Hardwood and softwood logs
Hardwood usually burns more calmly and for longer; softwood catches quickly, sparks more and releases resin. But dryness matters more than species: well-dried logs give less smoke and fewer chimney deposits than wet ones.
Materials
Materials
A hearth is more than a firebox. Fuel, lining, door glass, the base on the floor and the fire screen all work alongside the fire, and each of them affects how calmly it burns. In this section we describe materials in general terms: what each one is for and what an owner should keep an eye on in everyday use.
A fire honestly shows what it is fed. A dry log burns evenly with hardly any smoke; a wet one hisses, smoulders and leaves soot in the chimney.
How this section works: we describe materials by their role at the hearth, without brands or figures. Choosing the lining, base and glass for a particular hearth is a matter for the design and a professional; here we collect what is useful for an owner to know.
Materials at the hearth
Six materials that fireplace and stove owners come across most often.
Fuel briquettes
Compressed briquettes are easy to store, take up little space and burn evenly. Whether they suit your hearth and how many to load at a time is set out in its manual, or ask a professional.
Firebrick and surrounds
The inside of the firebox is lined with materials made to withstand fire, while the outside is finished with stone, tiles or plaster that tolerate heat. The design and the installer decide the choice and fitting; the owner's job is to notice cracks and chips in time.
Heat-resistant door glass
The glass of a closed firebox lets you watch the flames and keeps sparks out of the room. Never wash it with cold water while the hearth is hot or scrub it with abrasives; show any crack or chip to a professional and do not use the hearth until it is replaced.
Non-combustible bases and screens
A non-combustible base is laid on the floor in front of the firebox so that a falling ember cannot reach wood or a rug. An open fireplace needs a spark screen. The design and regulations determine what the base should be.
Bioethanol fuel
A bioethanol fire runs on a special liquid fuel and needs no chimney, but burning still uses up the air in the room. Use only the fuel intended for your appliance, refill only when the burner has cooled and store the container away from the fire.
Article catalogue for English-speaking readers
This is where standalone articles about fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and hearth safety will appear. They are written specifically for the English version of the site, not translated from other languages.
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What our editors are working on
- Why a wood-burning stove smokes into the room and when to call a professional
- Seasoning and storing firewood: a practical guide for log burner owners
- Electric fire or bioethanol fire: what suits a flat best
- Fire safety for families: teaching children how to behave around the fire
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We sell nothing and do not publish advertising for fireplaces, stoves, shops or installers, rankings, prices or reviews.
Material, purpose and what to check
| Material | Purpose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Firewood | The main fuel for a wood-burning fireplace or stove | Dryness, no mould or rot; softwood sparks more |
| Fuel briquettes | A compact fuel supply | Whether the manual says they suit your hearth |
| Firebrick and surrounds | Protecting and finishing the hearth | Cracks, chips, soot marks on the surround |
| Heat-resistant door glass | A view of the fire without sparks in the room | Cracks, chips, an intact seal |
| Non-combustible base and screen | Protecting the floor and room from embers and sparks | Base in place with no gaps; screen in position while the fire burns |
| Bioethanol fuel | Fuel for a bioethanol fire | Only the type made for the appliance, refill a cooled burner, store away from the fire |
See also
- How-to
How to light a fire and how to store firewood, plus the stove, gas and chimney work you should never do yourself.
- Care
Chimney sweeping, ash, door glass and seals, alarm checks and a pre-season inspection of the fireplace or stove.
- Tools
What is useful by the hearth, no brands: a fireside tool set, ash bucket, log holder, carbon monoxide alarm, fire extinguisher and gloves.
Sources
- Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation (Government Decree No. 1479 of 16 September 2020)
- Russian rescue-service guidance on safe stove heating
Specific requirements are summarised in general terms from the Fire Safety Regulations of the Russian Federation and Russian rescue-service guidance on stove heating. Other countries have their own chimney and fire-safety rules, so check your local regulations. Dimensions, clearances, fire separations and installation methods are set by the design, the applicable regulations and the professionals who install and service your fireplace or stove.