Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 27, 2016 8:57 pm Dear all Started on the long road to building and our plans are currently in with council planners. We are finalizing our selections and in doing so have decided to include a fireplace. Our dilemma is where do we place it? We have quite a large family room but I'm not sure whether to include the hearth in the tv/sitting area with the tv recessed above the fire. Or have it further along the wall towards the dining area? I don't really like the idea of a tv being too high so favour the second option, but interested in others experiences and opinions. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 2Feb 27, 2016 9:01 pm Sorry the pics aren't great. I plan to do low level built in units to the sides of the hearth. Personally I'm favoring the first option so it sits in the middle of the room. However, couple of friends hold strong opinions that the fire should be in the sitting area? Need to update the builder soon! Edit to add: the fire we've selected will vent straight out the wall and not require a vertical flue. Position in relation to rooms upstairs therefore becomes irrelevant. In Adelaide so whilst it isn't too cold here we do have chilly mornings in winter. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 3Feb 28, 2016 1:35 am I like it in the middle of the wall. Then you can enjoying it while watching tv or eating dinner Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 4Feb 28, 2016 7:02 am Having just gone through this I would suggest not above. If it is the Escea fire then you might be alright but all the others have a height above and void space behind rhat will make it dificult. Here is a photo of ours. We had planned on using the Lopi but the manufacturer wouldn't budge from their type test requirements. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We ended up going with the real flame due to the requirements around and above the unit. Knowing what I know now I would have redesigned the room to keep the tv away from the fireplace. Using my LG-G4 to bring you this update. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 5Feb 28, 2016 10:02 am I don't like looking up at a TV. I like it on "eye level". I remember a fire place I saw that was open on more than one side. Very nice. Is it a real fire - chimney/flue etc ? Not sure where you are. I'm a great fan of those gas fires - and they do throw out quite a bit of heat. Ceramic (?) logs. If you have air/con you might not use it that often - and the gas ones are much easier to clean ... Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 6Feb 28, 2016 10:06 am Also consider thermal dynamics 1.How to distribute the warmth evenly in the room 2.What happens if windows are opened 3.Circulating warm air to other rooms Unfortunately I have an ineffective/expensive fire place that was put in 20 years ago and not in use today These days you can do airflow simulations (CFDs) that will give you the optimal placement/design it takes energy analysis to another higher level. see examples below...goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 8Feb 28, 2016 11:58 am Thanks all - I appreciate the responses. Not much love for looking up at the tele above the fire! Personal preference I guess and everyone is different. We are in Adelaide so this will mainly be for aesthetics and taking the chill of a room in a morning and so of the cooler evenings. I don't really want to block the window the the alfresco as we have a pool out back and it will be nice to see as much of the garden as possible. The side of the house (long wall) is only 1100 to a colourbond fence so happy to keep walls as they are now. The Rinnai fire we are considering will flue straight out the back and so should be minimal impact above. Could do with a voting option on this page! Thanks again for the input. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 10Feb 28, 2016 2:31 pm Mjw3683 Thanks all - I appreciate the responses. Not much love for looking up at the tele above the fire! Personal preference I guess and everyone is different. We are in Adelaide so this will mainly be for aesthetics and taking the chill of a room in a morning and so of the cooler evenings. I don't really want to block the window the the alfresco as we have a pool out back and it will be nice to see as much of the garden as possible. The side of the house (long wall) is only 1100 to a colourbond fence so happy to keep walls as they are now. The Rinnai fire we are considering will flue straight out the back and so should be minimal impact above. Could do with a voting option on this page! Thanks again for the input. You wouldn't have to block the window to the alfresco. you would just change its configuration to have a smaller window on each side. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 11Feb 28, 2016 4:49 pm Ok that's possible. However, the existing window is 1800w and the hearth will be 1800w. Not sure there is enough room either side to fit more glazing? I also like the idea of loads of glass across the back to give good views across the garden. I appreciate your input though, thanks. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 12Feb 28, 2016 5:56 pm For me, I think somewhere in between is your answer. Do a space for a TV unit in the corner and then the fire next to it. I don't think it needs to be centred to the room when the room is open and essentially there is no wall between sitting and dining. The TV/fire should be in the living space and then dining space next to it. I think you have room to do a large TV unit, say 2400mm then fire. See page 20 of my thread, what I am describing is similar to ours. Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 13Feb 28, 2016 6:07 pm I'm with you on not liking the 'TV over the fireplace' look. The heat from the fire is not great for the TV, so you're supposed to have adequate separation. Particularly if the TV is above the fireplace, which puts the TV very high. Well above Saint Mike's preferred "eye level" height, inducing stiff necks. You said the fireplace is as much for aesthetics as heat. Is it an attractive fireplace, is it quite low profile? If so, & if it matches the style of your house, I like this 'offset' look. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Fireplace - where oh where shall you go? 16Mar 31, 2016 10:13 am Yeah curious? Did you consider moving dining and lounge areas (that flow would suit our living patterns). We had similar dilemma and came up with offset arrangement like ddarroch posted. We're going through one winter first but already have gas outlet ready inside wall of under stairs... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Hi all, My first post, we are building a house and can’t decide the layout of the lounge room. We have a large N/W facing window and are wanting to have a wood slow… 0 13729 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. I’m not sure what was removed, as it was done quite some time ago - well before what I can see with photos online… 2 11589 I would probably render it and then paint it as per your other advice, or gyrpock over the top. 1 3342 |