A Sturdy Fireplace Screen Offers Maximum Protection

Acting to shield the occupants of a room from the fireplace, a fireplace screen started out as a form of furniture. Its main function was to decrease the distress of excessive heat from a log fire. Early screens were often in the shape of flat panels upright on attached feet, or as adjustable shield-shaped panels set up on tripod table legs.

In modern homes, screens are now more decorative shields made of sheet metal, wire mesh, or even glass, positioned in front of a fireplace opening to protect the rooms open flames and flying embers and ash produced by the fire. Screens were once used to cover the fireplace when nothing was being burned inside it. Fortunately, they were soon used to make the hearth more than just a device to warm the house inhabitants when it got too cold, developing their look to be more decorative.

An order for a screen can be made by mail or on the Internet. It can be pre-arranged when sent to you to match the fireplace. You may go to a store and ask customer service to help you pick the screen to fit your fireplace and decor. It sure is convenient having a choice on how to select and pay for the screen.

There are stores that offer special service; they will make a fireplace screen to your specifications. Custom-made screens are practical. Fireplaces come in different shapes and sizes, and finding a screen that perfectly fits is not easy.

Lead times are required in custom work, usually longer than you prefer. So make your order in advance. You do not want to use your fireplace sans screen putting your house in peril because of an unscreened fire in the hearth.

Some large fireplace openings of more than 60 inches wide or more than 48 inches tall should use a boston spark guard. This is intended to fit flat up against the fireplaces outer portion and overlap the opening by at least an inch on the top and sides. This screen presents far greater protection against sparks, and is perfect for keeping little kids and pet animals from straying too near the fireplace.

They will fit standard-sized hearths with big openings or odd-sized models. Choose a model with frames that use hefty steel rods welded to very heavy kick plates for strong support. Make sure you find no exposed jagged edges, with handles firmly bolted to the frame and not to the mesh, for a really durable fireplace screen.