PRESENT-DAY FIREPLACES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 233, 21 December 1927, Page 7

PRESENT-DAY FIREPLACES

A FEW SIMPLE HINTS The mode of present-day fireplaces originated with the Normans when they, in building twostorey houses, found the open fires in the central living hall impracticable. So someone solved the problem by depressing a shallow recess in a wall, with the back sloped upward to a hole connecting with the outside to let the. smoke out. Gradually changing living conditions brought changes in fireplaces until today wo find beautiful fireplaces in every part of the world. Many fireplaces have proven to be a great disappointment to their owners. They smoke or smudge, and so are not used, whereas they should be the centre of all home interest. To overcome these defects there are a few simple rules that everyone who builds a fireplace should follow: 1. The area of the flue should be one-tenth or more of the fireplace opening. 2. Do not contact the flue at the top, 3. A properly proportioned and located throat is important. 4. The area of the throat must not be less than the flue area. 5. There should be a smoke shelf not less than four inches in width about eight inches above the lintel of the fireplace opening and extending the full length of the throat. 6. A smoke chamber is necessary to hold the accumulated smoke and prevent it passing into the room by a audden down draft.

Plumbing and bathroom equipment Dky an important part in the resale value of a house. Keeping this in tuind. the home builder chooses fixtures carefully and studies in detail sort of plumbing job is speciin his plans. He knows for a fact that only durable materials and fixtures are installed at the time of building.