The most comfortable element of decor, a fireplace, can now be afforded by any owner of a city apartment.
A portal for a fireplace made of polyurethane will not require a lot of money, it’s easy to do everything yourself, and the result is magnificent!
A false fireplace looks natural, and it can only be distinguished from a real one upon closer examination. Portals are installed both as a separate element and as a frame for an electric fireplace.
Styles of polyurethane fireplaces
Polyurethane replicas of portals are made taking into account the styles of real fireplaces. However, not all areas of architecture and design are represented in polyurethane.
These are mainly classical portals, in the Baroque, Rococo and Empire styles.
Classical. The style is characterized by straight repeating lines, symmetry, columns with paths. The creators were inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture, so the fireplace columns here are decorated with antique ornaments, there are bas-reliefs and pilasters.
Portal for a fireplace in a classic style
Baroque. This style is characterized by curved lines, ornateness, an abundance of stucco molding, decorations, arches and columns, decorated with lush and elaborate capitals.
Rococo. It is easy to confuse it with Baroque, since the style arose from it and is not much different. These are all the same curved graceful lines, a lot of decorations, bas-reliefs and pretentiousness. However, Rococo is a freer, more playful style, devoid of pomposity. Its elements are decorated with flowers, garlands of fruit, wreaths, and monograms. There are figurines of fat angels, kissing lovers, etc.
Empire style portal
Empire style The style of the times of Napoleon, when the main task of artists was to praise the victories of the empire (empire - empire). The style is similar to the classical one, since it also originates in antiquity, but it is characterized by its most pompous sides. Stucco molding in the form of triumphal wreaths, ribbons, cups, heraldic symbols, coats of arms, eagles, lions. Everything about this style exudes victoriousness.
If you decide to purchase an electric fireplace, you need to think about decorating it, because such a device itself does not look very aesthetically pleasing. Do-it-yourself portals for fireplaces - read designers’ tips on making.
You will find instructions for making a brick fireplace with your own hands here.
Most often, a fireplace is purchased specifically for room decoration, and the heating function remains secondary. Options for portals for electric fireplaces are presented at the link.
Decorative fireplaces Perfect made of polyurethane in the interior
In the Perfect assortment you can choose decorative fireplace portals in any stylistic direction. The most common fireplace options:
· Perfect polyurethane fireplaces in the traditional classic direction - this is the most conservative, but always relevant option. This decor will create an atmosphere of stability and respectability in the room.
· Constructivism is the most functional style, so this fireplace is devoid of additional elements.
· A fireplace portal made of polyurethane in the high-tech direction does not limit your imagination in terms of color or shape.
· Art Nouveau polyurethane fireplaces are created from a variety of styles and innovations.
Whichever of the Perfect fireplace portal options is preferred, the main thing is that it is combined with other decor in the interior and matches the overall style.
Instructions for creating a decorative fireplace portal from polyurethane with your own hands
- The first step is to take measurements from the existing hearth and the body of the electric fireplace. It is decided what size and style the portal will be.
- Ready-made polyurethane kits always include a set of all elements and assembly instructions.
- The surface of the walls and floor is prepared - leveled, sanded, cleaned, dried.
- If the portal was not purchased as a set, but is assembled from separate supports, a pedestal and a shelf, then sawing and adjustment of its parts may be necessary. The most suitable tool for this is a miter box.
- Polyurethane parts are glued directly to the wall and to each other (using adhesive, for example, Soudal Purocol in a tube with a convenient spout). Elements made from this material, although they look massive, are in fact very light, so assembly with glue is quite sufficient.
- For fixing on porous surfaces such as brick, plaster, concrete and others, adhesive putty is suitable. For example, Adefix P5. You need to work with glue at positive temperatures, but not hotter than 30°C. This is a paste-like mass that is applied using a spatula or a gun (the surface must be clean, dry and primed). The part is pressed tightly and fixed for some time (drying is 10 minutes, and complete drying is 24 hours). Excess is washed off with water.
- When connecting parts to each other, it is important to monitor perpendicularity and horizontality. Squares and a building level will come in handy.
Drawing of a polyurethane fireplace with dimensions
Polyurethane cannot withstand temperatures exceeding 80°C, so it cannot be used to frame the portal of a real fireplace intended for an open fire! Under the influence of a flame, the material melts.
Polyurethane false fireplaces and portals: safety and practicality
The first thing that interests clients planning to buy a polyurethane fireplace is how safe the material is? A few technical details will help clarify this issue.
If we talk about fire safety, then polyurethane stucco, including portals, is classified into three fire hazard classes:
- flame retardant (TV),
- fire-resistant (TC),
- self-extinguishing (C).
In practice, polyurethane can withstand temperatures up to 120 °C. However, despite such impressive characteristics, false fireplaces made of polyurethane are used only as cladding and in such a way that the stucco elements do not come into contact with open fire or heating elements, if we are talking about an electric fireplace.
The material begins to decompose into its component elements with the release of flammable gases in the temperature range from 370° C to 420° C. So, under standard operating conditions, we can talk about 100% environmental safety of polyurethane fireplace portals.
As for practicality, polyurethane as a material for false fireplaces has a lot of advantages over wood and plaster:
- does not shrink or deform when temperatures fluctuate,
- easy to clean,
- does not absorb soot and soot,
- easy to install;
- It's inexpensive.
For arranging a fireplace in an apartment or in rooms located on the upper floors of multi-story buildings, an important factor is the weight of the stucco molding. The weight of a standard granite or basalt fireplace is about 200 kg. Can your floor withstand such a load?
Finish options
The surface of smooth white polyurethane lends itself perfectly to painting and painting.
A classic style fireplace is a stark white fireplace, sometimes with gold trim. Marble finishing options are available.
Baroque, Rococo and Empire style can be finished with gold leaf, gold leaf, tinted to resemble patinated bronze, or silver plated.
Polyurethane fireplace trim
A simple portal without clearly expressed stylistic elements, after fixing it, can be stylized to resemble any material - wood, stone, metal, ivory.
If you do not use screws, nails or other fasteners for fastening, the surface of the resulting fireplace will not require additional putty. You can immediately proceed to painting.
Gold plating
This is an inexpensive analogue of gold leaf, which is available for home reproduction.
You will need:
- Brush.
- Potal.
- Glue for gold leaf.
- A small piece of felt.
- Finishing varnish for gold leaf.
The use of glue provides a glossy surface. There is a technique with gesso varnish, mixtien, etc. As a result of their use, the pattern turns out matte.
Fireplace gilded with gold leaf
The glue is applied to the surface to be painted in a thin layer and left for about 5 - 7 minutes (until it becomes transparent). After this, a layer of gold leaf is applied to the glue (sheets of the finest gold, which has nothing in common with the noble metal, but is not inferior in appearance to it). Excess is removed with a brush.
The gold leaf is nailed on with a synthetic brush, then sanded with felt. The next day, the gold surface is varnished to preserve the beauty of its shine for a long time.
A tube of glue will cost about 150 – 300 rubles, gold leaf 120 – 400 rubles. A small jar of varnish for gold leaf costs about 600 rubles. In total, painting a fireplace with gold will cost approximately 1200 - 1500 rubles.
Advantages of polyurethane
Modern material for the manufacture of artificial fireplaces is good in many respects, including:
- Strength and durability. Polyurethane is a fairly strong material, its impact resistance allows you to protect the inside of the fireplace and the outer shell.
- Long service life. Thanks to its quality characteristics, or rather high strength and ductility, polyurethane products look like new for a long time. They do not crack, do not deform, are not afraid of external mechanical influences, do not turn yellow over time like plaster and remain in their original state for a long time.
- Large operating temperature range. Polyurethane is able to withstand cold operating conditions and hot ones. Its operating range is from -40°C to +80°C degrees. At the same time, it does not emit any elements harmful to humans and animals into the atmosphere of the room. Even allergy sufferers can install such structures in their homes.
- The material does not burn, but only melts. Even if you install a polyurethane portal, place candles in it and something goes wrong, you should not immediately panic. Polyurethane has excellent fireproof characteristics; it does not burn, but only smolders smoothly.
- The interior looks very decent. Thanks to its texture, color, and ornament, a polyurethane fireplace portal looks very good in any interior. That is why many designers actively use imitation fireplaces to create a harmonious and high-quality interior. Many people add a gold or silver patina to their stucco to create a truly luxurious piece.
Relaxation corner in the living room
- Large assortment in stores. If you want to buy yourself a ready-made portal or just polyurethane stucco molding, then you will certainly be happy to know that construction stores have a huge selection of such things. From simple and extraordinary to pompous and pompous, similar to stucco from royal palaces.
- Easy to use. Installing a polyurethane fireplace is very simple; no special skills are required. The purchased version is immediately ready, you just need to unpack it and put it in the right place. It will also not be difficult to move it, because the structure weighs little. If you decide to glue polyurethane stucco onto a plasterboard or plywood box, then there won’t be any particular difficulties here either. The main thing is to use a certain glue that will reliably fix the decorative elements.
- Easy to care for. Polyurethane is not afraid of moisture, so wet cleaning using water and a rag is not a problem for it. It is noteworthy that even modern household chemicals do not harm the material. That is why you can easily maintain your false fireplace in a decent, clean and tidy form.
If you need to decorate the interior space of an apartment with little effort, if you want to add an elegant, aesthetically attractive element to the interior, pay attention to decorative portals for fireplaces made of polyurethane. At the same time, you can choose products in almost any style, because you need to combine a false fireplace with the interior of the house.
Price
Simple strict portals, consisting of two side parts and an upper shelf, will cost about 4.5 - 6 thousand rubles.
More interesting models, decorated with stucco, will cost 10 - 15 thousand rubles.
Individual elements, for example, lush capitals for columns, can be purchased for approximately 1000 - 1500 rubles.
And small stucco elements that can be used to decorate a homemade plasterboard portal will cost only 250 - 700 rubles per piece.
In conditions of shortage of funds, you can resort to combining materials. Assemble the frame of the fireplace with your own hands from plasterboard sheets, and buy ready-made polyurethane molding for decoration.
How to make a decorative fireplace with your own hands? Design and materials
Obviously, our apartments are not suitable for the construction of a full-fledged fireplace. Technically, this is a completely impossible task, especially in an apartment building. However, for those who would like to decorate the interior with such an element, there is a solution, and it lies in the construction of a false fireplace. It retains the external signs of a full-fledged hearth, but does not require the installation of a chimney and firebox. Moreover, making a false fireplace with your own hands is a completely doable task.
Niche in the wall, stylized as a hearth
A place for read books - an empty fireplace opening
Natural materials will add warmth and comfort to even the most ascetic interior
Since imitation of a hearth does not require a radical reconstruction of the room and special skills in its installation, the design of a false fireplace depends only on the imagination of the home craftsman. The main thing is the frame of the hearth. It can be made from metal profiles, wooden blocks and slats, or simply use an overlay panel with a decorative firebox window. The dimensions of the interior element being constructed depend on the size of the room itself where it will be placed.
Victorian style decorative fireplace design
An original solution - having a fireplace in the bathroom
On the fireplace shelf there is a collection of nesting dolls, photographs and grotesque paintings, and inside the firebox there is a wicker vase with branches
Practical use of a decorative fireplace
