Firebacks
Traditionally, a fireback serves to protect the back wall of the fireplace, acting as a heat shield to prevent cracking and crumbling. Beyond its protective role, the cast iron fireback captures heat that would otherwise escape, and radiates it back into the room, functioning much like a radiator. This process can enhance the efficiency of the fireplace by up to 50%. Additionally, firebacks offer a decorative touch, whether placed in the fireplace, beside the stove, in the kitchen as a backsplash, or even as an art piece on the wall. Our collection features over 500 firebacks, available for selection based on width, height, price, style, age, and origin. For more information on choosing the right fireback for your needs, see our guide:Everything you need to know to choose a fireback
Enhancing fireplace efficiency with cast iron
Cast iron significantly boosts wood burning fireplace efficiency by 50% thanks to its ability to store and evenly radiate heat. While standard steel may warp in a wood fire, stainless steel and heat-resistant steel, although more stable, cannot match cast iron's heat storage and gradual radiation capabilities. This is why cast iron has been the preferred material for centuries to improve the wood burning fireplace efficiency through heat radiation. The weight of the fireplace fireback also plays a crucial role—the heavier, the better and longer-lasting the heat radiation.
Quality assurance for our firebacks
Our firebacks are exclusively cast in traditional European foundries, ensuring you won't encounter any inferior quality cast iron on our website. We rate the condition of our vintage and antique products with *, **, or *** to indicate quality. While we strive for accuracy in these ratings, we remind customers that vintage items may not always guarantee perfection. However, a cast iron fireback from 1700 that has endured for centuries without cracking is unlikely to start now. Rest assured, rust does not compromise the fireback's quality. Marks that appear to be cracks are often just imprints from the mold planks used during manufacturing.
We can turn brown firebacks black
We preserve the natural brown rust patina on antique firebacks when appropriate; otherwise, we treat them with stove polish for a black/grey appearance. It's possible to turn a brown fireback black, but not the reverse. Regular exposure to fire will naturally turn the central part of a fireplace fireback black over time.
Understanding color variations
The color of our black/grey firebacks, treated with stove polish, may vary in photos due to lighting. Under bright light or sunlight, a cast iron fireback may appear grey, while in dimmer light, it looks black.
Avoiding thermoshock in cast iron
The key to using a fireback safely is to heat it gradually, especially when cold at the start of the heating season or after not being used for a while. Begin with a small fire to avoid "thermoshock," which can cause cracking. Never extinguish the fire with water to prevent sudden temperature changes.
Fireback maintenance
Soot accumulation is a natural part of a fire's process and can be cleaned off with a wire brush. For deeper refurbishment, applying stove polish, readily available at hardware stores, can refresh the fireback's appearance. However, this step is optional for maintaining the fireback.
Fireback installation tips
Firebacks can simply be placed against the back wall, but to prevent toppling—and potential breakage—securing the fireback with one or two wall brackets at the top or top sides is recommended. We offer special special mounting brackets for this purpose. Elevating the fireback on refractory bricks or with two pairs of our special mounting brackets can enhance visibility.
Seeking advice
Before selecting a fireback, we encourage reading our blog: Everything you need to know to choose a fireback. If uncertain about the best choice for your needs, we are here to help. By providing the dimensions of your wood burning fireplace or stove, and possibly a photo, we can offer tailored advice.