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Modern Metal Fireplaces Open World of Possibilities
Allowing way more natural light than traditional fireplaces, and with some not even needing a vent, metal fireplaces are a major improvement
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
A truly wonderful product came on the market a few decades ago. The prefabricated, metal fireplace insert and metal flue changed the way architects design chimneys. Chimneys can now be light, thin and luminous instead of massive and monstrous. Important views going out and sources of natural light coming in no longer have to be closed off. Rather, the new metal flues allow architects to open up and make fully transparent any exterior wall — even those with a fireplace.
The double-wall construction is what makes these work. While there's an inner steel flue from bottom to top, there's also an exterior steel liner with a space between the two. The enclosure for these flues — whether a decorative metal skin or a wood and drywall box — is independent of the actual functioning of the flue, giving architects and designers much more freedom in how to treat the visible part of the fireplace.
So the next time you're building new or remodeling, consider one of these fireplaces to let the view in. Here are a few ways to use them.
The double-wall construction is what makes these work. While there's an inner steel flue from bottom to top, there's also an exterior steel liner with a space between the two. The enclosure for these flues — whether a decorative metal skin or a wood and drywall box — is independent of the actual functioning of the flue, giving architects and designers much more freedom in how to treat the visible part of the fireplace.
So the next time you're building new or remodeling, consider one of these fireplaces to let the view in. Here are a few ways to use them.
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Let the fireplace float. By placing windows around the fireplace (and placing the metal chimney on the outside), there's little to block the light and view, so the interior stays more open and bright. The fireplace seems to float in the wall rather than being anchored to one spot by a heavy masonry chimney.
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| Keep the glass box glass. On the outside the metal chimney remains the vertical totem it has always been. But now the glass wall can span up, over and in front of the chimney. There's no need to have a chimney that breaks up and separates the elevation into pieces. |
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Let it go through the roof. These flues can rise up and through dramatic roof overhangs with minimal impact. Just make sure you allow for the proper clearances by following local building codes and the manufacturer's specifications.
| Avoid architectural features. The flue can also bend and be rerouted to avoid architectural features such as overhangs. Again (this can't be stressed enough), follow the building codes and manufacturer specifications when doing any chimney installation. |
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by mark gerwing
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| Bring it inside. These types of chimneys aren't just for exterior wall applications. Metal chimneys are ideal design elements for two-sided fireplaces, where they help keep the interior spaces more open and connected. This interior wouldn't be nearly as open, bright and spacious with a boxy chimney rising up from the fireplace. |
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Make it sculptural. One of the great advantages to using a prefabricated metal fireplace and metal chimney is the ability to place a hearth just about anywhere in the home and treat it as a sculpture.
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Use a metal chimney with any style. Though more commonly used and associated with a modern aesthetic, a metal chimney flue can be used in any room where a more open and light-filled space is desired.
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Let it spin. Metal chimney technology also allows the fireplace to be a floating object unconnected to the ground. The Fireorb by architect Doug Garofalo takes the prefab metal fireplace to a whole new level. Allowing a 360-degree rotation, this is a fireplace that can be placed anywhere in a space — it's like something out of The Jetsons.
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You decide: To vent or not to vent. Many of the new prefabricated, metal fireboxes don't even require a chimney. Only if the fireplace is meant to be wood burning is there a need to vent smoke up and out. If it's solely a gas-burning fireplace, a direct vent (directly outside behind the fireplace) or a no-vent solution works just fine.
There's no need to feel uncomfortable with a no-vent fireplace — think of it as a gas appliance, like a stove. These fireplaces can burn the gas so efficiently that no venting is needed. Just make sure to install the fireplace in accordance with all local building codes and the manufacturer's specifications.
See more fireplace ideas
There's no need to feel uncomfortable with a no-vent fireplace — think of it as a gas appliance, like a stove. These fireplaces can burn the gas so efficiently that no venting is needed. Just make sure to install the fireplace in accordance with all local building codes and the manufacturer's specifications.
See more fireplace ideas
Comments
shoppermom My architect had prefab fireplaces on our plans. He made it sound as if these would be totally closed glass fronts for gas flame only. Did I misunderstand? Can we put in prefab but still burn wood or gas and have an open front?
11 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA shoppermom - the best thing to do is go to a prefab fireplace manufacturer web site. try majestic http://majesticproducts.com/ or lennox http://www.lennoxhearthproducts.com/products/fireplaces/
11 months ago · Like
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greekbeachhouses i have a question: is it possible to have one fireplace on the same wall, one side for the indoors, while the other side of the wall is outdoors?
8 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA @greekbeachhouses - yes, it's possible to have two fireplaces in one wall - each serving a different area (interior or exterior).
8 months ago · Like
Planika There are plenty of choices at the moment. Some fireplaces are not only modern decoration but technologically advanced fireplaces operated with remote control or smart home system. 
6 months ago · Like
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tarana69 Here is fireplace I designed for my house. What do you think? 
5 months ago · Like
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njgardengal The Fireorb is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, and efficient fire element I've ever seen!
5 months ago · Like
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mennenster Is it possible to have a gas fireplace serve a dual purpose; i.e. heat inside during the winter and outside during cool evenings in the fall and spring. I live near Ithaca, NY and have a good spot for this in my old lake house.
3 months ago · Like
The Victorian Fireplace Shoppermom...there are direct vent gas fireplaces that have sealed fronts. They too use coaxial venting ( one section of pipe pulls outside air for combustion, the other is used to exhaust ). Though they are "prefabricated"-non masonry units, they are not the same as the majority of metal fireboxes this article explains. There are so many types of non brick built fireplace, it can make your head spin.
2 months ago · Like
Karen Johnson Interiors, LLC Who manufactures these fireplaces?
2 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA There are a number of manufacturers for these fireplaces. Try Majestic for one. Also, just google "prefab fireplace manufacturers" and you'll get several others.
2 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on May 31, 2012.
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