What a busy day i have spent today photographing over 60 new fireplaces for our website these photos contain a different range of wooden mantels with granite panels and small arched cast iron fireplaces to offer a range of wooden surrounds ranging in sizes from 42″ to 54″ that compliment the range we already offer.
We have pictured them with the new high ouput hotbox gas fire,electric insert and the glass fronted Aurora high efficiency gas fire all of which im sure are going to be big sellers,all these items will be added over the next week so keep your eyes on our Modern Fireplaces sections to view these new items. We have some modern fireplaces also available with granite panels for solid fuel use which combines the look of a modern fireplace but with the ever popular solid fuel option.
As soon i have the photos back i will post an article about the efficiency of these fires and heat outputs as im sure they will be of big interest to people requiring something different that isn’t available on everybodys website.
We have also photographed some new hearths and panel sets that take a standard gas or electric fire so the options are endless creating a perfect fireplace that will suit all tastes and budgets we have over 10 different surrounds to offer so even if you have your own fire you can update your fireplace at no great cost using your existing fire we will of couse be offering our usual Bargain Packages so our customers save a fortune buying a complete package with every thing you need. Right i’m off to work out our best prices for all these new packages that should kepp me busy for a while!.
Archive for April, 2009
Our New range of Modern Fireplaces
Thursday, April 30th, 2009How do look after my Fireplace Timber Mantel
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009Taking Care of your Timber Surround is quite really a simple matter for starters its not ideal to let your wooden fireplace become wet in any way and try to avoid sitting hot cups on the mantel shelf to avoid the white ring effect.
Pine Surrounds are made from solid pine timber, which is classed as a soft wood they are stained with our own hand mixed Water based stain made from Van-Dyke Crystals we apply 1-2 coats of stain depending on the colour we wish to achieve we then leave to dry and add a hand waxed finish using a Morells wax to get the look we want.
For upkeep of your Pine Surround you should only need to lightly wire-wool surface using 0000 grade then reapply a coat of wax and buff to the sheen you require this should be done once a year or more often if required over the years the surround will build up a patina which will look more and more like antique pine this is the true finish of pine and looks great.
For our Solid Oak Surrounds such as the Oak Stourhead its finished with an Oiled finish such as finishing oil or Tung oil this is 2-3 coats of this oil is applied prior to delivery of these surrounds and are quite water resistant. You should re-oil surrounds every year using a good quality Oil and apply with a clean cloth and work the oil into the surface of the Wooden surround remove any excess after 10 minutes and then let the oil soak into the timber once its dried that’s all that has to be done and its ready to be refitted.
For all of our Fireplace Mantels If you do have water stains or heat marks the surface needs to be resanded and stain coats applied before waxing or oiling please Contact us for further advice on what you need to do and what to use as we can supply any Stains or oils you require
Restoring a Fireplace To Former Glory
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009Â After using for a while particularly for solid fuel use the fireplace you have will show cosmetic signs of wear and tear this can depend on what type of fuel you have been using whether its coal or wood generally the hotter the burning fuel the more upkeep you will have to make.
Full polished Fireplaces are very simple to maintain we tend to use WD40 for normal monthly cleaning but once every 6 months we tend to use Metal Polish which is applied with a cloth working in small sections in a circular motion its polished into the cast and the excess removed and then buffed with clean cloth to finish to a shiny finish this paste removes all the grime left behind and the Cast iron will sparkle like new it can also be used on brass chrome etc.
For our Black Fireplaces them come from the factory with a tough heat resistant matt black spray applied to the surface this will not normally come off or flake away so it can be dusted with a dry cloth to keep it clean DO NOT use Water on it as this causes rusting. Around the Basket area of the fire this causes white deposits to build up these need to be removed with a brush and then normally sprayed over with Heat Temp Matt Black Paint which will cover all the exiting heat marks be sure to spray evenly over the cast iron back to ensure colour match.
For our Fireplaces that have been Black Leaded we use Black Lead Grate Polish this is a traditional Black lead Graphite finish similar to the Old Zebo product which my granny used to polish her range with. It’s very simple to use and is applied by a cloth or small paint brush cover the area you are going to do wiping excess away at all times leave to dry for half an hour then buff to your desired finish with a clean cloth or with a polishing brush this method is very effective and I think it really makes the features of the fireplace stand out just have a look at the photos below the top one shows before and the bottom one is after black lead has been applied its not bright silver more of a pewter look
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Our Fireplace Delivery Service Why choose Us
Monday, April 27th, 2009Here at Cast Fireplaces we take our delivery service very seriously as this is when you get to see how good a company we really are this is when we really outshine all our competitors with our Family Value principles of reliability,honesty and above all friendly Courteous service. We beleive we truly offer a shopping experience that is second to none no matter whether you buy it from your local fireplace shop or any other Website Retailer, right from the intial enquiry emails and right through to delivery stage this is overseen by myself to ensure you are 100% happy with the product and the service you have recieved.
This brings me on now to our wonderful delivery service don’t just take my word for it read some of our Customer Comments these are written by genuine customers who have ordered fires from us before all have dates against the comments so you can see how recent they are. Nearly all our coments mention our delivery service saying how good it is so here i will tell you why
OUR GOOD POINTS
1 All Our products are delivered by us in our own Sign Written Vans
2 Uniformed Friendly Drivers who are more than happy to help (no grumpy pushed for time Courier)
2 Fireplaces are Blanket Wrapped on our van to ensure No Damage
3 Fireplaces are taken into your house and placed wherever you want them then blankets removed
4 One Hour timed delivery window for all orders so no waiting in all day
5 Â Early Morning Deliverys often catered for before you go to Work ie 7am etc (please request when paying)
6 Sunday Delivery to London and the South areas this is a weekly run so no more days off Work
OTHER COMPANYS DELIVERY
1 Anytime between 8am and 6Pm
2 Pallet Delivery Dumped on your driveway
3 No chance we cant take it inside were not allowed to
4 We dont have time for you to inspect it just sign it DAMAGED
5 Oh What a surprise i have unwrapped fireplace and it is Damaged
Fireplaces are delicate items and need to be handled with care so thats why we undertake all our own deliverys with our own people you may even be unlucky and get me as i do some of the delivery work too i like to ensure i have Hands on approach and do enjoy getting out in the van for the day meeting customers. Below is a photo of one of our vans so you can see us coming and were proud to show people who we are, what we do because we believe in our Products our reliable service so much we want everyone to know who we are Thanks for reading Regards MarkÂ
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We have the Full VAT Reduction on our Fireplaces
Sunday, April 26th, 2009When the Government announced the VAT was to be reduced to 15% we responded straight away to offer the Vat reduction to all our customers buying one of fireplace products from our website www.castfireplaces.co.uk  Searching the internet and checking other prices it appears a lot of other sites have still not passed on this saving to there customers I know it does not sound much but when buying a fireplace such as the Jubilee and Brompton Gas Package which is our best selling Limestone Package in 56†size it saves you the Customer £15 which could go towards fitting or even a nice bottle of red for the 1st time you light it.
We feel that people are being ripped off by firms not passing on these savings albeit for a limited time till we return to 17.5% rate and would suggest you check on checkout stage of any order the vat rate you are being charged.
Yes prices are going up all the time due to the weak pound against the dollar which is the currency our fireplaces are bought in but that’s no excuse not to pass on saving in this current economic time where money is tight and people are looking to save money, Here at Cast Fireplaces we are sure we can offer you the right deal at the right price and still send you home with a little extra in your pocket and don’t forget we never compromise and quality just to get the price we only ever sell the best products at the best price
How do i start to use my new Fireplace
Saturday, April 25th, 2009After installation of a new gallery firplace product from us we recommend a few steps before using the fire to its full capability. Make sure that the fire has been correctly treated before use ie Limestone has been sealed and for the cast iron fireplaces with a highlighted or full polish finish that the light oil applied prior to delivery has been removed with WD40 or metal polish. For all our Multi Fuel Stoves ensure that the fire cement is packed in ready to cure as the heat from the first fires hardens it.
The second process is one called Tempering this is where a few small fires are lit in either the stove or the fireplace to get the cast iron used to the heat from solid fuel this is a very important process as you need to draw the moisture from the cast iron before getting a roaring fire going. We recommend burning wood for the first 5-6 fires in small amounts gradually building up to Normal fire size you can then swap to coal as it will be now ready. If this process is not followed the Cast Iron is sure to crack, we would also recommend using the tempering process the 1st time you relight it after any period of time when the fireplace has not been in use to avoid serious damage to the fireplace.Following these simple instructions will give you years of service from any of our products.
Gas Safety Register Replaces Corgi Check Your Fireplace Fitters
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009The Gas Safe Register came into effect on 1st April 2009. There is now no such thing as being “CORGI registered”. All Fireplace fitters and installers wishing to carry out gas work must be registered with “Gas Safe Register”.This follows a complete review by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into how the existing CORGI provisions was working.
The result is that the ‘Gas Safety Register’ has now been set up and as from April 1st 2009 “CORGI” will no longer be relevant.
In the past, customers would have used Corgi registered fireplace fitters now please make sure your fitter has the relevant cards and is registered with the Gas Safety Registar to allow them to carry out your fireplace installation when using it for gas use. For solid Fuel HETAS is still in use with no change to there governing body.
Every engineer will carry a Gas Safe Register ID card with their own unique licence number, showing the type of gas work they are qualified to do. Before any gas work is carried out, always make sure you ask to see their Gas Safe Register ID card. This type of card is shown below please check all the details to make sure the engineer is qualified to undertake the work you want them to do if any doubt check them out here www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
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Malton Surround Is This Our Best Discount Fireplace
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009The new Malton Oak Veneered Surround has arrived to us today after being on order for what seems an age it has finally come into stock after we had the sample 6-8 weeks ago. We have photographed this new surround with quite a few of our Arched Fireplaces and Arched inserts and will be adding them to our website over the next few days as our Bargian Wood Solid fuel and Gas Packages. Here below ON THE LEFT is a preview of the Lytton Highlighted Arched Fireplace shown with a Granite Hearth and 54″ Oak Veneered Malton Surround im sure you agree this will be a big seller as an alternative to our Solid Oak Surrounds as this Discount Fireplace Package is only £520 for the full gas package just click Lytton and Oak Veneered Malton Gas Package to buy this product.When you compare it with the Solid Oak version which is the Lytton and Oak Brompton Gas Package which we sell shown ON THE RIGHT you can see what a real Bargain this package is and why i think it has to be our Best Discount Fireplace set we have ever sold.We also sell this package for solid fuel use and will be adding this to our website with 4 various arched inserts and a few of our tiled inserts too so im sure we will have a fireplace that will suit both your taste and for people wanting a quality oak Fireplace without the expense of Real oak timber as when you compare the two together you get exactly the same look at a massive £230 price difference which is incredible.
How do i fit my Fireplace Tiles
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009A common question we get asked from fitters and customers is how to fit the Fireplace Tiles in our casts, its very simple to do so don’t throw away the 2 metal straps that come attached to the fireplaces there not excess packaging or spares as we have had people do and there is two of them they are just taped up together. We supply two types of tiles depending on which cast you have ordered some are loose in a polystyrene box others are in a cardboard box attached to two heatproof fibre boards.
The loose tiles need removing carefully from the box and lining up as shown in the brochure or on our website please bear in mind sometimes with the likes of the Jazz Tubeline Tiles that there are left and right hand panels, turn the tiles over then put a few strips of gaffer tape on and then you can lift them in a single panel.
Attach the straps loosley to the fireplace with the wingnuts and bolts supplied slide the panels in from the side and then slowly tighten the wingnuts onto the washer to tighten the tiles to the cast. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN otherwise you will crack the top or bottom tile, pack the centre tiles out from behind so they finish flush with the fireplace,check from the front that they all line up then cement them in place from behind with Dri-Wall adhesive leave to set then the job is done.
For the boarded tiles thay are are already atached to fibre board so you dont have to tape them up slip them in place behind the straps and simply tighten up till they are flush with the cast, do not overtighten them again but make sure there tight enough not to move a good idea is a little bead of silicon on the straps so when its gone off there well and truly set in place. There you have it tiles simply attached inside the cast fireplace if you do nee any help or further advice just contact us