Guide To Fireplace Rugs - Do You Need One?

Many people have never even heard of a fireplace rug but you can be assured that if you are going to burn either a wood burning fireplace or stove, unless you have an extended hearth, you should have a fireplace rug.

Many wood-burning fireplaces have granite hearths or brick hearths that extend out in front of the actual fireplace. While it may seem this is for appearance only, the fact is that it provides safety. When burning wood, regardless of the type, you will have some sparks or glowing embers that find their way out of the fireplace and onto your floor. This extended hearth protects your floor or carpet, greatly reducing the chance of fire. However, keep in mind that a burning fire should always be monitored no matter what.

Hearth vs Fireplace Rug

Other types of hearths are not fireproof and can be found in older homes. A fireplace rug provides a protection from fire, just in case you experience flying sparks, hot cinders, or even a piece of wood that rolls out onto the floor and believe me, it happens. Fireplace rugs are especially nice if you have good or new carpeting in your home. All it takes is one loose spark to cause a tremendous amount of damage.

Fireplace rugs come in all shapes with oval and arched being the most popular. Depending on the quality, you can find a nice fireplace rug costing anywhere from £30 to £200. However, when you take into consideration the thousands saved should there be a fire, a fireplace rug is well worth the investment.

You will find rugs in all colours and styles, offering something perfect for every room décor. You can easily find fireplace rugs that will enhance a country setting, a room of elegance and sophistication, or a contemporary or art deco designed room. Regardless of preferred style, there is a rug sure to please. If you have a larger area that seems too large to cover, there's no need to worry since many fireplace stores or accessory businesses on the Internet can custom make a fireplace rug to perfectly match your needs. These rugs are usually made of 100% wool and offer the best in durability and style.

Why Use a Fireplace Rug?

Back in the old days a couple could lay together near the fireplace hearth on that real tiger skin rug and spoon and spoon until they had no strength left to lift a spoon with. Ah, love was good, at least until an ember from the fire jumped the hearth and set the tiger on fire. That’s when somebody decided fire proof rugs were important home accessories.

Today the words “Fire Retardant” are used, because nothing is really fireproof. Eventually, everything has a burning point, but today’s rugs retard fires up to greater temperatures than ever. Fire retardant rugs can be made of fabrics that are hard to burn, and plastic fabrics that resist charring, but most rugs today are made of chemically coated materials like wool that resist burning pretty well.

You can buy fireplace rugs in almost any shape, from half-round to oval to square and even animal shaped. They come looking like real Persian, or have wild animals printed on them. They can be as simple as a half round dark knit, or as elaborate as that tiger skin. Of course, you can also buy an artificial tiger skin rug for a whole lot less than you can get a real one for. Fire retardant carpets are required in most buildings today, as part of the total scheme of slowing a fire. And a fire retardant rug or carpet is an important safety addition to any home being built today. These are just some of the different types of fire retardant rugs being offered today:

Fibreglass Rugs

Woven with flame-resistant fibreglass and trimmed in polyester, is a very popular, and inexpensive way to protect against flying sparks and embers. It doesn’t melt, smoulder or develop ugly cinder scars.

Treated Wool Rugs

Wool carpeting has always been considered the highest quality carpet, but without treatment a wool rug in front of a fireplace can be a hazard. Always check to see if the fine rug you buy is fire retardant, and even if it is, be careful to place it in a safe and appropriate place.

Green Carpets

Rugs made of natural and environmentally friendly fibres are becoming more popular. A Green Rug, made of wool, sea grass, or jute, can save you the worry of what has been sprayed on the carpet that may affect your health, and some of the green materials woven into the rug are naturally fire resistant. Be sure to always ask, if this is a concern for you.

So, the next time you gather your lover or your family around the fireplace for spooning or flame watching, be grateful the carpet under your feet that is made to keep you safe. If your rug isn’t fire retardant, move your family away from the fireplace, pick up your phone and call a specialist about getting your hearth protected by a good fire retardant rug.

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