and chimney.
Natural stones with proper surface treatments allow easy cleaning & maintenance. Stones in the form of bricks, veneer, slabs, or tiles are easy to replace without more work on the entire structure of the fireplace.

Reason #6 – Natural Stones Give Fireplace Durability

We have seen the durability of different natural stones in our previous blog, “The Durability of Natural Stone – All You Need to Know.” It means the natural stone is the sturdiest material ever used in the construction of fireplaces. Natural stones can bear blunt force impacts, climatic changes, weathering effects, and wear & tear effects due to natural as well as human factors.

Reason #7 – Natural Stones Give Fireplace Longevity

If you have visited historical places with fireplace structures, natural stones give fireplaces a classic impact. Weathering effects on limestone, marble, and granite-like commonly used stone types render them more aesthetics and timeless appearance than any construction material can do it.

Reason #8 – Natural Stones Give Fireplace Security

Any petroleum-based material, be it as a base material or mere coating, proves dangerous if it gets profound exposure to the heat or fire. The same goes true somewhat for metals.
Clay bricks and cement also consider weaker material for heat resistance requirements. Here, natural stones are apparent winners, be they calcareous or siliceous, stay intact against heat and other wear & tear factors for centuries. Natural stones are entirely non-flammable and safe construction material for fireplaces.

Reason #9 – Natural Stones Give Fireplace Sustainability

Natural stone, as its name suggests, is a natural product from Mother Earth. Moreover, its acquisition/quarrying processes are green in all aspects. Recycling of natural stone products also yields reusable or environment-friendly residues or by-products. It means natural stones are sustainable products to decorate your fireplace like attention-grabbing spaces.

Reason #10 – Natural Stones Give Fireplace Natural Beauty

We know natural stones have grains and veins in the natural patterns. It gives natural stones the natural beauty, a unique texture, and distinct characteristics thanks to varied compositions and formation processes. It is almost impossible to mimic the same things in artificial stones like porcelain and ceramic tiles.
If you intended to adorn the natural beauty to your fireplace, natural stone is an unbeatable choice. For instance,

Marbles in Outdoor/Indoor Fireplace

Marble at the fireplace gives a serene ambiance. Marbles offer a treasure of colors, patterns, and textures to yield desired impacts.

Limestone in Outdoor Fireplace

When you look for absolute simplicity, limestone has it. If you want to carve some arts on stones, limestone is excellent for it. If you are inclined to have a rustic look, stacked limestone is a choice for such sophistication.

Sandstone in Fireplace

If you have a thirst for a classic and natural look in your fireplace design, sandstone is an unbeatable choice. Outdoor fireplaces with sandstone can give essential properties in exterior places like hardness, weather resistance, and durability.

Granite in Fireplace

If your taste is for a contemporary and decent yet clean appearance, granite is the best candidate for the same. Granite lets you write a signature of design and proves a centerpiece of your space where the fireplace located.

Travertine in Fireplace

Travertine bricks, when stacked, give a rustic appearance for your fireplace. Being a kind of limestone, it also lets you carve custom ways. If you go for tiles or veneers made of travertine, it might end up in a contemporary look.

Slate in Fireplace

When you run for rustic cottage style, the slate stone can give you a fantastic option. When slate stacked, it can create a more luxurious texture and lines, and you never get with any alternative.

Conclusion:

Fireplace undoubtedly a vital place in the home and outdoor design. The living room or seating room in the indoor designs are often the best spaces for fireplace installation whereas, bedroom seldom becomes a choice.

In outdoor applications, fireplace occurrence remains higher in colder regions of the world. Paving Patios and outdoor kitchens are witnessing classic to modern fireplace designs using various natural stones.

Of course, natural stones are available here & there, but the desired quality and stone types are rare things in the market. World of Stones USA is a dependable place to get a vast inventory of various kinds of natural stones in your vicinity from its vast distribution network. You can get the best deal online as well as in-person visits.