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Marble care and mainteinance
Marble care and maintenance?
A marble countertop, no matter if the kitchen one or the use installed in a bathroom, requires a proper maintenance. Marble is a utility material of a wide spectrum of applications and that is why it seems to be hard and resistant to all kinds of chemical and mechanical products. In fact, a marble countertop gets dirty very easily because of its porous surface.
Travertine and its applications
Travertine, a decorative wall coating plaster is a luxurious material most frequently used by interior designers due to its unusual surface, with visible pores and open cavities. It ideally complements both classic and modern interiors. Travertine is a symbol of sheer elegance and it is a versatile option for every interior. It is a luxurious and unrepeatable stone, no two equal stones can be found.
What is travertine?
Travertine is nothing more than a porous sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcite and aragonit. It is a variation of calcareous. It is most frequently found in white, often with yellow or red stratification.
Travertine application
Natural finishing decorative materials create a unique ambiance and a ravishing end result. They also have a positive effect on our mood. There are materials almost unaffected by the passage of time, owing to which their perception and beauty remain unchanged. Such is travertine.
Travertine, a decorative wall coating plaster, commonly referred to as Egyptian alabaster, since it was already used in ancient Egypt. Nowadays it is widely used due to its comparatively easy treatment and mounting. However, because of some of its properties it has some limitations. Its porous surface impairs its resistance and as a consequence travertine is a brittle material. As it is prone to damage and scratching, it should be handled with care. However, travertine has a lot of advantages, one of which, is its aesthetics, which makes it ideal as a decorative stone.
What is more, travertine ideally complements other decorative finishing materials, so it can easily be used in every interior.
1.External stone stairways – not commonly used because of its low resistance to damage and scratches. So if we do not want to invest into new stairs every year, we have to invest into more resistant material.
2.Kitchen worktops - it is becoming more and more popular for kitchen worktops. Travertine is mostly chosen by the people who opt for more classical decor. It looks very elegant in the kitchen. However, if we want to chop meat for example, we should use a cutting board. Only in this way, can we preserve its beauty and enjoy it for many years to come.
3.Fireplace surrounds – travertine will add originality to a fireplace surround because of its porous surface and numerous cavities. However, it needs to be protected against dirt. If we apply resin or stone dust coating to its surface, we will have it easier to remove minor impurities. Travertine in the colour of gold or honey, which does not need any additional setting is a perfect material for firestone surrounds.
4.Floor cladding - floors cladded with travertine particularly work fine with electric floor heating, as they keep warmth much longer.
5.Elevations of buildings – travertine slabs are ideal for building elevations, which many an investor has already found out, and many more are beginning to implement the idea of having a travertine cladding. The material, which is first impregnated looks really amazing.Jak widać trawertyn ma bardzo wiele zastosowań, dlatego tylko od nas zależy do czego go wykorzystamy. Pamiętajmy, że jest to kamień luksusowy, który nada naszemu wnętrzu elegancki i oryginalny charakter, stąd też warto go wykorzystywać w wykończeniach.
As presented above, travertine is a versatile material, which can be used in a number of ways. It is up to us how and where we will apply it. One has to bear in mind that it is a luxurious stone, which will add elegance and uniqueness to our interiors and it is worth using it. For this reason, travertine is perfect as a finishing material.
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How to adjust a flue pipe to a fireplace with a water jacket insert ?
How to adjust a flue pipe to a fireplace with a water jacket insert ?
To function efficiently, every fireplace with a water jacket insert needs a separate flue pipe of the right dimensions and proportions in relation to the size of the furnace. Before choosing the flue pipe, you should remember about a few very important issues. Any flue pipe has to be airtight, resistant to high temperatures and to the substances emitted during woodburning. So the question arises what kind of chimney to select, what criteria to follow while choosing a flue pipe in order not to make a mistake and not to incur additional expenses.
How to choose a nominal heating output of fireplaces with water jack
How to choose a nominal heating output fireplaces with water jacket inserts ?
A fireplace with a water jacket insert is a very popular way of heating all of our house, irrespective of its total area. The first thing you need to consider when purchasing a fireplace is to adjust its nominal heating output to the size and type of area you wish to heat. A fireplace insert of a high nominal output, will not perform its function. It will only increase the operating costs, and we will have to pay higher bills, which is not economically viable.
The heating capacity of fireplaces with water jacket inserts
When choosing the heating capacity of any fireplace with jacket inserts, we should not be too hasty. It is not worth investing into an insert, the capacity of which is higher than a nominal heating output. It is pointless to pay high bills, if not necessary. With the money you save, you can buy for example a fireplace surround that would complement the style of the room where the fireplace with the water jacket insert is located. .
Sometimes, taking into account cost-effectiveness, it is advisable to purchase an insert of a lower heating capacity, as if the temperature drops below O st. C additional heating can be turned on.
A nominal heating output of a fireplace
A nominal heating output is most frequently recommended by their manufacturers. It is adjusted to the existing demand for heating in all rooms. It is assumed that 1 kW can heat the area of 10 m. sq, of a standard hight of 2,5 to 2,7 metres and of an average wall insulation value. Hence, if we want to heat a 150-meter square house, we need a fireplace with water of insert of 15 kW nominal heating output.
Overheated room causes great discomfort. Too high temperature facilitates the emergence of infectious diseases because you are more prone to infections. For these reasons, it is better to choose a fireplace with an insert of a lower output and „get a bit colder” than overheat your house and at the same time to pay much higher bills.
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Fireplace heat distribution
How is heat from a fireplace distributed?
A corner fireplace is a dream-come-true of many a house owner. It not only gives a unique character to every interior and creates its cosy and warm atmosphere, but it also heats all the facility independent of its size. Our customers often enquire how the heat from a fireplace is distributed and what materials to use. DGP system may prove to be the best solution for this purpose. Let’s take a closer look at its advantages and disadvantages.
DGP System - functioning
Modern fireplaces are additionally equipped with hot air distribution systems. They are indispensable in comparatively big interiors. Basic systems of fireplace heating with hot air convection do not fulfil their function. That is why hot air distribution in big houses requires the installation of DGP system, equipped with turbines which force hot air circulation. In the case of cast-iron fireplaces, the turbine is located beneath the furnace - it is so called air turbine driven by cold airflow.
The turbine placed over a furnace ( so called hot air turbine) is most frequently mounted, owing to its capacity can even reach 600 m3/h.
Thanks to DGP system, it is not necessary to interfere with our heating system, our fireplace works independently of this system. However, one must bear in mind that DGP system compatible with a fireplace, is ideal for heating interiors located on higher levels above the fireplace and on the same level not farther than 2-3 metres.
Fireplaces with water jacket inserts and the heat distribution
Fireplaces with water jacket inserts heat water, which can be supplied to central heating system and radiators. If additionally we install a mixing device, which lowers the temperature to the required level, we will be able to „power” our underfloor heating system as well. The effective heat distribution has got a significant influence on the quality of air in our interiors.
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From purchase to maintenance
Fireplaces with water jacket inserts
Fireplaces with water jacket inserts have both their supporters and their opponents. Buying them is much bigger an investment than let’s say buying a cast-iron or a steel fireplace. The cost of an insert itself amounts to between 3.000 zloty to 8.000 zloty while the cost of their surround depends on the type of a surround. A fireplace with a water insert is not a solution that suits every pocket.
Fireplaces with water jackets inserts, however, enable their users to lower heating costs, owing to a comparatively easy access and a low price of their fuel, in other words - wood. They look like traditional fireplace inserts but they do not heat the air directly, they heat water through central heating. The way they operate is similar to the one of an oven, because they produce hot utility water.
A cast-iron or a steel fireplace?
Living room fireplaces should not only be resistant to big temperature changes but they should also be characterised by good water absorption. Those customers who decide on having a fireplace, face an enormous challenge. It is not enough to choose the right design that would complement your interior. Its heating capacity is equally important. Properly selected a cast-iron or a steel insert can heat a few rooms simultaneously.
Kominek żeliwny czy stalowy?
Choosing the right fireplace is not easy. There are at least three elements that count: its construction, its functionality and its cost-effectiveness. A fireplace insert has to be compatible with our fireplace and should meet our needs.
Best fireplace inserts
A fireplace insert is the soul of every home, the function of which is to produce heat, which is distributed to every room. However, there is more to it than just warmth and design. That is why the choice of a suitable insert is so important. What type of an insert to choose in order to meet our expectations?
A fireplace insert is nothing more than a closed furnace equipped with a glass door and a smoke vent. Because of its function, it has to be characterized by the resistance to high temperatures for a prolonged period of time. Contemporary fireplace inserts are produced with the use of modern and innovative technologies and as such they both look good and they are safe.
