Useful Tips
 

Fire surrounds for stoves

Helpful hints when looking to purchase a fireplace surround for a wood burning stove or multi-fuel stove.

Read the manufacturers site requirements for the stove and take note of the distances required for combustible materials.

If fitting fire surround directly to a flat wall around the stove, a fire surround rebate will not be required, please specify this when placing an order. You may also wish to add tiles or slate/stone slips around the fire opening; a rebate would therefore be needed for the thickness of material plus adhesive.

Fire surround internal opening sizes can be changed to suit the fire opening you have created for the stove, simply provide us with your sizes and we will scale the design to the correct proportion.


Fire surrounds for gas fires

All our fire surrounds are suitable for gas fires.

Most inset gas fires require a standard fire opening and are required to stand on a none combustible hearth.
If you have an existing gas fire or looking to purchase a new one, simply inform us of the make and model.


Fire surrounds for electric fires

Free standing electric fires.

If you require the fire to be free standing, the spacer supplied with the electric fire will be used.

Inset electric fires

Most inset electric fires require a standard fire opening in the back panel to fit into.
Fires can be inset into the fire opening you have created.

Fires can be fitted to a flat wall where no fire opening is available by removing the internal rebate strips on the fire surround, the back panel is then brought away from the wall giving the depth required to fit the electric fire flush to the marble or granite back panel.

Most electric fires require an inset depth of 76mm - 3". All our fire surrounds are manufactured with a standard 76mm - 3" rebate to accommodate the fire. However, there are electric fires that require a deeper rebate, this can be obtained by making the fire surround with a deeper rebate.

If further information is needed, please contact us.


How to maintain a solid wood fireplace surround

Finishes.

Solid wood fire surrounds can be finished in a variety of different ways. Prestige fireplaces offer a choice of clear lacquer, Danish oil or Briwax original polishes.

The most popular is clear lacquer and will seal the oak for life. The process consists of firstly preparing the timber by way of sanding the oak to a smooth finish, applying a coloured stain if required, clear sealer lacquer is then applied which seals the wood and lifts the grain. The fire surround is then left for a period of time to dry.
When dry, the oak fireplace is again sanded to a smooth finish and spayed with a light coat of stain in order to achieve the correct shade and colouring, a final coat of clear lacquer is applied to finish.

Maintenance

To maintain a lacquered wooden fire surround it should be cleaned using a damp cloth only, try to avoid using spray on waxes as this will tarnish the lacquer over time. All repairs can be made by sanding out the damaged area and applying a clear varnish to the bare wood.

Waxed fire surrounds will require regular re-waxing due to the wax drying out over a period of time. Varieties of waxes are available and are all suitable for re-coating but most are tinted to also colour the wood so select the finish you require. Apply the wax with a soft cloth using a circular motion in order to penetrate the grain and when dry to the touch remove the excess wax with a soft cloth and buff to finish.

Repairs

All repairs can be made by again sanding down the damage, applying coloured filler if required and applying wax to the area and leaving to dry. A second coat may be required.

Oiled oak fire surrounds will also require regular re-coating with a Danish oil or similar product to keep the fire surround looking at its best, but be careful when choosing oils that are available as most are tinted products and will naturally change the colour of the fire surround over time.

To repair a damaged oiled oak fire surround, sand down the damaged area with firstly a heavy sand paper and sand to a smooth finish with fine sand paper, apply your chosen oil with a soft cloth or paint brush and leave to soak into the grain, when dry to the touch wipe over with a clean cloth to finish.