The Importance Of A Fire Place Screen

By: Pam Tice

The Importance Of A Fireplace Screen

For some odd reason it seems that no one really saw the necessity for fireplace screens for quite some time. Actually, fire place screens weren't invented until the eighteenth century. It likely happened because some body had to suffer the miserable consequences of a burning log rolling out of the fireplace in the night. Since that time, fireplace screens became a necessity every fireplace had to have.

Initially, fire place screens were just about function. They weren't attractive home decor items, rather they were an important tool for keeping the house safe from burning logs and embers. Ultimately someone made the decision to build on to the basic invention and made fireplace screens functional but also beautiful pieces to protect the house from burning logs and embers. Why not? You're going to be seeing it a lot, why shouldn't it be nice to look at?

The history behind the fireplace screen generally shows the two reasons people have them: safety and attractiveness.

As far as safety, there are some obvious, and some less obvious reasons why you need a fireplace screen in front of your fire.

An obvious reason for having a firescreen is safety from burning logs. Logs will splinter, shift and roll with little warning. If you don't have a firescreen any of those hot logs may roll from the fireplace and into the room. Fire place screens can contain the burning logs and can save your house from fire damage. At the very least it will keep your family safe.

The following reason for a fire place screen is less obvious. Although you may think that your fire secure and contained, there will be cinders and ash that could fly into the air. This sizzling ash can come into your home if you don't have a fireplace screen to hold them in. A good fireplace screen will also keep burnt ashes from getting tracked all through your house. That means less polluted air and mess around your home. And finally, a fire place screen is a good way to keep pets and kids safe, because it will create a sort of wall between the fire and them.

beyond safety and cleanliness, another reason for a fireplace screen is for their attractiveness. A lot of people who never have a fire in their fireplaces but love the way a decorative fireplace screen looks in front of the opening. If you want the fire light to emphasise your fire place screen, think about one made out of colored or stained glass. Firelight will make a vivid, colorful glow that will fill the room. Another option is metal fireplace screens with woven designs that will show a scene or picture when the fire light shines from behind it. For households that never really use their fireplace, there are also artist created screens. Really, these are pieces of art that are hand painted and can be placed in front of the fireplace. These generally shouldn't be put in front of a real fire, because the screen could be ruined.

For additional information on fire place tool sets and how they are used, fireplace screens and the way to to measure your fire place opening to get the proper screen size, or how you can coordinate your fireplace tools for a look that's more unified, visit www.fireplacescreensetc.com

Article Source: http://www.articlepro.co.uk/international

Pamela Tice is a writer and expert on home decoration and fire place screens. For further information on fire place tools and how they should be used, measuring your fire place opening, or ways to coordinate your fire place and tools for a more unified look, go to www.fireplacescreens.com.

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