Bio Ethanol Fires

Following the emerging success of bio ethanol fires in 2011 they look set to become even more popular, sure to be one of the ‘must have’ items of 2012. This is because they are real or live flame fires that burn having no dangerous fumes emitted. This allows a real fire to be achieved in homes where it was never thought possible. Because bio ethanol fires do not need a flue, or expensive fitting and annual servicing, they burn a gel type fuel that is made from renewable sources and very popular around the world, yet fairly new to the UK.

Many existing fire companies are now investing their efforts into creating bio ethanol fires, which will only makes them more affordable and desirable. Some of the designs are extremely innovative, mainly because no consideration for the flue is required and will create an ornate feature in your home or garden even when not in use.

Bio ethanol fires also have a market in the garden sector as well as home, and citronella fuel is available for your outdoor fire to help ward off those insects. They are a great way of keeping the garden party going once the BBQ has gone out, or an impressive way to light an entrance path or drive to your home.

Bio ethanol fires look great, are easy to use and effective with little maintenance required, how could something with such great attributes not be a phenomenal success?

Warranties versus Cost……..FIGHT!

Many of the larger fire manufacturers will offer great, high quality fires that come with the all singing and dancing packaging and finishes. They also come with better manufacturers warranties too; a few examples of these are the Apex 5year warranty on selected gas fires, Crystal fires 5 year gas fire warranty,Pureglow 3 year warranty and the more recent Firebelly 4 year warranty on allproducts.
This is a great way to entice customers to buy these products as many of themare advertised as having their warranties included as free, so you should optfor them as they are giving you added protection for less cost. Well after alittle investigation, and to be honest it doesn’t take a lot, it becomes prevalent that many manufacturers make a product and allow it to be re-branded, these re-brands will often retail for a lesser price than the branded products but don’t come with the greater warranty.
I therefore wonder whether the extra cost of a branded product is actually fora better product or just for the warranty. The answer to me is obvious, but what you will need to ask yourself is “is the warranty worth the extra money?” .
Firstly you need to be aware of what the warranty actually covers, and decide on whether it is actually worth having a warranty on a product you expect tolast for at least 5-10 years. Another consideration is what conditions you will have to fulfill in order for the warranty to be valid, most fire manufacturers will not honor a warranty on a fire if it has not been serviced each year by aqualified engineer and that you can provide proof that such a service has takenplace.
With such consideration in mind in my humble opinion is it worth spending the extra money for a branded fire?…….Yes. I would recommend that you have all your gas products in your home whether it be a combination boiler, gas fire or stove,serviced every 12months without fail, and obviously retain proof of the service. Also, if a cheaper fire breaks down that has run out of warranty, it will probably end up costing you more to but another cheap fire then it would have cost to buy the branded version with a much longer warranty. The main reason though I would always go for the branded option with extended manufacturer’s warranty is for peace of mind, the last thing you or anyone needs is an unrepairable gas fire or stove in the living room in the middle of winter.

Fuel Costs Per kWh

As fuel prices rise, rise and rise some more more and more people may be facing fuel poverty, I frequently get asked what is the cheapest fuel to run? Gas or Electric? If i'm going for solid fuel should I buy a pellet stove?

With the help of BioMass Energy Centre who have provided the following graph and related research and documentation show that wood chips are the cheapest per kWh at just 2.6p followed by wood pellets at 3.9p per kWh, this is followed closely by natural gas at 4.1p per kWh. Surprisingly its heating oil next at 5.6pence per kilowatt hour.

After heating oil there is quite a large jump to the next priced fuel. LPG when bought in bulk comes in at 8.2p, a massive 4pence increase over natural gas, which actually comes as quite a shock. I'd have thought it would be quite similar, with LPG being possible 1-2 pence more expensive due to how its delivered.

Last but not least comes electricity, at a shocking (pardon the pun) 13p pence per kWh, more than treble that of natural gas and woodchips or pellets.


Fuel Price per unit kWh per unit pence per kWh
Wood chips (30% MC) £90 per tonne 3,500 kWh/t 2.6p/kWh
Wood pellets £185 per tonne 4,800 kWh/t 3.9p/kWh
Natural gas 4.1p/kWh 1 4.1p/kWh
Heating oil 56p per litre 10 kWh/ltr 5.6p/kWh
LPG (bulk) 54p per litre 6.6 kWh/ltr 8.2p/kWh
Electricity 13.0p/kWh 1 13.0p/kWh

So if you're looking for an energy efficient heater or fire we'd recommend that you'd look for a pellet stove such as the Aga Fusion(left) that can be programmed to come on up to 3 times a day or for a gas fire such as the Apex Capacious HE which boasts up to 89% efficiency when running on natural gas to make the most out of the fuel you're using.


Note: All prices are prone to significant variation with geographical region, order quantities, overall contract size and duration, time of year, delivery distance and time, etc. Woodfuels in particular are available at prices both significantly above and below those quoted, and bulk prices will be subject to a minimum delivery size of perhaps 3-5 tonnes. Wood pellets bought in bags may be significantly more expensive than those bought in bulk.

Apex Oakland

Following the incredible success of the Apex Intense and Apex Devotion Apex have decided to bring out a new product. The Apex Oakland.

This stunning hang on the wall electric fire features the innovative and energy saving LED flame effect employed on the Intense and Devotion, combining with the flat black glass fascia to create a very contemporary and modern feel. Ideal for that minimalist feel.

Offering a 2Kw heat output, the Oakland is ideal to quickly take the cold edge off of almost any sized room. The unique LED flame effect can be dimmed to one of three settings, for that subtle feel or to truly give the impression of a roaring fire.

The white stone fuel effect adds a further contemporary feel and a thermostatic control means that the temperature can be set and maintained without even having to leave the comfort of your chair.

What Is Bioethanol

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) is a clear colourless liquid, mainly produced by the sugar fermentation process, although it can also be manufactured by the chemical process of reacting ethylene with steam.
The main sources of sugar required to produce ethanol come from fuel or energy crops. These crops are grown specifically for energy use and include corn, maize and wheat crops, waste straw, willow and popular trees, sawdust, reed canary grass, cord grasses, jerusalem artichoke, myscanthus and sorghum plants. There is also ongoing research and development into the use of municipal solid wastes to produce ethanol fuel.

Ethanol burns to produce carbon dioxide and water meaning that it is perfectly suited to being used in fires as it does not require a flue or are restricted into the location of a gas supply. This means the bioethanol fires are both incredibly efficient and very very flexible, with portable models available to be taken outside in summer

First Glimpse: Apex Biofuel Fires

With Apex's new range of Bio-Ethanol fires now on sale, Fires | Fireplaces | Stoves got to have a glimpse at two of their freestanding Bio-Ethanol Fires. The Apex Affinity and the Apex Duplex.

The first fire we got to see was the Apex Duplex, a dual purpose unit, combining a 100% efficient bio-ethanol fire with a stylish coffee table. This stunning piece of contempory furniture can instantly become the centrepiece of and modern living space, replacing the traditional and bulky fireplace and surround.

At first look the Duplex in it's stunning matt black finish with tempered glass fire guards is the definition of contemporary furnishing and when the fire is lit, giving up to 3kW of heat this fire instantly becomes the focal point of the room and bathing the room in that lovely warm glow.
The fire is easy to use, simply fill the reservior and light using a taper, the 1 litre capacity gives up to 5.5 hours of burn time and one of the main advantages of bio-ethanol is that they do not require any flue, installation or ventilation so can be placed almost anywhere in the house!

The other fire we got to have a look at was the Apex Affinity, this freestanding white fire comes complete in a white gloss finish that can contrast beautifully with a dark carpet or darkwood floor, also offering a heat output of upto 3kW these fires offer greater heat output that that of an electric fire without the sound of a noisy fan and at greater levels or reliability.

The sleek modern finish to the Affinity is capped with 2 sheets of tempered glass to protect any children or pets from the hot flames in the centre. The twin levels of the surround help this unit stand out from the very symmetrical world of traditional fireplace surrounds.

Both these fires, The Duplex and the Affinity have the flexibility to be situated either against a wall or in the centre of the room, allowing you to surround the fire as a centrepiece or to situate it against a wall much like a conventional fireplace.

They also boast the flexibility of just having the natural, uninhibited flames dancing in the fire or the fire can be purchased with an additional pebble fuel effect to add that extra little element to these stunning bio-ethanol fires.

Create A Modern Contemporary Finish In Your Living Room!

With the modern interior design trending towards creating a modern and contemporary finish. This article can show just how you can completely transform a traditional living room into a stunningly contemporary living space, but without having to sacrifice the warm ambience that the room already has.

The first thing to establish is a colour scheme, a naturally warm scheme would range from an auburn almost red brown finish up to a natural vanilla finish. These warm colours would lend themselves perfectly to a warm living space.

To create this stunning warm finish, I've started with a warm dark wood flooring such as walnut, the rich deep colour adds warmth to the room that beech, pine or another light wood would normally remove. This is contrasted with beech furniture, drawing attention to the coffee tables that would blend in if finished in a matching colour, this adds something to draw the eye around the room, meaning guests or visitors will see every detail, The beech coffee table in this picture compliments the dark wood flooring while drawing attention to the vase and flower situted on it.

Complimenting the dark wood flooring and contrasting tables is the choice of seating. This stunning set of chocolate leather seats matches well with the flooring, while not blending in due to the the steel legs.

The crowning glory of this room though is the fire. The Apex Rivas 100. This stunning fireplace is available in a choice of three different rear trims and five different front frames to buy it to suit the living space. Shown below is the bronze rear frame with the brushed steel front trim. This beautifully contemporary fire is beautifully displayed on the chimney breast, creating a focal point that not only fits with the decorum but also heats the room, generating up to 5.5kW of heat while also being energy efficient at up to 80%. The Rivas 100 comes as standard with either the log effect shown below or pebble fuel effect for an even more contemporary finish when combined with the cream fireback (black shown below) as well as the luxury of remote control as standard, allowing control of the fire from the comfort of your own chair. Or for those looking for the "letterbox" look rather than the strong square finish of the Rivas 100, the Rivas 60 is available, this combines all the features and style of the Rivas 100 with a letterbox style trim and window, ideal for smalled rooms when perhaps the Rivas 100 may dominate.

Apex Biofuel Fires

We've just recieved word the Apex is planning to launch a new of Biofuel fires, they offer an all year round solution to enjoying the natural warmth and glow of a real flame anywhere. Burning an eco friendly ethanol based clean burning gel or bio ethanol fuel they can be used in both summer and winter time. They offer the perfect solution for a disused fireplace or modern house as no chimney or flue is required - place a portable gel fire in your exsisting aperture for an instant glow. Or if you have a blank wall or room select one of our wall mounted or free standing bio fires to light up any space instantly. On warmer summer evenings our portable fire bowls can be simply taken out into the garden as an environmentally friendly burner.

No Need for Gas, Electricity or Chimney

With the advantage of being able to be used anywhere the Apex Range Of Bio Fuel fires offer the perfect solution to heating indoors or outdoors without the need for costly installation. Running on a clean burning bio ethanol fuel eco friendly fires offer the perfect solution for creating instant heat in any situation. Producing real flames these instant bio fuel fires provide a convenient alternative for today’s busy lifestyles. Simply pour into the fuel and light for an instant glow.

With only one moving part there is no need for costly servicing making the products almost completely maintenance free. The real flames will provide a focal point for both summer and winter evenings, both indoors and out.

All of the Apex bio-fuel fires are eco-friendly as they are derived from the fermentation of crops therefore producing only carbon dioxide and water vapour when burning. With no smoke or fumes there is no need to connect to a chimney or flue.These bio-fuel fires instantly transform any space indoors or out with a comprehensive choice of ranges and styles we are sure to offer the perfect solution for any modern living space.

These fires can either be static focal points on a floorspace or on a wall mounted, there will even be a portable range, allowing the ultimate flexibility of where you want

The Devotion Electric Fire by Apex Fires

Released and extremely popular within the fire industry is the Devotion Electric Fire produced by Apex. Apex have become a well established recognizable name amongst the fireplace industry within Great Britain, so when they embark on designing and creating a new electric fire they produce one of the highest quality electric fires available, and have done so once again with the new Devotion.

This swanky new electric fire, the Devotion, instantly impresses with eye catching design, the curved black mirrored glass effect frame shouts contemporary chic, and brand new stylish log effect with LED lighting feature and side lighting delivers maximum effect with minimum energy use.

This hang on the wall electric fire is easily wall mounted onto a flat wall and no traditional chimney or flue are necessary with this fire and the Devotion requires no additional ventilation into the room, which when you consider the Devotion is designed for smaller rooms, is exceptional.

The Apex Devotion has the option to be set on a high heat setting with 2kW heat output, a low heat setting with 1kW heat output and a flame effect only setting. The LED lighting effects and heat settings can all easily be adjusted with the remote control that comes as standard, all for an extremely reasonable price.

This Apex Devotion electric fire has been designed and will surely be marketed for the rooms of smaller proportions or possibly for a stylish room less used to sporting a fire, like a study or bedroom. With simple installation and easily operated, and an abundant supply of style, the Devotion electric fire is one to definitely look out for.

Apex Samson Gas Fire

We have just been informed by our colleagues over at The Fireplace Megastore that they have just had the Apex Samson Balanced Flue Gas Fire installed and put onto display. This means you can see the build quality and feel the heat generated by this incredibly popular balanced flue gas fire.

The Apex Samson balanced flue gas fire is ideal for properties without a chimney, these fires flue directly through the external wall and are incredibly efficient. With the Samson boasting an 85% efficiency rating, which is highly impressive considering the other option for a similar fire would be a powerflue gas fire, with even the most efficient of these only generating 69% efficiency, a near 20% improvement and unlike a powered flue fire there is no noisy extractor fan on the outside wall and no possibility of drafts during cold or windy weather conditions.

The Samson is highly flexible with the choice of six different trims, driftwood, coal or pebble fuel effect and nine different frets to choose from, meaning the fire has the flexibility to be either contemporary silver or very traditional in brass with an indiana fret.

The fire is on display is proudly displayed with the polished stainless steel trim and the Chrome Washington Fret and fully functioning allowing you to see the living flame effect in action with the coal fuel effect.

The Apex Samson is displayed prominently in one of their best selling natural limestone surrounds, The Europa Crete Limestone surround is made of real portuguese limestone giving that authentic cool to the touch feel that is unmatched by more modern synthetic or micro marble fireplace surrounds. Comes with 51inch top shelf and features a gentle curve to the mantle shelf to add to the classic styling. This high quality stone fireplace comes with a three-piece back panel for ease of handling and installation. It also has the added bonus of free mainland UK delivery!

Visit the Fireplace Megastore HERE and view this high-quality balanced flue gas fire.

Apex Mystique

The Apex Mystique is another quality fire from the Apex range of fires. The Apex Fires Mystique is available in both a three-sided version to sit on a hearth in a traditional fireplace or in a four-sided Hole-In-The-Wall Version for a more contemporary look.

The Mystique is available in Black, Brushed Steel, Copper and Dusted Silver providing the flexibility to fit in with almost any living space colour scheme, while the fuel bed can also be customised with either black or polished sides, the polished sides create the illusion of an even larger fuel bed, while the black sides highlight the flames and really do make the living gas flames the centre of attention.
For added versatility and flexibilty to suit almost any taste the Mystique is available with either a pebble or coal fuel effect. The coal effect provides the ultimate sense of realism thanks to the ultra-deep fuel bed, that when combined with the fact that Apex Mystique is one of the deepest high-output, open-fronted radiant fires available on the market today and the living gas flames give a real sense of a solid fuel fire, while the pebble fuel effect provides a more contemporary effect.

The strong right angles and sleek edges of this fire give a very cubist and almost futurist look and combine to make a very modern effect that is emphasised by the two levels of trim around the fire. The first level defines the fire and draws the attention in, while the second level frames the fuel effect and makes the flames the centre of attention. This fire can also sport the luxury of a remote control that means you can control this fire from the luxury of your armchair.

The 4.2kW heat output of the fire provides plenty of heat output for the average sized living space and fill the room with the highly desirable glow and warmth that is so eagerly sought after during the winter months.

This highly stylish and modern fire also now comes with complete with a 5 year manufacturer's warranty, that means that not only does this fire come with a sense of style, but it also comes with peace of mind.

UK 2010 Winter Blues - Expect another Cold Winter

 Advance forecasts of winter 2010 for the UK is not looking good, several forecasts from the UK met office predict that we are in for another icy winter for 2010. The image shows the expected average temperature after an expected cold front come from europe once more, plunging the whole of the UK to temperatures of minus 4 degrees for extended periods. We are advising to make certain all gas fires have been serviced before the winter kicks in, to make sure you are able to stay warm. If you have an open fronted fire, this is now the time to decide on a Glass Fronted fire to make certain all heat produced by central heating, is not lost up your flue. There are many fires which can now be purchased providing 89% efficiency like the Apex Capacious gas fire, which gives 4.4kW of heat. Perfect for a Toasty winter evening in front of the box.

Apex: New Devotion Electric Fire

We at Fires/Fireplaces/Stoves are proud to be among the first to publish the latest exciting release from Apex: The Devotion Electric Fire.

The Apex Devotion Electric Fire comes from one of the UK's up and coming fire suppliers Apex, and they have designed this electric fire ideally for rooms with smaller proportions as the fire itself measures 25inches in width.

Compact in dimensions but easily competing with larger fire for heat output, functionality and design. The Apex Devotion has a maximum heat output of 2kW, and a low setting whereby 1kW of heat is emitted. The Apex electric fire also has the optional setting for flame effect only, where the stunning log fuel bed effect and unique led flame effect can be displayed without expelling any heat.

Apex have taken the LED technology they have honed on previous models and applied the energy saving lighting with fantastic results, including it not only within the new log fuel bed and flame effects, but also incorporating into the side lighting that is a great feature to the Devotion.

The side lighting allows a range of lighting effects, yellow, blue and purple side/back lighting can be opted for to suit or create mood lighting as and when desired. The lighting not only sets a mood but also highlights the design quality and finesse of the curved black mirrored glass fascia that frames the unique and appealing fire itself.

Apex also supply the Devotion with a state of the art battery operated remote control, which has the option to control the electric thermostatically controlled fire and the LED Fuel effect and back lighting too.

This fire is surely set to be another top seller for Apex, and it won't be long before all of us within the fireplace industry recognize and respect the electric fire named the Devotion.

Apex Devotion Mini Hang on the Wall Electric Fire

Apex Clarkdale Power Flue Gas Fire with Draft Barricade

The Apex Clarkdale is designed for use in house without a chimney or flue. The Clarkdale is a Power or Fan Flue type fire which unlike conventional fires uses a high pressure extractor fan situated on the exterior wall of the house to draw the products of combustion out of the room.

The Clarkdale is 60% efficient and gives out 4.2kW of heat which is more than adequate to heat a standard living room, but unlike other power flue type fires that will experience a slight draft from outside when the fire is not in opreation the Apex Clarkdale features a Unique Draft Barricade Poweflue system, which minimises the usual draft found in standard Fan Flue systems, by closing the external vent when the fire is not on, and stopping any heat within the room from escaping from the outside wall.

The fire is available in Black, Brass or Silver trim which allows the fire to be coordinated with the existing style of the room, this flexibility allows the Clarkdale to fit well in either traditional or contemporarily furnished living rooms, available with a realistic coal fuel effect and remote control as standard allowing control of the fire from around the room.

To create a modern and contemporary focal point in the living room the Apex Clarkdale could be utilised with the silver trim and the Apex Alabama silver trim to create an eye-catching and contemporary silver fireplace. The Clarkdale could then be unitied with a Katell Farnham Wooden Surround in natural oak and black granite back and hearth to really draw attention to the fire and help project the warm glow into the room.

Apex Capacious High Efficiency Gas Fire

The Apex Capacious High Efficiency Gas Fire is a more efficient version of the traditional inset gas fire featuring a glass front and an efficiency rating of 89%, a vast increase over the normal 30-40% efficiency range of an open-fronted fire. This, united with the 4.4kW heat output rating mean this fire is more than suitable to warm the typical living room.

It is commonly assumed that placing a piece of ceramic glass in front of a fire would decrease its efficiency it is the draw that causes heat to be sucked out of the room. High efficient gas fires not only have a glass front, but also a convector box. This is a channel which goes from the front base of the fire to the front top of the fire, wrapping the engine of the fire, this channel will allow cold air to enter underneath the fire and heat-up as it rises around the burner. This then leaves the fire as convected warm air through the convector grill. You also have the glass front which means that the glass holds the heat within the fire box for longer allowing it to escape into the room through the convector channel, finally the Glass although ceramic heat proof does allow the radiant heat from the fire to heat the room.

The Apex Capacious HE combines modern technology allowing for a more efficient heating of the room with a versatile range of finishes and frets to create either a traditional or contemporary finish to the fire. For a traditional finish (as displayed in the picture) a brass trim is the best choice, combined with the Indiana Antique Brass fret to create a very traditional feel. This effect would be emphasised if the fire was placed in a traditional looking fire surround such as the Bemodern Hampshire Fireplace Surround. The light or medium oak colours of the wooden surround work well with the Manila back and hearth set to harmonise with the brass finsh to highlight the deep colours of the coal fuel effect and fireback and really draw attention to the living flames.

For a more modern and contemporary finish the silver trim and the Apex Washington or Apex Alabama chrome trim can be combined to give a very modern finish with strong lines and eye-catching silver finish. This striking modern fire when combined with the Allwood Milano 4 Step Fireplace Surround with the contrasting black granite hearth and back set and natural oak finish combine to make a very modern and contemporary focal point of most living rooms.

Apex Mirage Deluxe Curved

With the kind of technology that we have in today’s modern world, it seems that anything is possible. Who would have thought that fire and ice can both be present in a fireplace? It may sound ridiculous at first but come to think of it, it did happen! You can now have a fire and ice fireplace in which the ice serves as the fuel.

However, the ice is not literally what it’s supposed to be. It is actually glass that is also adding shimmer to the glowing fire. Mark Georgantas is the mind behind the fire and ice fireplace. The official term or name of the product is actually Fire on Ice. The so called “ice” is a specially formulated tempered glass. The glass is a stylish option instead of the gas logs normally used in the traditional fire.

Apex Fires Influence HE Contemporary Gas Fire

The Apex Fires Influence HE Contemporary gas fire would be a great addition to any modern living room. The contemporary and modern glass fronted finish with bronze accented trim that would really draw the eye in to the realistic coal fuel effect and gas flames.
The maximum heat output of 3.8Kw would be plenty to heat the average living room with a class 1 or 2 chimney or flue, while the 83% efficiency means very little energy is wasted. The 195mm inset depth provides a deep fuel bed and a more authentic looking fire.
This contemporary fireplace would look best on a slightly lighter backplate and surround that would realy accentuate the bronze trim which frames and draws the eye towards the dancing gas flames.

Apex Fires

Apex provides a wide range of fires and stoves, from hang on the wall electric to high efficient gas fires. At a very competitive price.

The apex range is very diverse with the aim to meet most tastes. Whether you are looking for something modern or traditional, Apex has the choice. They Specialise in High Efficient and run a very green company policy, where they do not provide brochures.

As a company we are environmentally aware of long term issues affecting the world today, this is why we have made an extortionate effort to make certain our products are efficient as possible. As well as this our whole company policy is to make certain we do not do anything to increase our sales which effect carbon foot printing, for this reason we are not going to produce brochures, we provide all our dealers all the information available so they may promote our products.

Apex also provides fires with a wide range of options be it colour, size, fuel affect, Manual or Remote control. As well has straight forward easy to like products.

The wide range of products gives more than ample choice and provide the customer with plenty of food for thought whilst keeping a high standard of quality.

There are only a selected few authorised dealers of Apex Fires, to make certain the customers get the best deal Apex Fires have released their High Efficiency ranges only to a select few companies throught the UK.

New Apex Infinity and Desitiny Fires Cause Storms

If you are someone looking for a designer hole in the wall natural gas fire and you have a class 1 chimney or class 2 prefabricated flue with an inset depth of 320mm then let me recommend the Apex Destiny.

The Apex Destiny hole in the wall gas fire, like many others, has a choice of fuel beds, however the Destiny fire comes with a choice of 5. These are all realistic, none of the fake/plastic looking stones here, they have traditional logs, that look more like log chippings, lava rocks which look good and unusual as a fuel bed, classic realistic coal effect, stylish homely driftwood and clean fresh pebbles. As hole in the wall gas fires go, the Apex Destiny gives off lots of heat, it is open fronted and has a choice of interior. A classic black interior gives a feeling of depth and allows the flame and frame to stand out as they contrast. The modern brushed steel interior gives more of a stylish feel, reflecting light and heat back into the room.

If your looking to buy a hole in the wall fire or hang on the wall fire it is noticeable that many of the designs are similar, this Destiny fire seems to have taken the landscape designed fire and move it on for the next generation, for this Apex and the Destiny hole in the wall gas fire should be commended.

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  Apex Desitiny - Polished Frame with Coal Fuel Effect, Black Interior

Apex have released somewhat of a special hole in the wall gas fire coined the Infinity, the Infinity gas fire is a truly a designer fire in every aspect, being aphetically pleasing and made with quality in mind, offering a multitude in finishes and fuel bed effects which will appease more affluent of tastes without leaving you financially destitute.

Looking at the Apex Infinity in more depth it has an impressive output of nearly four kilowatts, manual control is standard however a remote control can be purchased to add to the luxury of the piece. This stunning open fronted hole in the wall gas fire has a choice of style to frame the fire.

The Infinity arena frame is an oval frame, available in brushed steel or chrome, creates a statement in itself and draws the eye towards the fire, realistic fuel bed, and natural gas flame. For a more clean line style the Infinity minimalistic frame would be recommended, available in chrome, brushed steel and classic black, it lets the fire itself show off the quality and design and realistic fuel bed effect. The Infinity’s final frame design option is the traditional frame, which gives a bevelled outline to a modern look, picture framing the fire like a piece of art.

Apex have out done themselves by also offering an array of realistic fuel bed effects, these include coal, driftwood, lava rocks, logs and pebbles and a choice of back to the fire of either a curved back, with style and simplicity or an illusion back which adds to the focal point with warmth and depth.

To conclude the Apex Infinity gas fire is a natural gas fire that will create a focal piece displaying style and quality and will surely be must have fire for 2010 and subsequent years there after.

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  Apex Infinity - Brushed Steel Arena Frame with Lava Rock Fuel Effect

Whilst looking for a quality fire, or fireplace or suite, then why not look Apex range. This brand is one that has a vast array of products of good quality that are competitively priced.

When looking through the Apex range, it seems that they are more focused on the contemporary to modern, this assumingly is the area to be in, but surely a few products with more of a traditional feel would increase their sales and notoriety. Surely it couldn’t hurt to branch into this area rather than ostracize this proportion of the market?

Having said this Apex has a selection of stoves, and stoves themselves have somewhat of a traditional feel, and Apex also have a number of inset fires, however it seems that Apex focuses more on the hole in the wall fires, or hang on the wall fires. The difference between the two may not be apparent, but hole in the wall fires need a hole for them to be fitted into, usually a chimney breast, and hang on the wall fires, although needing to be fixed securely to a wall, have more flexibility in their positioning, some don’t even need external ventilation.

There are a multitude of choice of these generally landscape modern wall fires in the Apex range, if these type of fires, being modern and contemporary in design, are what you are looking for than look no further, but please look at the detail.

Many of these modern wall fire designs look similar to each other, at a glance it might look like three or four designs with altering sizes, or displayed at differing angles. These fires do have plenty of differences, like curved or straight fascias, alternative fuel beds of coal or wood or fashionably pebbles, (pebbles don’t generally combust…..in personal experience that is, but they do create a lovely effect).

Many of these hang on the wall fires, or hole in the wall fires come with remote controls which adds to their appeal, also many are recommended not to have televisions mounted above them, which could detract from their appeal, depending on your needs. When buying an Apex fire, or any fire, make sure you know what requirements a fire should have. For example if you wish to use the fire solely as a feature in a room then you shouldn’t have too much trouble, but if you need a fire as a main source of heat, or wish to have a TV mounted above a fire, or a fire as part of your central heating, then this may alter the amount of fire choice you have.

The best way to avoid disappointment is to ask someone with experience or good knowledge of the fire market. This could be a gas safe registered installer or a qualified electrician (depending on the type of fire being purchased) or even the vendor selling the product, or manufacturers of the fire themselves should offer advice or support on their product, it might be slightly biased advice, but advice all the same.

Apex Intense Electric Fires

Apex has recently released a brand new hang on the wall electric fires which they have named the Apex Intense. The Apex Intense is available in a number of quality finishes and different sizes to make sure that there is always a fire right for you.

The Intense electric fire has been finished with a contemporary design and a number of high quality fascias to choose from. The finishes that are available on the fascias are Antiqued Travertine which is light beige in colour with natural markings which is finely selected and is proven to be one of the most popular finishes; Cream Stone provides a very clean modern finish that would suit any home; Black Granite or the equally contemporary finish of Black Glass. All of the stone fascias available with the Intense fire have a depth of 65 mm which shows of the real quality of the stone finishes.

Each Intense electric fire produces a maximum heat output of 2kW from a silent heater which has two heat settings available as well as a flame effect only setting. The flame effect on the Intense range is a superior unique fame and is one of the most realistic available on the market!

Each of the fires is available in a large widescreen version which has a width of 1480 mm and they all come with a multifunctional remote control as standard. The Intense range is also fitted with an automatic over heating cut out and a kettle connection for added safety. Apex has created a contemporary range of fires that are exclusively available in showrooms one of which is the Fireplace Megastore near Chester.