How Do I Know I've got a Quality Product?

You can go to just about any store who sales fireplace accessories and get a grate. The question is; are you getting a well made grate worth the money you spent?

·        Steel - When purchasing this type of grate, make sure the weld where the top bars meet the legs are on the diagonals. If the weld is on the flat edge the weld may not be solid and the grate will be more likely to break. The bar thickness is also an important factor in the longevity of a steel grate. Even if you will be using your fireplace only for special occasions, you should consider at least a 5/8’s grade grate instead of the normal 1/2” especially if you will be burning hardwoods. There should also be enough bars to distribute the heat. The fewer bars there are the more stress there will be on the welds, which means it will wear down quicker. You might also wish to consider a fire with a powder coating. The powder coating will help to ward off rusting for a while, but it does wear off after several uses. With this in mind you may want to consider the purchase of a good chimney cap to help keep moisture out of the firebox.

·        Cast Iron –The biggest thing with cast iron grates is weight. The heavier it is the stronger it is. If you are buying your grate at a hardware store you should weigh it there to make sure it is going to be able to withstand the amount of abuse you will be dishing out. Other than weight, it is pretty much just design. The design is basically aesthetic appeal, so it will be whatever you want. If you are going to be burning coal, keep a look out for large gaps in the bottom of the grate. Cast iron is becoming more and more popular in the burning of wood, so they are now making some grates with the bars spread further apart.