Decorative fireplace screens were not always the first choice for those who had fires in their homes and for a very long time they were functional pieces of kit and nothing more. Naturally as open fires have become more trendy and style is more prominently featured in the home, many companies began to release more ornately designed fireplace screens. Get the choice right and you will have a wonderful screen which will both do its job and which will bring the style and the character out of a room.
Whilst you may not think there were any risks which it comes to buying such an item, there are still some areas which you should watch out for.
Function Over All
Unfortunately there are many companies which produced a custom made fireplace screen which looks amazing but when it comes to performance, it just doesn’t stack up. This is absolutely essential when shopping for a fireplace screen because this is the tool which prevents the room from getting too hot and which protects the rest of the home from embers shooting out of the fire and onto the floor, which of course is a potential fire hazard. Always ensure that the function of the screen comes first, then you can begin to look at the style.
Build Quality
A good fireplace screen, vibe it decorative or otherwise, should always be well built, with solid materials and this is how it should last for a long time. In the case of many decorative screens however we see that they are not given the same build quality which means that the investment you are making is in a short-term, albeit great looking, fireplace screen. Just because something is built in a stylish way does not mean that you cannot expect to have some robustness and some durability there.
Weight
You will find that you have to move the screen a number of times when you are preparing or cleaning the fire and so you should pay attention to its weight before you buy it. In many cases the wrought iron which is used here is very heavy and that could certainly take its toll on you. If you are young and fit then this may not be of concern but if you are of a certain age then it may just be that you have to keep an eye on this.
Price
And finally you really should be looking to sum up as much of the market as possible in order to ensure that you get the best price. The costs of these pieces range enormously based on the manufacturer or the designer, and this may not always mean that you are getting the most for your money. The trick is to ensure that you have taken a median price across the board and then that you make the best decision for you, which you think will give you value for money. Decorative screens do look great, but these are the things to watch out for.