Does my grate protrude too far?

[Craig]

Hi all - we have had a hob grate put in (and new surround). Though this is where we thought it should go, I am now thinking that it shouldnt be so far forward. Is it going to set fire to the surround?

 

[Nemesis]

Oooh - it's certainly a great deal further forward than mine are - I think you could have problems with the heat going upwards and scorching the surround above.

Hmmmm.

 

[Penners]

I agree with Nemesis.

We used to have a hob grate almost identical to yours, but it was set far enough back in the firehole for its convex front bars to be well within the hole.

I think yours risks (a) scorching the fire surround above, (b) hot cinders rolling out on to the hearth and possibly into the room, and (c) sparks spitting out on to the carpet.

A load of hassle, I know, but I really think you should re-engineer it.

 

[Craig]

Thanks Evelyn, Penners. I suspected that - I just hoped I was wrong.

Do you like the surround? we had it carved by the woodcarver just round the corner (in Central London, who'd imagine such a thing).

 

[Nemesis]

I think the surround is terrific. The jury's out about the marble hearth... what was there?


But my hobgrates are set further back, not flush with the front, the dining room one has actually chamfered sides so the bars are even more set back.

 

[Penners]

The surround is beautiful. Hence my concern that it shouldn't get damaged!

 

[Lime]

It looks very fine.
With a suitable fender surrounding the grate I don't think that you will have too many problems.
The disadvantage that I can see is that the fire is perhaps more likely to smoke by people/animals walking past?
(My doberman of many years ago would find sitting directly in front too hot so wouldn't settle. She'd walk backwards and forwards in front of the fire causing dense clouds of smoke to billow out of the chimney. :roll: )
However the advantage of having the fire more forward is that the radiated heat from the coals will spread out at a wider angle so warming anyone sitting to the side.

 

[Nemesis]

The heat will go directly above I fear and may well scorch or warp the wood. It's not a great (grate?) idea really to subject the surround to such a high level of heat.

Mine is set much further back and the simple shelf we have above gets very hot.

Have you tried it to see if it draws?

 

[Craig]

The marble hearth replaces - a marble hearth! Same all the way through. They were generally all smashed to bits by the person who glued the carpets down...

 

[Nemesis]

Very grand then! Stately home stuff! We have simple hearth stones, but it's more a yeoman's house.

Out of historic interest - what colour were they?

 

[Nemesis]

Also - I know you will hate me... you could consider a basket grate, which might be more authentic with that surround.

You could flog the hob grate.

 

[Penners]

Oh, go on. What's authentic anyway?

Houses change as time goes by. So as long as original fabric isn't being destroyed, and the style is sympathetic to the building, a bit of anachronism between consenting adults never hurt anyone.

 

[Nemesis]

No, I just think wooden surrounds such as this were really designed to surround a grate or dogs - so the fire was set well back. It does look as though the hearth extends back and the grate has been put at the front of a deep void.

Clearly in many cases a hob grate was a later addition, but that lovely and no doubt expensive surround needs care!

Testing the way it all burns is something else to try.

 

[Craig]

I think wife and I believe it'll at least scorch the surround, and so I think we'll redo it. We havent tried it to see how well it draws - hopefully the very high chimney will help, as the void is too large really. But the surround cost more than the grate/fitting combined so thats that!

Agree on the basket Evelyn but I am sucker for hob grates. Its the right age (1790) for it to be not totally off, and I was swayed when we opened it up as the brickwork in the surround suggested that the last fire in there had been a hob grate of some sort (though maybe a register).

The marble was a gold/red I think - its hard to tell. Will post a pic in a mo.

 

[Craig]

meanwhile - here are some of the other surrounds - see how our previous owner has cut the friezes off to add a nice pine shelf. The kitchen one is a nice gesso work one but the gesso is quite "melted".

 

[Craig]

Here is the marble that we removed. Its slightly thicker (22mm) than you usually get these days. Its hard to tell the colour under the adhesive. We tried a gold coloured stone, but it looked grim...



Thought you might like to see the room - its has a nice curved wall at the end, with symmetrical curved doors - one into the hallway, the other into a cupboard! We have had the doors painted in faux-mahogany. Hope you like.

 

[Penners]

a nice curved wall at the end, with symmetrical curved doors - one into the hallway, the other into a cupboard

Gorgeous!

 

[Nemesis]

I supsect an off white, but hey.

I love it! Curved door into a cupboard! Symmetry is all.

 

[Craig]

Sorry - duplicate msg! Move along now, nothing to see here...

 

[Nemesis]

I do think it that greyish white (grey veins) which is what is usually found in grander homes (such as yours of course...)

I'd be interested to know - how far did it run back into the fire opening?