When it comes to burning wood in a fireplace, the grate inside is often seen as an afterthought. It shouldn’t be, though, as the grate you choose can have an effect on the efficiency of your fire and the longevity of the fireplace itself.
There are a lot of important and common questions about these seemingly innocuous hunks of metal. For example, “What size grate do I need for my fireplace? What material should I select? Do I even need a grate in my fireplace at all?”
At HY-C, we’ve heard these questions (and more) plenty of times. We manufacture several fireplace grates, and we know that under their simple surface, there’s a lot to learn about these key staples of wood burning.
In this guide, we’re going to cover some of the most frequently asked fireplace grate questions. By the time you’re finished here, you’ll be well-equipped to find the right grate for your fireplace.
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Fireplace Grate FAQs
Is a Fireplace Grate Necessary?
Let’s start with a fundamental one: do you even need a fireplace grate in the first place? What purpose do they serve? Why can’t you just throw some wood in the firebox and light it?
The answer is yes — fireplace grates are necessary. Not only do they allow air to flow underneath the burning wood to provide additional oxygen for the combustion process, but they also filter out ash, soot, embers, and other combustion byproducts to ensure a stronger, more intense fire.
Can You Have a Fire in a Fireplace without a Grate?
Nothing is stopping you from setting up logs in your fireplace without a grate and starting a fire — but it’s not necessarily a good idea.
Building a fire directly on your masonry will damage it over time. This will not only necessitate costly repairs, but it can also be dangerous, as hot coals and embers may find their way through the broken brick and ignite combustible materials underneath.
Using a grate helps to insulate your masonry, ensuring its longevity and your home’s safety.
Does Wood Burn Better on a Grate?
Yes, wood does tend to burn better on a fireplace grate. This is because the grate elevates the burning wood, allowing additional oxygen to feed the fire from underneath.
This same principle also helps to facilitate a good draft, ensuring gaseous byproducts are vented properly up the chimney flue.
Why Are Fireplace Grates Tapered?
Most fireplace grates are tapered — that is, their front width is longer than their back width, resulting in a trapezoidal shape. Manufacturers design grates this way for a very simple reason: fireplace fireboxes themselves are tapered. The grates are simply designed to match so they fit well.
This begs another question: “Which way should the grate face?”
The shorter end of the grate should face toward the back of the firebox while the longer end should face toward the front of the firebox.
Does Fireplace Grate Size Matter?
Yes, the size of your fireplace grate has a direct effect on how the wood in your firebox burns. This is because the size of the grate is directly proportional to the amount of fuel you can fit on it.
If your grate is too small for your firebox, your fuel load will be too small, resulting in a fire that doesn’t put out as much heat as it should.
If your grate is too big, though, the fuel load will be too big, possibly starving the fire for oxygen, causing it to burn out.
Selecting the appropriately sized grate for your firebox is critical.
How do I Know What Size Grate I Need for My Fireplace?
To ensure your fireplace grate fits properly in your firebox, Just add 3 inches to either side of the grate’s front width and add 3 inches to each side of the grate’s depth.
Say you have a grate with a front width of 24 inches and a depth of 15 inches. Adding 3 inches to each side of the front width (24” + 3” + 3”) and adding 3 inches to each side of the depth (15” + 3” + 3”) results in dimensions of 30” x 21”. And you can do the same thing in reverse.
Imagine the front of your fireplace is 26 inches long, and the depth of your fireplace is 21 inches. Simply subtract 6 inches from each measurement to find out the grate size you need (in this case, a grate with a front width of 20 inches and a depth of 15 inches).
Why Does My Fireplace Grate Melt?
Fireplace grates melt for a couple of reasons. For one, your fire may simply be burning too hot. This can happen with some high-heat woods (like Osage orange) or woods that are a little too well-seasoned.
The other reason grates melt comes down to the material from which they’re made. Cast iron grates tend to handle heat a bit better than steel grates.
How Long Does a Fireplace Grate Last?
The answer to this question comes down to two factors:
- Your burning habits
- The grate’s material
If you burn wood in your fireplace relatively often, you can expect burn-through (i.e., when the grate cracks or breaks) to happen sooner rather than later.
Again, material plays a part in the longevity of a grate, too. Cast iron grates are better suited to handle both direct heat and repeated heating and cooling cycles than steel fireplace grates.
While a steel grate may only last 2 to 5 years, a good, solid cast iron grate can last up to a decade or more.
Is Cast Iron Better Than Steel for a Fireplace Grate?
In terms of durability, yes — cast iron is a much better heat conductor than steel. Cast iron grates maintain their structural integrity in the face of repeated exposure to burning wood, while steel grates are likely to burn through much more quickly.
Steel grates do have a leg up on price, though. Generally speaking, you can expect to save more when opting for a less durable steel option than a well-made cast iron style.
Which Fireplace Grate Should You Get?
There you have it — some of the most frequently asked fireplace grate questions answered directly from a grate manufacturer. You should now be armed with plenty of information to find the right fireplace grate based on your fireplace’s size and the size of your budget.
If you’re looking for some specific suggestions, though, our guide to the best cast iron fireplace grates covers just that. It outlines 5 great options (including their features and dimensions) to help you find a great grate for your fireplace.
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