A small fireplace is a great option to warm up a room and give it a fresh, original look. Modern technologies ensure high efficiency of this equipment, which, despite its small size, allows you to maintain a comfortable microclimate in the building. In order not to be mistaken with the choice of a small fireplace for a country house, you should familiarize yourself with the assortment of products presented in the retail network. If you have a standard set of household tools and the skills to use them, you can make a small and beautiful hearth yourself.
Features of mini fireplaces
Not all summer cottages and city apartments are large enough to install a full-fledged oven that occupies a large area, which is notable for its considerable weight and volume. The craving for an unusual interior in people becomes stronger as the flow of information increases and the level of well-being rises. The models on sale do not always fit in price and size, a huge stove will look absolutely inappropriate in a cramped room.
Structurally, mini foci are no different from their full-size prototypes. They have the same structure and principle of operation. The only difference is in weight and size. In addition, portable devices can be carried from room to room and even carried with you in the car, so as not to expose an expensive device to the risk of theft or damage in an empty dacha.
Retail chains offer ready-made small electric fireplaces made in the following styles:
- Classic. The hearths are made in the shape of the letter "P", framed with stucco in the form of brick, cobblestone or torn stone.
- Rustic. The existing podiums give the portals the shape of the letter "D", making the oven more interesting and original. Stucco molding is also present.
- High tech. Such small electric fireplaces are made in 2-3 colors, are distinguished by the clarity of lines, the presence of surfaces made of metal and glass.
- Bionics. The portal has an arbitrary shape created by curvilinear overlays extending to external structures.
Like full-scale counterparts, mini electric fireplaces perform the function of heating and decorative lighting. Hot air is supplied with a fan heater. Some models have functions for adjusting the flame and sound modes. The instruction supplied with the product describes the rules for its connection and operation.
Varieties of mini fireplaces
Portable fireplaces can be made of stone, brick, cast iron or heat resistant steel. This affects the appearance, weight and portability of products. The main difference lies in the energy source that will be used to generate heat.
There are such options for stoves and fuels:
- Wood burning. The products are popular in summer cottages, where there is a large amount of firewood or inexpensive briquettes. Combustion of fuel is carried out in closed-type chambers, which are completely steel or with transparent inserts. Furnaces are compulsorily equipped with chimneys. Regular loading of firewood and ash removal is required. A brick wood stove requires a solid foundation.
- Gas. The stove is a burner hidden behind a glass screen.For decorative purposes, screens can be painted to look like smoldering logs or coals. Gas combustion is accompanied by the release of a large amount of heat, which is supplied to the room by reflective internal structures. The downside is that you need to install an efficient hood.
- Electrical. The products are ready for use immediately after installation. Heat is generated by heating the spirals. Based on the heating principle, they are subdivided into designs with reflectors and fans. The disadvantage of such furnaces is the high consumption of electricity and the burning of oxygen from the air.
- Bio fireplaces. This category is versatile and multifunctional. Denatured alcohol with dyes is used as fuel. The products are completely safe, they emit only water vapor during fuel combustion. They can be installed in any type of premises; they work at one gas station up to 20 hours.
Depending on the size and type of fuel, biofireplaces are wall-mounted, corner, floor-standing, hanging, built-in and even tabletop. The generated heat can be directed to the front and to the sides of the appliances.
Advantages and disadvantages
As with any type of decorative heating devices, mini fireplaces have their pros and cons.
The advantages are as follows:
- compactness;
- mobility;
- a large selection of models;
- quick installation and connection;
- ease of maintenance;
- small amount of waste;
- relatively low cost;
- the possibility of making it yourself;
- stylish design that fits perfectly into the interior of a summer house and a private house;
- profitability.
Of the shortcomings, it is worth dwelling on the low heating capacity of the products. The limited volume of the combustion chamber does not allow using as much fuel as is needed for high-quality heating of the building. The use of powerful electrical devices creates an increased load on communications and a loud noise from the fan.
The fuel needs regular replenishment, with the exception of gas stoves connected to the central communication in a private house.
Materials for making
You can build a mini fireplace with your own hands at any time during the operation of the building. For a small structure, there is no need to equip a powerful and heavy base. A small hearth can be installed in any part of the room based on aesthetic and practical criteria.
There are such options for choosing a material for the manufacture of portable fireplaces:
- Metal. It is better to choose heat-resistant steel, which is more ductile and easier to work with than cast iron. If you have the skills to handle the welding machine, you can make an effective and practical design with glass inserts. In this case, the mass of the hearth will be so limited that it will not create additional loads on the supporting structures of the building.
- Brick. This is a heavier material that can only be used on concrete slabs. A wooden floor is not designed for this. Its heat capacity is higher, and the finished structure looks beautiful and presentable. The alternative is foam blocks, which are lightweight and resistant to high temperatures.
- Drywall. An excellent choice if the source of light and heat is an electric coil or bioethanol. The GKL box is pasted over with an imitation of stone or brick, after which the structure acquires complete resemblance to factory-made models.
When deciding on the material for the hearth, you should evaluate your financial capabilities, abilities, architectural and technical features of the room.
DIY construction of mini-fireplaces
To fold a portable hearth from blocks, you need to follow these steps:
- Mark the bearing surfaces.
- Make a steel frame that will give the fireplace strength.
- Make a small podium.
- Knead the solution and lay out the walls of the hearth.
- Lay on top a decorative plate of factory or self-made.
- Install a decorative grill from below, and a fan heater behind it.
- Equip a reflector on the rear wall.
- Cut off a piece of glass, draw logs on it, set it in the middle of the "firebox".
It remains to glue the box with a finishing finish, put cans with biofuel behind the stained-glass window and light the flame. Use a disguised fan heater for heating.
