d.u.k.

Fireplace was originally a niche in stone where the firewood was put and a flue (chimney) existed. In many cases fireplaces are integrated for home interior decoration, it has become an inseparable part of the interior that gives a sense of comfort and cosiness. It can also be a great mean of heating. Since old time men have wanted to be in connection with fire, that brings relaxation, watching fire burning relieves, gives strength, abates stress (it is great to sit for a while with neighbor when wife is not at homeJ).

2. I wish to have a fireplace, what should I start from?

First of all you should be aware of what kind of fireplace you desire. It is vital to ask for a consultation of architect or designer, since even experienced master of fireplaces will not be able to advice you anything thoroughly without knowing wall color, ceiling, furniture and other interior elements trimming. That is why „Židinių meistrai“ collaborates with specialists, so that in your apartment, house or summer residence fireplace will be adjusted to general interior.

3. Why is closed hearth (with cassette, capsule) better than the open one?

Closed fireplaces with hearth are more advantageous by all means. In order to stay impartial and not to underestimate other masters, installing traditional (open) fireplaces, I can only try to propose my arguments and compare the two types of fireplaces:

1) performance of traditional (open) fireplace is less than 30 percent, while with closed one reaching 89 per cent Is possible;

2) I suppose no one has any objections, that fireplace with hearth give more heat. Open fireplace only slight area just beside it, without heating any other lodgment.

3) it is possible to adjust burning process by, by changing amounts of air forwarded to hearth. You can extend (lessen) the flame.

4) more safe in exploitation. You can leave fireplace with fire burning in it uncontrolled since hearth glass is heat-resistant;

5) hermetic, even when weather conditions change, when draught is worse, smoke does not get into the apartment;

6) convenient maintenance: it is possible to stoke even using firewood of poorer quality, without threat that of it crackling;

7) practical: you don’t need to sweep the charcoal after stoking, egz. So that you can open the doors and windows to air the room – draught is not a problem.

8) universal. Stoking both closed and opened is possible. You can choose hearth with top cover, glass opening upwards.

9) great heating element, as it is possible to forward hot air to other rooms ( apartments).

10) economical: stoking fireplace with closed hearth takes twice less firewood ( irrelevant to those living near the forest J).

11) healthy, soot is never going to get into the room (you can ask a doctor or a druggist J).

židiniams su ugniakurais yra suteikiamas nuo 3 iki 10 metų garantinis laikotarpis (tai priklauso nuo gamintojo).

4. What is the hearth made of?

There are few types of hearths:
1. Cast iron hearths. They are collected of separately drained cast iron details, which are joined together by a special way – placing one inside the other. In order to make the joining hermetic, a special heat-resistant sealant is used. In practice, mounting of hearth drained from one body placing the door separately was also performed.
2. Steel hearth. These are made of special steel, frame details are joined by welding. To make the hearth serve for longer, flagstones or steel slabs are enclosed.
3. Hearths can also be cast from special sealant. It is mostly adopted to outdoors fireplaces (Lithuanians are adept to wilding fireplaces of metal J).

5. What kind of fireplace to choose?

There are few criteria for choosing a fireplace. In most cases customer already knows what kind of fireplace is needed. The bad thing is that most customers choose fireplaces merely by the price, which ties the hands of masters (architects, designers). Of course the price is very important, therefore basing on it we can offer different solutions.

6. What does the price depend on?

The price mainly depends on the very heart of the fireplace, meaning hearth, decoration, mounting price, building and isolation materials, transportation expenses. Among other things to consider are chimney, connection to it, is there installed enclosure of stainless steel slabs (the price also depends on the width of customer’s purse J).

7. I have a project, how do I know the price?

I always carry laptop. In the project I see the size and kinds of materials planned to use for fireplace mounting. There is a special program installed in the computer where I fill in required materials, transportation and mounting expenses and in 5-10 minutes I can say the final price of your fireplace with no more than 100 lt miscalculation.

8. What is the cheapest fireplace?

Traditional (open) fireplace made of flagstones would be the cheapest. It is mistakenly said that using stones would the cheapest. In that case mounting price increases. To save money I’d advice to wait for the winter term when the prices are less, wider choice of master. We also register clients for the winter term, thence the cost is lessened by 100-400 lt.

9. What kinds of materials do you use?

„Židinių meistrai“ use only high quality certified materials. If client wishes, according to the certificate, declaration of completion is issued for the materials.

10. Why is it so expensive?

What do you call expensive? Fireplace price depends on hearth and decoration. Replace hearth with cheaper one, marble with slabs and fireplace price can be lowered by a thousand or more.

11. How to order a fireplace?

„Židinių meistrai“ adheres to the following working principles:

*meeting is arranged at mutually convenient time;

*according to promoted by you project, preferred variant (photo, picture or draft), our recommended or chosen from our works collection, with the help of a laptop required amounts of materials are estimated, mounting and transportation expenses are estimated and fireplace cost is calculated on the spot or is later on fixed by phone, fax or email;

*contract with estimated cost and terms is settled;

*works are started after receiving deposit in cash, by deposit payment order, together with contract, or by transfer to the account;

*once the work is over, guarantee blank along with PVM invoice are issued.

12. What are the guarantees?

„Židinių meistrai“ provides a guarantee of up to 5 years to its works and performs a post-guarantee maintenance. That is why we use only high quality certified materials for the fireplaces.

13. Is it important who installs the fireplace?

It is good, when it ends in good. „Židinių meistrai“ is a legal company that values its name more than guarantee order, meanwhile what are the guarantees a private master can offer? We often need to fix the fireplaces built by private masters, who can’t be maid fix their works by fireplace owner.

14. When guarantees are made?

We always provide a guarantee for our works. Guarantee may not be provided for the chimney if they were installed (demand from masters). It is vital that enclosure is maid of acid-and-heat-resistant no less than 0.6 mm width stainless steel slab AISI 316 TI (completion certificate Nr. SPSC-3754).

15. How much does consultation cost?

In Vilnius, Kaunas, Alytus districts in time convenient for us consultation and arrival are free ( experience great lossesJ). We have noticed that many people began to abuse it, therefore in some cases arrival conditions are settled by a special contract, though you can always get an answer to the questions of your concern.

16. Who has the privilege in ordering a fireplace?

„Židiniu meistrai“ provides privileges for those customers who order the full package of services, from hearth to enclosure. Clients choose masters, masters choose clients (democracyJ).

17. How to plan a place for fireplace when building a house correctly?

It is important for the fireplace to be easily connected, to have enough space, not to be blocked up by furniture and so on. Mainly fireplaces are built in commonly used biggest room, hall, guest room. If fireplace is due to be in classic style, near it or right above it a niche should be left. Fireplace can be mounted a corner, near the main wall or in the center of the room.

18. Sequence of arranging a house, flat?

It is most convenient to build a fireplace before decoration works. Floor (if it will be covered by parquet, tiles, or other covering) can be arranged before fireplace. Ceiling arranging in most cases doesn’t hamper fireplace mounting as well. It is more convenient to conduct fireplace mounting before painting.

19. How to distribute the heat evenly?

Since fireplaces with hearths produce a lot of hot air, there is a possibility to distribute it among rooms installing heating system. Airs can be forwarded by chimney or heat pipe to other rooms.

20. Is it possible heat a house using fireplace?

Yes. For that purpose heating system must be installed. I believe that this is only auxiliary heating which needs alternative, but practice shows, that many people use it as the mane mean of heating. Its advantage is that great effect is reached in a short time, it’s a very convenient way when not residing permanently, cause the system doesn’t need tending. This heating mean becomes more and more popular (let’s make it more popular togetherJ).

21. How to arrange the place in built house?

There is no need in specially preparing a place for fireplace. “Židinių Meistrai” will excise any floor. Surely it’s better to mount a fireplace before arranging the floor, if it’s going to be tiles – they can be tiled.

22. Fireplace in wooden house?

When mounting identical fireplace in wooden house, it price is automatically going to be higher (those who leave in blocks of flats seem to be lucky...J) To mount a fireplace in a wooden house there is a need in additional isolation materials, necessity in keeping safe distances in overlapping, from boarding wooden walls an so on.

23. What chimney is the best?

It is impossible to tell unambiguously that the one made of bricks, of light construction or removable chimney is the best. This can even depend on design. Fireplace of stainless steel slabs outside can make you house look better (you don’t argue about tasteJ). In practice, fireplaces of white silicates are the cheapest, enclosing stainless steel slabs into it.

24. Fireplace working principle?

Fireplaces with hearths heat by convection. In the bottom part duct for cold air forwarding must be left. This is made using fireguard, or made air forwarding by flue. It is greatly important to maintain relation between apertures of cold air forwarding and hot air outlet. Moving upwards through the aperture the heats up and over the verge of fireguard gets into the room.

25. How high should the fireplace be?

Recommended height of the fireplace is not less than 4.5 meters. Distance of horizontal connection of furnace, hearth or copper should not exceed 1 meter.

26. Chimney requirements?

*Chimney must be hermetic.

*Minimal chimney section must be no less than 400 square centimeters.

*Chimney must be installed in the way that it is mechanically cleanable.

*When the chimney begins by the ceiling, connective pipe and chimney must be joined the way, in which hermeticity is preserved.

*In place were chimney crosses floor and ceiling, it is important to hold on to the standards, limiting the distance between open fire and fire-resistant materials.

*There can not be more than two elbows in the chimney. Angle must not exceed 45 with chimney height more than 5 meters, and no more than 20 – when chimney high is less than 5 meters.

*There mustn’t be more than two horizontal parts in the chimney.

*Chimney must rise 40 cm over the roof. If the inclination of the roof is less than 15 cm, or if there is a terrace on the roof with acroter less than 20 cm, chimney should rise higher than roof by 1.2 m.

*Minimal draught is 10Pa.

*When the draught is strong, exceeding 20PA, it is necessary to install draught stabilizer, which automatically adjusts when draught alters. The regulator must be in the same room as fireplace and be easily reachable (let’s revive smoke shacks building! No chimney – no problemsJ).

27. Bends in the hearth?

Every bend, that smoke has to go through moving from fireplace to chimney top, slows down draught. Ideal connection is when fireplace is connected vertically to the chimney, or it is made using 450 elbow.

28. How to take care of a hearth?

Chimney to be regularly cleaned, therefore we recommend “SADPAL” soot incineration catalyst, that can be used stoking firewood, coal, peat and organic wastes. That powder-type substance cleans chimney from soot, as well as inner covering of boiler, improves burning process, lessens SO2 and NO2 emission into the atmosphere, reduces corrosion. By regularly using “SADPAL” enclosure long-term validity is assured.

29. Is it possible to connect few heating means to one flue?

No. Every heating device must have a separate pipe. I must admit that we too sometimes connect the same pipe to fireplace and, for example, sauna furnace. In this case connections between different devices must be made on different levels and they should have dampers.

30. What is the enclosure for?

Fireplaces and furnaces are majorly stoked by firewood. With removable burning products of heating element temperature reducal the draught becomes worse. That temperature depends on the CO2 amount in the exhaust fumes. When the tempeturature is that of the earth, the moisture of burning products is condensed on the flue walls, the condencator imbues them, flue becomes moistured, its inner part is intensely destroyed. Such chimney may ruin in a few years (depends on the exploiting way). The most professional consultation on the issues of chimneys and enclosures in Lithuania can be provided by „Vilpra“ manufacturing preparation engineer Mindaugas Bichnevicius kaminai@vilpra.lt

31. What is the difference in draught between the hearths with enclosure and hearths without it?

Brick wall is the traditional material in chimney building. When stoking fireplace or a furnace by firewood bricks soak and keep the heat for a long time and while greater part of it casts to intensify draught, it take a long time.

32. What does the draught depend on?

The draught depends on the height of chimney, horizontal aperture profile, is there an installed enclosure, number of bends and what is the distance at which fireplace is connected to chimney, hearth construction. The very important thing is air forwarding to the hearth – chimney is not capable of soaking more air than it gets.

The draught is poor when the house is well isolated and doesn’t let the outside air in, hence additional feeding of air is indispensable. The draught is also poor when several devices are connected to one chimney (make an orifice in your vacuum cleaner to make sureJ).

33. I want to have a fireplace but there is no chimney?

No chimney – no fireplace…J But don’t be upset, there is a solution! Chimney can be mounted outside or inside the house. Pipe was once built through the wall. At the worst, there are gas and electrical fireplace that do not need no chimney.

34. Safe distance from the fireplace?

Safety covering in front of the fireplace should be 406 mm. For most lifted fireplaces it can be less.

35. What kind of floor should be by the fireplace?

It would be most practical to cover the floor by the furnace with ceramic fireproof covering about 80 cm from the fire. It is even practical for placing firewood, doesn’t scratch the floor and, when colors are adjusted, - pleasantly looking. We happened to build a fireplace above wooden floor, but it hang on the wall without actually touching the floor. At my home, for safety purposes, in front of the fireplace there is a thick tempered glass on the wooden floor (you are always welcomed, not empty-handed of courseJ)

36. How to prepare the wall bordering the fireplace?

There is no need in special preparation, it will be done by the masters who will mount the fireplace. Though if its going to be gypsum cardboard slab, let it be a fire-resistible one.

37. What can a fireplace be built on?

Two years ago we built a light-construction fireplace on the wooden covering. As the basis 20 mm width granite slab was used (the client hasn’t called yetJ).

38. What is the reason for the smoke from fireplace getting into the room?

Smoke can get into the room due to the bad poor hearth. It usually happens when opening fireplace door, which results air blast (check out if there is a glass put on the chimney by your neighborJ).

39. What to stoke a fireplace with?

Most fireplace holders do not even consider what they are going to stoke it with. You should know, that hard wood (oak, maple) burns with smooth high flame that coal smoulders for a long time and gives away a lot of heat. Soft wood (spruce) burns faster and produce a lot of sparkles. Birch produces a lot of charcoal. Firewood seizes play the role as well. Minor pieces burn faster and a lot of heat goes away to the chimney, it also requires more kindling. The length of the firewood pieces should be around 50 cm, humidity level no more than 2- per cent. Firewood which has humidity around 50-60%, doesn’t heat, burns poorly, produces a lot of pitch and steam, chokes up the combustion chamber and the flue.

40. How to determine firewood suitability?

The best firewood is of oak, maple, beech, ash-tree. You can also use pine, red cedar, larch, fir-tree. Wood must be smashed to pieces and dried for at least one year, you have to avoid using “green” wood as well as the wood dried for more than 3 years, this one burns very fast (less time fore burning and minor hearth usage). When you burn such firewood you have ti mix it with “green” one. You can define wood humidity level basing on appearance and weight. Not dried wood is going to be heavier by 1/3. You can also judge how the drying was made relying any longer breach. The longer and the bigger are breaches, the more dry is the wood.

41. How to stoke a fireplace correctly?

Every fireplace owner refines his own system. You should prepare smaller pieces of firewood so that after the fire is inflamed greater pieces are to be put. You have your own wit ideas? Write us about them (if that’s not a secret...:)). That’s the way it looks like:

*Open the damper of draught regulator or pipe that forwards air for burning in chamber.

*Remove ashes from fireplace

*Paper or small pieces of wood place on the grate under the firewood brackets.

*You shouldn’t at once put more than 2 or 3 brackets, about 3-4 kg.

*Do not open fireplace doors at once so that fire doesn’t leap.

*Always make sure that enough air gets into the hearth.

*Never open the hearth doors, until the flue is fully opened.

*Do not use dry alcohol for inflaming, as well as petrol (gunpowderJ) or anything like that.

42. How to take care of the fireplace?

Always clean up the ashes. Don’t let them cope above the grate, cause grates don’t cool off – they can stop functioning properly. Ashes also hamper air circulation, needed for burning.

43. Fireplace flame?

You may color the flame. Copper chloride colors it into green or blue.

White salt will make flame look more yellowish, firewood of fruit trees will produce a pleasant scent (for those who are fond of spicy impressions I recommend trying trotyl…J)

44. Fireplace glass?

For fireplaces special fire-resistant glass +750 (clear ceramics) is used. Straight glass can be carved in Lithuania, bended, convex or prism-like are ordered.

45. Why did the fireplace glass become sooted?

It mostly happens due to wet firewood. In exceptional cases wet firewood can e burnt, when the fireplace is well heated. Very important is hearth construction, deflector form (no stoking – no sootJ)

46. How to clean the glass of fireplace?

You can clean the glass only once it cools off. Clean with warm water, with some vinegar or washing powder in it, using leather rag, or buy a special cleaner ( a bottle of 550 g. – about 24.99 (you can haggle a bit…J).

47. Why does the fireplace capsule rust?

It rusts due to moister. It can happen, when right above the hearth chimney is place. Possible solution –place a lid above the chimney.

48. Does the fireplace need cold air from outside being forwarded?

It is right to say that addition oxygen forwarding to the room were fireplace is placed needs to take place. It is especially relevant to open fireplaces or places with powerful hearth, that use a lot of oxygen when burning. Lack of oxygen hinders normal process of burning in the fireplace, the room as well lacks oxygen. For instance, in one café where fireplace was mounted flawlessly I had to make addition air forwarding from outside, cause at weekends, when there are lot of visitors, fireplace just died out because of the lack of oxygen. In modern houses, where prevail great spaces and house is not divided to many rooms, and if doors to the rooms are not hermetically closed (no thresholds) its not very relevant. The fact of forced air heating system presence has be paid attention to.

49. Why do hearth prices differ so much when they are visually similar?

Let’s analyze so-called “basis” visually similar models of similar parameters. That in first place depends on capsule power. Hearths differ by hard cast quality, cat width, deflector form – the way the fire is smashed, secondary burnings, glass blowing function, is the a damper, coping and removal of ashes, cold air forwarding, door opening, manufacturer, ashes box, its mounting, even control panel and so on. Have a look at what guarantee producer provides. Cast width should be 8-12 mm. Lid installed into the hearth will help you save firewood. High smoke collector improves draught. V-shaped collector distributes flames nicely and evenly distributes heat.

“Grass blowing” or so-called “clean glass” system is important as well. Another important issue is oxygen forwarding to the hearth, cause there are hearth, that blow (these models are knownJ). The way ashes will be cleaned is not in the last place as well. Cast quality is significant baring in mind endurance. Make sure that heart is made of ore, since cheaper hearths are made of recycled scrap metal. The price also depends on glass form (bent, prism-shaped, risible, double-glassed, triple-glassed etc.)

50. How to choose the hearth correctly?

Hearths are divided into categories, some are adjusted applied to heating, that is permanent usage. Others perform more like entertainers, embellish interior and are not heating elements. When choosing hearth you have to be already aware of the purpose it will serve you for. In order to set the fireplace into your interior properly, hearths of different modifications are produced.

51. Is it possible to buy hearth by myself and arrange the fireplace?

Everything is possible in Lithuania. Not long ago we were all mechanics, builders and everyone, whom we could be, but time settles things up. Everyone has to do his work, that is especially important with fireplaces, were the fire burns. As you probably know, many home fires start up because of poorly installed flues, furnaces and fireplaces.

52. Is it possible to install a capsule into an open fireplace?

Yes (that is what “Židinių meistrai“ was set forJ), applying proper measurements it is even possible to save fireplace decoration. When that is not possible, upper part of fireplace decoration is made preserving the base.

53. How to install hearth into an open fireplace correctly?

We come up to get many such orders. Usually all the bottom part of the fireplace remains (unless that is “soviet”, morally obsolete fireplace made of red bricks…J). Applying proper aperture measurements and hearts dimensions, it is possible to remake only upper fireplace part. If the aperture and hearth are of different sizes, the difference can be compensated, for instance, by forming marble frame.

54. How to attach hearth to enclosure correctly?

Hearth to enclosure I recommend to attach using a special three-layered steel chimney corrugation ( + 1200) greasing joint with sealant (+1500). You can also attach them by using stainless steel slab pipe, covered with molybdenum. I noticed, that tightly connected hearth moves, thence our company gave up using this method.

55. Hearth glasses either are opened upwards or forward, which one should I choose?

That is for your convenience. Technical parameters and working principal are the same. If you’re intending to frequently feast your eyes on the flame, choose the hearth with glass opening upwards.

56. Fireplace decoration?

Fireplace decoration – is a matter of imagination. For decoration stones may be used (marble, granite, dolomite as well as smashed, refined, burnt stone), wood, ceramic tiles, metal, various slabs, different imitational sticky materials, also gypsum cardboard slabs, glass. In our clients houses you can even find fireplace decorated with wallpapers or colored with oiled dies (they’ve chosen freedom..:)).

57. How much does the fireplace weigh?

In past, were before gypsum cardboard was invented, al fireplace were made of flagstones and plastered, therefore they weighed around 2-4 tones. With the arousal of new materials weight was reduced several times (and the price as well…the lighter – the cheaperJ).

58. What do I do if there is a smell of the smoke from ventilation aperture?

This mostly happens due to the poor chimney pipe, contiguous to ventilation mine. Enclosure into chimney is needed. Another reason maybe that chimney and ventilation mine are on the same level. Chimney opening must be higher than ventilation opening. That could be reached by prolonging chimney with tinplate enclosure.

59.Your experience?

Hmm…(J) I’m 34. If the question is to define my professional credentials, I can assure that my practice is 20 years. When I was 14 my father used to take me and brother Vaidas (presently „Židinių meistrai“ owners) with him to stir clay. Including grandfather (family business setter) craft, common family record exceeds 50 years. Together with brother we were one of the first 2001 08 06) in Lithuania to be certified with Lithuanian labor market education service qualification certificates from Lithuanian Republic social security and work ministry. Daddy (born in 1931) still repairs neighbors furnaces at times.

60. Recognition?

Company has requires qualification and experience in mounting prefabricated Finnish fireplace of soap stones. Masters every year refine their skills in various countries. At the moment brother Vaidas is mounting fireplaces in Norway. It’s been 4 years that „Židinių meistrai“ take part in international exhibition “Resta”. “Vilpa”, one of the largest heating devices salons in Lithuania, named us as the best fireplaces makers of 2003. Every year out collection is being enriched with new diplomas, qualification certificates, as well as other documents.

61. What prices of materials do you offer?

„Židinių meistrai“ signed contract with 37 materials makers and importers, so materials used in fireplaces mounting purchases at first hands, hence they do not become more expensive, and in many cases we can offer these materials on even better conditions.

62. How to find a good master?

Good masters will never participate in free commercials in the internet portals or newsletters. They always have work to at the moment and even orders in advance. Many clients choose master relying on the price. I’d say that is not the best criterion in choosing masters. Works speak for the master, but that is not enough. You need guarantees so that you can call him if there is a need.

63. There is a master I know, can order decoration from you?

Why not? We can comprise and provide materials, presenting a list of prices and transportation expenses beforehand. There is a myriad of material to choose from in our storage facilities, hence we can deliver needed materials on-the-fly.

64. How long does it take for you to mount a fireplace?

Fireplace with marble decoration is mounted in several phases. After mounting bottom fireplace component marble-made decoration is being made according to the existing measurement. In practice, building a fireplace take from 3 days to 3 weeks (with marble decoration).