Manufacture Focus: Cast Tec

Cast Tec has its origins back in 1983 when Managing Director Geoff Moore became a sole trader buying and restoring original cast-iron fireplaces using the family ‘dip & strip’ business premises in North Shields as a base.
Demand for cast-iron fireplaces was very limited in the early 1980’s but with a housing boom looming in the South-East weekly commuting took place to Camden Market in north London to sell fireplaces from an indoor market stall on a weekend.
1984 heralded a small shop unit in Camden Lock called the Victorian Fireplace Co. where original fireplaces purchased in the north-east were sold for 15 years.

1987 saw the restoration and manufacturing side of the business moving to a factory workshop in Washington, Tyne & Wear.
Brian Hart, now Cast Tec’s Operations Director, joined from the company at this time to take on the responsibility for running the workshop.
1990 saw the housing boom turn sour and the recession of the early 1990’s affected trading conditions in the London shop. The response was to open a retail showroom in the Washington premises in the north. Called Grate Expectations, the showroom opened in 1989 and traded for 15 years.
1998 saw the humble beginnings of Cast Tec when it was decided that the Distribution of Reproduction cast-iron fireplaces to the trade would be the way forward. It was the only way supply could meet demand in the future and an approach was made by Britannia Castings which resulted in the exclusive rights for Cast Tec to distribute what became the Portman Collection range of cast-iron products in the UK.
1999 heralded the end of an era with the closure of The Victorian Fireplace Co. shop in Camden Lock due to the increasing difficulty of obtaining original fireplaces with demand outstripping supply.
That year Tony Byrne, who ran the London shop from 1995-99, became the first sales/delivery driver for Cast Tec progressing on to become Sales Director. 
2002 saw Cast Tec become a Limited Company and the following year they gained the exclusive rights to import and distribute the Agnews range of quality cast-iron fireplaces throughout the UK mainland.
2005 saw the established Firemaster name and range of products being brought into the Cast Tec stable on behalf of the Ouzledale Foundry Co. Ltd.
2006 heralded an exciting move for the 20 staff of Cast Tec Ltd. to a new 30,000 sq ft. factory premises inside the Port Of Tyne in South Shields where they have access to the Port’s outstanding facilities.

Interior Design Trends For 2012 - Victoriana

In our second entry on design trends for 2012 we look at Victoriana. Family life revolved around the fireplace, hot water would come from the stove, almost all heat came exclusively from the fireplace with the Cast Iron "Victorian" radiator not becoming commonplace until the very late 19th Century.
No Victorian style living room would be complete without the traditional fireplace, so in this entry we shall suggest some of the very best ideas to complete that Victoriana finish. Forget the over-furnished rooms and heavy drapes. While traditional and would give the Victorian finish, they are a little bit over the top for our liking.
Our first suggestion is part of the Premier range from Cast Tec, The Cast Tec Dublin Cast Iron Insert with  the Harton Cast Iron Surround. The traditional Victorian finish is displayed in the quality antique finish and complements the matt black and highlight polished areas of the Harton fireplace surround.
Available with either gas, electric or solid fuel means this fire is suitable for anyone, whether you have a chimney or not:

• Gas fire with a maximum heat input of 6.9kW with natural gas as standard and is suitable for class 1 or 2 flues
• Electric fire that comes with two heat settings of 900W & 1800W which is controlled by a remote control as standard, top venting fire with LED effect and adjustable height
• Solid fuel kit which comes complete with fret, ashpan, grate and operating tool. Capable of burning wood peat, and other smokeless fuels

The Dublin & Harton could be used just to give that Victorian highlight and a focal point, or, as pictured in conjunction with other furniture in the room to create a stunning theme that can be the basis for a beautiful home.

Our next suggestion is another cast-iron combination, This time from Carron. The Lambourn Cast-Iron Combination features traditional Victorian styling, that just like the Cast Tec Dublin would create an ideal talking point in any room. The detailing on the mantle and the canopy both add to the effect, while the choice of solid fuel, natural gas or LPG mean that you can have that stunning center-piece, while the choice of tiles means that you can cater the apperaance to your existing decor.

Both of the above fireplaces would create that a stunning Victorian feel to any room, rarely was any piece of furniture not adorned with accessories, pieces were carefully positioned for maximum impact.  Pick lighting, throws and cushions with needlepoint detailing, lampshades with intricate patterns; mini statuettes and even faux stuffed animals to complete that Victoriana look.

Which Is Better? Cast Iron Or Steel

Today we address the age old question when buying a stove, do I want a steel or cast iron stove?

If you're talking about a good quality steel bodied stove versus a good quality cast iron stove then, providing the stove is used according to the manufacturer's instructions, it really doesn't matter. Poor quality cast iron stoves have a reputation for cracking and poor quality steel bodied stoves have a reputation for warping. The practical difference between the two types are that steel stoves heat up quicker and deliver heat to the room much faster whereas cast iron, which is the traditional material for stove building, because it is much heavier and provides a greater mass of metal, tends to take longer to build up heat and distribute it to the room. However cast iron stoves, which are generally heavier than steel bodied stoves, have the advantage that the mass of metal in the stove body will act like a storage radiator dispensing heat to the room a good few hours after the fire has gone out inside it. A steel bodied stove will still do this but it won't retain its heat for quite as long. So, essentially it's a lifestyle choice – if you need fast heat then choose steel and if you want longer lasting heat, say overnight, then choose cast iron. In terms of appearance cast iron stoves tend to have a more traditional finish, featuring textured cast sides and other detailing such as the Aga Little Wenlock, similarly the Broseley Serrano range feature the Broseley Logo cast into the side of the stove!
Converseley steel stoves tend to feature clean lines and can offer a more contemporary solution, such as the Trianco range, Firebelly stoves are also becoming increasinlgy popular due to their clean lines and incredible build quailty.
Some manufacturers have also decided tom combine the best of both worlds. The Portway Range feature the clean lines typical of a steel stove combined with a cast iron door, allowing the option of an enamelled door finish and allowing more heat to be radiated into the room after the fire has gone out.

Will A Wood Burner Save You Money?

It's becoming increasingly popular for people to buy a woodburner to supplement or replace a gas or electric heating system because they simply can’t afford to pay their spiralling fuel bills. Changing to wood-fired heating saves many people a lot of money, but it takes time to recoup your initial investment in savings on fuel bills. The savings available vary, but these are the main points to consider when working out how much money you can save.

Purchase Costs
The most obvious cost is buying the woodburner. Wood burning stoves are available to suit all budgets, but the cheapest woodburners are not the most efficient. Spending a little extra to buy a more efficient stove can be worthwhile to gain savings in fuel costs over time. Bargain hunters tend to buy woodburners on the internet in order to get the cheapest prices. It can take a little work to compare deals properly – make sure the price advertised includes VAT and delivery, and see if there are any special deals on chimney liner or free fitting accessories with the stove. To ensure you have full manufacturers warranty cover on the woodburner, check that you are buying from an authorised retailer. You may also need to buy a chimney liner or flue system and accessories such as a stove pipe or register plate. If you are not sure what you need, get expert advice before you buy.

Installation Costs
Installation costs vary enormously depending what work needs to be done. If you need a flue liner for your chimney or to fit a twinwall flue system because you don’t have a conventional chimney, this will increase your installation costs. Sometimes fireplaces need to be altered for a woodburner to be installed, at an extra and sometimes unexpected cost. It is a good idea to have a stove installation survey from a  before you buy a woodburner – this will give you a clear idea of what work is necessary and the associated costs, as well as giving you an opportunity to get expert advice about what woodburner is most suitable for your requirements.
Running Costs
Research prices for firewood or coal both from local and nationwide suppliers, unless you are lucky enough to have a free source of firewood such as a friendly tree surgeon! To get the best prices on firewood or coal you need to buy in quantity – if you don’t already have a suitable storage area factor this into your budget as well. Demand for woodburners is increasing in the UK, but the Forestry Commission is implementing a program to develop the UK wood fuel industry over the coming years to ensure plenty of quality firewood will be available at reasonable prices. Recommended woodburner maintenance includes having your chimney swept at least once a year and an annual service of the stove by a HETAS qualified engineer – it’s a good idea to allocate some of your budget to cover these expenses.

New Range of High Efficiency Cast Iron Inserts

Anyone browsing through the current gallery brochure will come across a range of H/E (High Effiency) gas fires availble with the Pembroke, Jubilee and Lytton casts. These are a nice change from the traditional cast iron arch gas fire which is normally advertised as "decorative use only", basically meaning that a majority of the heat (and money to run the fire) is being wasted straight up the chimney and outside, not normally the aim of a gas fire indoors.

The High Efficiency range combine the traditional and amazing focal point of a traditional cast iron arch with the modern glass fronted technology to offer something that not only is rustic and built from such a tangible material as iron but also offers a heat output comparable to a standard inset gas fire.

There is nothing better than sitting in front of a lovely warm fire, I find that you even feel that extra bit warmer knowing that most of the heat is coming into your room and not just being wasted up the chimney.

Gallery have decided to make these non internet sold items and therfore must not be sold by distance selling, this is part of a plan to allow shops to have a range of fireplaces exclusive to them and it also means that purely internet based companies cannot undercut the market.
These items are now available from the Fireplace Megastore showroom in Deeside, North Wales

Carron Cast Iron Combinations

British manufacturers Carron have released a fantastic range of solid cast iron combinations with various traditional design and finishes to complement any home. The combinations are complete with surround and fire making it a lot easier to purchase and to also install. The fires that have been supplied by Carron provide you with a number of options such as Natural gas, LPG or a solid fuel option.

The intricate styling on these combinations is what sets them apart from any other combination on the market. The designs are taken from a wide range of styles such as art nouveau, late Victorian and gothic styling.

The Carron Toulouse is one of the most detailed combinations that Carron offers because of the spectacular flower patterns through the surround and the hood of the fire. These design set the Toulouse apart from any of the other combination design. Along with the choice of fire you can also select tiles to go with this combination to complement the room, these tiles can also be switched when redecorating or just fancying a change.

One of the more unique combinations is the Carron Classic which features a large hood with art nouveau styling throughout the combination. The Classic comes as standard with a more modern full polish finish that looks great in any surrounding. With the traditional art nouveau design the Classic comes with a choice of either a natural gas, LPG or a solid fuel fire and also a choice of black granite hearth size. The gas fires that are available are all suitable for class 1 & 2 chimneys or flues and have an input of 6 kW but are mainly used for decorative purposes only.

Because of Carron’s traditional techniques and quality materials the combinations that are available are amongst the finest offered in the UK.

Carron Cast Iron Inserts

Carron are one of the leading British manufacturers by using traditional methods to create some of the finest cast iron products currently available in the UK. The cast iron inserts that Carron produce are available in a wide variety of traditional designs and finishes to complement the quality of the product.

One of the best cast iron inserts that is available from Carron is the Celtic Arch which is available in 4 different polished finishes and comes in a traditional Victorian arched design to suit any home. The Celtic Arch is also available with a choice between a natural gas or an LPG fire as well as a solid fuel option all of which are suitable for a class 1 & 2 chimney.

Each of the cast iron surrounds available from Carron are provided with a black granite hearth available in a variety of sizes and also available with options of a tongue and a slabbed hearth for solid fuel fires.

Carron have created some of the most unique fireplaces available with intricate detailing throughout the insert. The best example of this would be the Carron Rococo Cast Iron insert which features rococo styling in the arch with precise detailing. The styles that Carron have incorporated into their fireplaces range from Georgian designs circa 1840 to late Victorian design circa 1905 which truly shows the tradition of Carron.

A lot of Carron cast iron inserts are available with tile options so that you can customise the look of the fireplace to how you want it. There is a large variety of tiles that have been made available by Carron to make sure that you can choose exactly the one you want. A number of these tiles can also be purchased so that they can be changed to suit your room if you redecorate or simply fancy a change.

Carron cast iron inserts are a quality product and some of the finest cast iron inserts available, they are currently available from the Fireplace Megastore.

Bemodern Panoramic Cast Iron Fascia

The Bemodern Panoramic Classic Deluxe is unique among cast iron insets, many have a very traditional design with very few modern elements or styles. But this is different with the Bemodern Panoramic Classic Deluxe Cast Iron Fascia.

Suitable for class 1 or 2 chimney or flue this gas fire utilises a very contemporary and cubist design featuring strong lines and contrast between light and dark of polished and cast iron, the Panoramic also features an extra wide frame that gives the illusion of a 22" fire while only using a 16" opening. The pilot light and rotary flame controls are concelead behind the drop down fret cover to maintain the appearance of the fire at all times when not being lit of adjusted.

This wider frame, contrast between cast and polished iron and the strong straight lines combined with the 180mm depth fuel bed creates a very contemporary natural gas fire that would look great combined with a neutral coloured surround and create a focal point in almost any modern or traditional living room.

Agnews Washington Cast Iron Insert Fireplace

The Agnews Washington Cash Iron insert is a modern and contemporary interpretation of the traditional cast iron insert with strong straight highlighted lines contrasting with dark cast iron background to give a very modernist feel.
The Agnews Fireplace would look great with either a traditional or more contemporary setting with the dark cast iron and bright highlighted lines either contrasting or harmonising with the surrounding decor.
Available in either LED electric or natural gas with an input of 6.9Kw the Washington fireplace would be perfect for almost any home with a range of surrounds to help the insert match the style of the room.

To achieve a very modern and minimalist look, combine the Washington Cast Iron Insert With The Flat Victorian Limestone Surround and Black Granite Hearth. The darkness of the cast iron and hearth contrast with the light limestone accentuating the bold highlighted lines and drawing the eye towards the flame effect while the straight lines of the surround blend with the strong polished lines to complete the minimalist feel.

Conversely a very traditional yet contemporary feel can be acheived by simply using the Agnews Flat Pine Surround and granite hearth which uses the rich colour of the wood to further bring out the highlighted lines and draw your eye towards the fire.