Some good news again from Castfireplaces, we are able to keep the price of our wooden fireplaces at the same prices we are currently offering this is against a rise in the wholesale price of timber.
A good friend of mine imports timber and in particular beech from Estonia as they manufacture suite frames and he has again placed a couple of packs of softwood on order for the pine mantels we manufacture here at Castfireplaces.
We have had this from them before and i must admit the quality is just as good as the normal timber merchant we use but buying in bulk again has reduced the cost.
It seems along with everything else it has risen substantially over the last couple of months to the point we were going to have to increase the price of our Wooden Mantels and Wooden Fireplace Packages
We do not work on large margins here at Castfireplaces so we can offer our customer the best prices for the best products.
So these packs arrive within the next week or so Darren informs me and will then be transformed over the next couple of weeks into Pine Lincoln, Bedford, Worcester and various other mantels we keep in stock.
It is fortunate for us our storage area above the showroom is complete for all these timber mantels to be stacked up in as they do tend to take up quite a bit of space.
Oak has again risen but we are currently negotiating with our supplier about ordering larger quantities to again keep the price down.
So fingers crossed we have plenty of sales on oak and pine fireplace packages otherwise we will be well overstocked at our factory
Archive for the ‘Wooden Fireplaces’ Category
Wooden Fireplaces stock is getting larger
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011Range of new oak surrounds coming to Castfireplaces
Monday, March 7th, 2011As we continue to expand and offer different products here at Castfireplaces we are always on the search for good quality fireplace products that will enhance the range we do.
As we do manufacture our own timber surrounds we also have the abilty to create something new or sometimes the easy option of buying it in.
These two new surrounds we have been researching are something quite new and one in particular is quite fetching and offers something that we currently do not offer.
As im on holiday it should all be sorted out for when i return and these will be listed straight on our website to offer these for sale.
Both made from solid oak they are sure to sell well and i think the curves of the contemporary designed mantel will offer something we currently do not do.
Take a look at the photo below showing the lytton highlighted fireplace and im sure you agree it really does look good.
All finished again with an oiled finish it brings out the natural beauty in the timber and gives a modern contemporary twist to a traditional fireplace
We do have loads of other items planned for the start of 2011 and here at Castfireplaces we never stop searching for new items to bring to our customers.
Wooden Fireplaces mantels made to measure after showroom visit
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010A visitor to our showroom today in Langley mill had come to look at various types of wooden mantels we manufacture at Castfireplaces and was interested in our Pine Bedford Mantel.
We do have this on display in our showroom as it is one of the most popular wooden mantels we sell.
Available from stock in 42″ 48″ and 54″ sizes it fits a vareity of arched and tiled inserts so when thay came over this morning they were keen to see it in both sizes to check if it overpowered there small room.
So after looking at the diagram and drawings along with photos of their chimney breast (very well prepared i must say) we discussed having a 51″ mantel made as the chimney breast was only 55″ and they were not to keen on having only half an inch either side of the mantel shelf but thought 48″ was too small.
Nothing at Castfireplaces is too much trouble so after explaining the details of manufacture and what we would change on the mantel to achieve the 51″ shelf an order was placed there and then with the gorgeous Henley arched insert.
So i told them two weeks for it to arrive to them and the said they were amazed as fireplace shop in Leics had told them 4 weeks for even the stock size Bedford.
I explained they must buy them in which meant them coming from the supplier and then to them for delivery but as we make them ourselves the delivery time would be far shorter even for made to measure and if it was stock itme we could have delivered it Thursday.
So another very happy customer on his way and happy he made the effort to come and see us at Castfireplaces as he got what suits his home best
Wooden Fireplace Samples gets us Order
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Most people know who shop with us at Castfireplaces know we go the extra yard to make your shopping with us the best online and we do often do things others dont.
As we have said before we are more than happy to post out stone samples and even samples of our waxed and unwaxed timbers in Pine and Oak.
Most companies have all on sending you a brochure let alone material samples but we are very different to them.
Anyway i have had an email this morning from one of or customers in Darlington she goes on to say
“Hi Mark
Have now unwrapped my new fireplace and am very happy with it. Thanks very much for your patience in answering my many questions and for the wood samples you sent.
It makes a refreshing change to receive such a prompt, personal and efficient service and I would not hesitate to recommend you”
Thanks again
Tracey Cloughton Darlington 26/08/10
So as you can see we do exactly what we say on the tin and its nice to know a customer has chosen us because we sent out the all important colour samples so they could see the colour of the finished mantel.
This has happened many times in the past we also send out stone and Jura-stone samples too and some are now wrapped in a jiffy bag on my office desk to be posted tomorrow.
So if you do not wish to come to our showroom and view the products we can send samples out and with no obligation its as its free of charge for you too what have you got to lose.
Right of to the factory to meet my 6.30pm appointment bye for now
Fireplace Mantel Manufacture continues whilst im on Holiday
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010Whilst i am currently on holiday our Mantels are still being manufactured and ive left a list for Daz to make plenty of them whilst im away on holiday.
As normal there are a few made to measure items in amongst the stock sizes we carry and also 4 made to measure Oak Lincoln Mantels 3 for a customer in Guildford whom i promised delivery for when we return so he can complete his fireplace projects.
It was quite a nice change for one of our customers to email me exact sizes they required and after a few questions they quickly settle on confrimed sizes and forwarded me the drawings.
Normally it is me asking all the questions as to what they want but he had a clear mind and knew exactly what was required and which design.
These made to measure Oak Lincolns are to be made in our normal solid oak and finished with Finishing oil which is far superior to waxed finish others use, it just brings out the natural colour in the wood.
So on my return i expect the mantel department of our warehouse overflowing with stock mantels but to be honest i did let stocks fall a little low to keep him busy while im away.
So keep cutting away Daz im thinking of you whilst im away and ill see you next Tuesday and dont forget to label all made to measure with customers names.
Fireplace Company is so impressed with our Mantel they copy it
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Scanning round a few websites as we all do in the trade to see what is about and checking a few things etc i noticed last week Tuesday 3rd August that one of our competitors likes our oak brompton mantel so much they have tried to copy it and sell it with a immation Jubilee Cast called the Brompton arch (known as the Falkirk) and pass it off as exclusive to themselves.
I have seen this arch before mainly on Ebay as a cheap alternative to the Jubilee, it just shows you how some companies try to decieve others and copy the best selling Gallery Fireplace.
So beware of copies and check when you order supposed exclusive fireplaces they are not some cheap immatation like these.
As for our Brompton mantel im kind of flattered they like it so much and decided to reproduce it in pine and oak it just goes to show we have the design right and im now just waiting to see if our Stourhead goes the same route, i have seen there Keswick mantel and thats very similar except that it has the thinnest of mantel shelves and just looks cheap.
So im off now to design some more new mantels to keep us one step ahead it really is nice to know the so called competition feel the need to keep up with one of the UK leading online Fireplace Retailers.
What wood do you use for your fireplace mantels
Sunday, July 25th, 2010A question today we have covered a little before about whether the timber we use for our fireplace mantels and surrounds is good quality.
Well to manufacture fireplace surrounds we can only use kiln dried timber which is of good quality.
Just because we sell wooden mantels cheap does not mean they are made from cheap materials we use redwood pine for our pine timber mantels and American oak for all our oak mantels.
These are supplied to us by two different companies which we have used for a long time now and yes we can buy this timber cheaper but we are very happy with the service and quality of the timber we buy so we do not shop elsewhere.
After manufacture all the mantels are stored correctly to avoid twisting as if stored badly timber does have a habit of twisting out of shape which makes the surround look terrible when fitted.
In all these years of selling wooden fireplaces i can only remember a couple of suurounds being returned and one of those was a Carron surrround that we do not manufacture.
Now im very proud of this record it shows that if you do buy good quality materials you do not tend to have many problems at all.
Another thing all the timber we but is from sustainable sources so you can also see that Castfireplaces is doing our little bit for the enviroment.
Do not forget we also offer a made to measure service on all of surrounds so if you want something bespoke do not hesitate to give us a call.
Timber made to measure Mantels from Castfireplaces
Monday, May 24th, 2010As a lot of our customers now know after quite a few blogs and it stating it on all our timber mantels we do offer a made to measure bespoke size service on the majority of our fireplace mantels and surrounds.
Ive had an email over the weekend from a man who requires an oak lincoln mantel at a made to measure size but wants me to price match it to something similar he has seen on another website.
How can we price match something that is bespoke and made exactly to your measurements when you are trying to price compare it too a standard off the shelf item.
I tried to explain this to him when i rang him back but as this mantel was smaller than the standard one we keep in stock (which is cheaper than theirs anyway) im sure he didnt grasp that made to measure items are always more expensive.
You can buy a suit from Marks and Sparks off the shelf and you can also have made to measure but a made to measure is never going to be the same or cheaper price.
But your making it anyway he replied why cant you just make it smaller and you save some money on wood and i will get what i want.
After explaining we dont just cut timber for one mantel at a time we always make ten minimum so we just set up the saws and cut a batch out ready and then use our jigs to clamp everyhting perfectly square and drill out all screw holes etc.
I wouldnt have minded if it was just opening size difference but he wants to specify leg width and shelf thickness which is perfectly fine if you wish to pay the extra for it.
Anyway needless to say after trying to explain this which i can clearly say im not sure he understood it he didnt order it he said ill measure up and have a think about it.
So im a little puzzled to say the least im sure im not going mad or is the sun clouding my normal judgement,still it makes me smile and has filled my blog of around 360 words lol
Are your Fireplace timber mantels antique waxed
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010The pine timber mantels we manufacture here at Castfireplaces our finished with our own secret recipe even more guarded than the secrect of Coca Cola.
Now that would be funny if it was true but we do have a lot of people asking us how we get such a great finish to our surrounds and whether it is something they can buy to achieve the same results from a diy shop.
What we use to achieve such a greta finish is a product called Van Dyke Crystals which is mixed to a certain stength to make a waterbased stain and is not avail;able to buy in B and Q etc.
Water base i hear some of you cry will that no raise the grain, well yes but it is wire wooled back again before applying wax.
Now the method we use is 1 or 2 coats of Van Dyke stain to create base stain (left to Dry) then use Morells Med Brown Wax which also contains a pigment to give it the top coat.
Normally one well applied coat of wax is enough then it is left to dry for 20 minutes to allow the wax to soak in then polished with polishing brush and then buffed with lint free cloths.
This finish we find suits our Fireplace Mantels and Surrounds perfectly and is the perfect hand waxed finish.
We will be adding Stain and Wax Kits to our online shop so our customers can achieve the same results on other things like skirting boards and doors etc to match the Fireplace Surround.
So in the meantime if you need any stain just let us know and we will be more than happy to post it to you.
Carron Fireplace Mantels come into stock
Monday, April 26th, 2010Today i have been nursing a hangover from our bbq yesterday and its not just me everyone who came has awoken this morning with a sore head.
Now the phone in my office is very loud and has made my head pound all day but thats all my own fault.
Anway We have taken delivery from Carron (which used to be called Jig) another load of Oak Surrounds and in this batch are two new ones we are going to add to our range.
Apart from the Large Corbel in both oak and pine the rest of them are manufactured by us so we have complete control of quality and design and also our fantastic bespoke made to measure service.
So these surrounds have been on order for a while and they have arrived today so we shall be doing some new photos and have a few new items on our website shortly.
We are always looking at new products to see if they compliment the range we already do and i do know the Carron range well and their stoves will also be shortly available on our website.
Today along with the surrounds we have taken into stock a few casts from the Carron range we will be stocking to compliment the gallery ones we do so these will have asection all of their own very shortly so keep checking back to see our ever changing range.