Fireplace Buyers Guide
Rotherham Fireplace Centre|17 January, 2025
Here at Rotherham Fireplace Centre, we have put together a guide for anyone wanting to buy a fireplace. Our expert team have put together a handful of helpful tips and steps, guiding you from choosing the right fireplace right the way through to the post-sale process, fitting and finish. Go through our fireplace buying guide to find the prefect fireplace for your home.
Types of Fireplace
We have several different types of fireplaces, but generally speaking you have the choice between gas and electric for your typical fireplace.
Gas Fireplaces
We offer a variety of gas fireplaces, including media walls, hole-in-the-wall, inset, multi-sided, and corner styles to suit any homes. Modern gas fireplaces are energy efficient, providing a great heat source for the whole room. We provide models with remote controls, timers, thermostats, and ambient lighting for ease of operation and comfort. Gas fires provide instant heat with minimal mess and no need for fuel storage.
Why have a Gas Fireplace?
- Good levels of durability
- Ability to vary heat settings
- Cleaner than solid fuel fires, and easier to keep going
- Constant, high output of heat
- Better for the environment than solid fuel fires
- Safer as no sparks emitted
- No chimney is required
Electric Fireplaces
We also offer a range of electric fires, including media walls, hole-in-the-wall, inset, multi-sided and corner styles. Our electric fires are easy to install and use, with connection via a normal plug socket. They are a clean and safe heating option, with no emissions or need for a chimney. We have various styles and colours to match any home or room.
Why have an Electric Fireplace?
- Electricity, as a power source, is 100% efficient
- Cheaper than other fireplaces, generally
- No servicing required, lowering your maintenance costs
- Safe choice as no risk of toxic fumes if installed incorrectly
- Many styles and colours to choose between
- No requirement for a chimney
- None of the maintenance required unlike solid fuel fires
Fireplace Surrounds
Once you have decided on the type of fireplace you want installing in your home, you can decide on the aesthetic you wish to achieve with your fire and choose the fire surround that best suits your home’s existing décor and your personal taste.
Marble Fireplace Surrounds
This material lends itself to those looking for a more traditional design, particularly suiting period properties. Many colours and patterns of marble are available, and this extraordinary material is completely unique, with no two pieces exactly the same.
See our Marble Fireplace Surrounds
Wood Fireplace Surrounds
Offering perhaps the largest range of styles and finishes, wooden fireplace surrounds are an extremely popular choice for both modern and period properties. Whether you want a contemporary, fresh-looking pine surround, or a traditional, richly coloured oak, wood can provide a versatile and attractive surround for your fireplace.
See our Wooden Fireplace Surrounds
Limestone Fireplace Surrounds
Limestone is a beautifully pure stone, creating a stylish and classic look in any home. Thanks to its pure tone with very few veins or fossils, limestone can make your fire and the room in which it is installed look extremely plush, exuding luxury and class.
See our Limestone Fireplace Surrounds
Cast Iron Fireplace Surrounds
cast iron fireplace surrounds blend traditional Victorian design with modern technology, ensuring both authenticity and high performance. They’re crafted with intricate detailing from top manufacturers like Stovax & Gazco and CastTec, promising quality and durability. These fireplaces not only enhance energy efficiency but also add value to period homes with their elegant, period-accurate designs.
See our Cast Iron Fireplace Surrounds
Fireplace Sizes & Measurements
Once you have decided on the right type of fireplace and surround, you can measure the area in which the fireplace will reside. Firstly, when deciding on the correct proportions for your fireplace, consider the following:
- Fireplace height, width and depth of hearth
- The height of the ceiling
- The size of the room
- Whether the fireplace will be fitted to a wall or chimney breast
What Fireplace Flue do you have?
Whatever type of flue you have at your home, you can fit a gas or electric fireplace, so the choice is entirely yours when it comes to the type of fire you think will work best for you. Have a look through the different types of flue to find out which you have at your home:
Class 1 Chimney Type
These chimneys are most commonly found in older houses, dating back to pre-1960 properties. Suitable for both gas and electric fires, these chimneys are characterised by their 180mm – or greater – flue.
Pre-cast Flue Chimney Type
A lot of new properties without chimneys have pre-cast flues fitted instead. The flues are shallow in depth, and can be used for gas and electric-powered fires.
Class 2 Chimney Type
This type of chimney is designed for gas or electric fires, and indeed solid fuel fires. They have a narrow depth, meaning not all fires can be installed in this type of flue.
No chimney?
There are ways to install a fire without a chimney. Many modern homes are built without chimneys nowadays, and in these instances you can choose one of the following solutions: electric fire, powered flue gas fire or a balanced flue gas fire.
Our After Sales Process
Once you have found the right fireplace for your home and purchased it, there will be, on average, a 4 week wait between the order and the date of fitting. The fitting will take 1-2 days depending on how complex each individual job may be.
Visit Our Showroom
You can pay us a visit at our impressive showroom. We recommend that bring the following details with you:
- Photos of your fireplace
- Measurements of your fireplace and chimney breast (height, width and depth of your fireplace)
- Photos of the type of fireplace you would like (if you have them on-hand)
Request A Free Survey
Send our team of experts a photo of your existing fireplace, and we will be able to provide you with a quote for your fireplace.
