Curling up in front of a fireplace on a winter night can be relaxing, but it’s important to make sure your hardwood flooring is protected from any wayward sparks.
Sitting by a fireplace in the evening can be a great way to relax. After all, in the winter, it can be too bitterly cold to sit outside and enjoy the use of your fire pit. Even so, use a little caution when lighting up your fireplace. Here is a guide to what you should do.
Make Your Fireplace Bigger
The hearth is one of the most important parts of any fireplace. One way to keep your floors safe is to make the hearth longer. You can find extensions easily enough; plus, you can envision them as bookends for a shelf to help you get a better sense of what it is you’re looking for this time. They also protect your floors against stray embers, coals, or sparks that spit out of the fire while it is lit up.
Cover When Not in Use
You might be in the habit of leaving many of your devices in idle mode. This means that you can pick up from where you last left off. The same can’t be said of the fireplace, though. Be sure to cover it up when you’re not using it. The cover can be installed even if the fire is still going. Get grilles and grates that will still release smoke, or else you might have to deal with carbon monoxide, and that can be extremely dangerous!
Don’t Go Overboard
It’s easy to make your fireplace setup as grand as possible. In this case, it’s better to stick to a minimalist approach. When you wear out your fireplace, you might also cause unintentional damage to your precious hardwood floors. To prevent this, avoid using your fireplace every single night. Maybe on a night when you want to relax on the couch with some wine and pizza? That sounds lovely.
Use Firewood
Be sure to use natural firewood as well. Using other sources of kindling can lead to bad results. Natural wood smoke smells fantastic and there shouldn’t be a risk of chemicals coming from paper or cardboard products.
Hardwood Flooring from Jason Brown Wood Floors
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 4 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
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