There are many cheap fireplace surrounds on the market today, thanks to improvements in mass manufacturing and manufacturing techniques. Most cheap fireplaces today are made from MDF (medium density fibreboard) – this is softwood fibres, which are mixed with wax and resin, before being formed into MDF panels. MDF is an excellent material to work with, as it is very strong yet flexible.
Some MDF fireplaces have a thin veneer of wood applied to finish, whilst others may be painted in a colour of choice. Although MDF fireplaces are mass-produced and cheap, they should not be cheap looking. Modern technology means that all such fireplaces are finished to a high standard of manufacture. Trent Fireplaces are unique in that they sell many MDF or solid wood fireplace designs, and these are available in a staggering 26 colours.
‘Cheap’ fireplaces can also apply to top quality surrounds which are sold at excellent prices. Millennium Fireplaces sell a good range of beautiful marble fireplaces and vow that they will not be beaten on price, and The Plaster Warehouse sells wood, stone and plaster fire surrounds and marble hearths at factory prices. Although prices are cheap, fireplace products are hand-made by skilled craftsmen, and the winning combination of quality and value ensures that the company is inundated with orders from all over the UK.
The sales are another way to pick up quality fire surrounds at cheap prices. Fireplace World and many other fireplace retailers are offering products at clearance prices – both online and in the high street – and the best way to get the best deal is simply to shop around.
To recap, a cheap fireplace surround is not one that displays poor quality and shoddy workmanship – it may be a fireplace constructed from MDF, albeit to excellent standards, or a quality fireplace that is offered for an excellent price, for example, by being offered at wholesale prices or marked down in a sale. There are poorly made fireplaces, and these should be avoided at all costs – do your research before buying a cheap fireplace surround, and you will end up with a real bargain.
One Response to “Cheap Fireplace Surrounds”
[...] Cheap fireplace surrounds are often manufactured from pine or veneered MDF (medium density fibreboard). MDF provides good value for money, as it is a very stable material, which is unlikely to crack or warp under excessive heat. It also comes in a variety of wood finishes or plain, ready for painting in a colour of choice. Pine is a good-value solid wood and contemporary pine fireplaces come in a range of different coloured stains. Whatever the material, all modern wood fireplaces provide an attractive focal point for any room. [...]