Renovation complete: new light-colored floor, a bigger couch, new paint, thinner black window mullions. Now it’s time to face the fireplace. Your old gas logs sit low behind smudged glass. There’s lots of space between the short logs and the small grate, and you can see the orange brick at the sides. They look fine… but they don’t anymore.
This is a frequent problem. It’s especially obvious in a living room in West Palm Beach that has been opened up to the kitchen, or that now contains a larger piece of furniture.
What Makes Your Old Log Set Look Small?
Any room changes when a remodel is done. Maybe the TV cabinet is gone, leaving a long stretch of wall, or you have a new sectional that makes your old firebox look awfully small. Or maybe the mantel shelf is too narrow, or the TV is 6 inches higher than it was before.
The log set itself might be part of the problem. If they’re short, clay logs piled in the center, you could be looking at a jumble in a big hole. A shallow grate might be exposing the burner, the faded faux embers, and the manufacturer’s ID plate on the bottom of the firebox. With good overhead lighting, all of these things will be noticeable.
Think about the sightlines from the place you actually sit. From a barstool next to the kitchen island, do the flames look too short? Do they disappear behind the coffee table? From the end of the sectional, can you actually see the layered look of the wood logs, or do they look like a brown lump?
Your Logs Should Work With the New Look
The materials in your fireplace (continued) should go well with what surrounds it. Rustic-looking oak logs might seem out of place next to a white stone surround and thin brass drawer pulls. Or the blackened look of some log sets might look too busy when put against patterned tile, especially if your new tile has bold veins or contrasting grout.
Some specifics to think about when choosing your new log set:
- The size of the logs compared to the available firebox area
- How high the grate sits over the burner and how much of the burner it covers
- The bark pattern, charring, and placement of embers
- How tall the flames look from the sofa, dining table, etc.
- Whether the look of the new logs matches the new screen, doors, mantel and hearth
Bringing in samples, and measuring your fireplace accurately, are good ways to make sure you don’t have to guess. A tape measure across the firebox will tell you if a great-looking log set is too wide for your fireplace. A photo taken from the main seating position will help you understand how much height is needed over the grate.
Focus on the Firebox, First
The fireplace determines what kind of log set you can have. A reliable supplier will determine what kind of gas line you have, the exact size of the firebox, the flue/vent configuration, and what kind of manufacturer markings exist. Even a sticker that’s only partially peeled off behind the lower door could hold information that matters – you can read more at epa.gov.
You need to know if your fireplace is vented or vent-free, as this will affect how the log set is installed, and how it operates. You must consider the compatibility of your burner, clearances to combustible materials, whether you need to open or close your damper, what the gas pressure is, and the room ventilation requirements. Just because you are putting in new logs does not mean you can reuse an old burner, since parts are listed and must match.
Blue Flame Professional Service should always be consulted, especially after a remodel. Tile dust can build up around the burner ports. A new cabinet can block access to your gas shutoff valve. A new, thicker hearth rug might keep the lower door from swinging open.
Wider Sightlines In An Open Plan
In a room that is opened up, the fireplace is seen from many different vantage points. Something that looks good from directly in front might expose the metal pan below when viewed from the breakfast nook. Tall front logs can block your view of the flames from a low-slung chair, and deep log sets can fall into shadow under the lintel.
Your supplier should be able to look at the room and picture where your furniture will be. Think of a few of the key places from which you will be watching the fire. It might be from the corner of an L-shaped sofa, from the walking space near the kitchen island, or from a dining room chair that looks straight at the fireplace. Consider the heights of the flames and the layers of the logs from those viewpoints, not just from a close-up in the store.
New Logs For Your Updated Fireplace
A new gas log set should fill your firebox nicely, match your new room decor, and function according to how it was installed. Before shopping, remove your mesh curtain, take off the cover to find your rating data, and take a photo of the opening with a tape measure in the shot. These simple steps will allow your fireplace supplier to recommend a set of logs that looks right from your sofa, and fits safely behind your doors.