How To Cure Your Flare Fire
Watch the video and follow the instructions below
- Allow 8 hours for the Ramset Glues to dry before commissioning the fireplace.
- Allow 40 hours minimum of small fires when you first begin to use the fireplace. These do not have to be continuous — and can happen over any period of time.
- We define curing time as the time after the front of the fire has become warm to touch. Because you’ll only be using small fires to cure your fire, it will likely take about an hour to bring the front of your fire to a point where it is warm to touch. So — curing time counts after about the first hour of running your fire.
- Once the front of your fire is warm to touch — start curing your fire for at least an hour or two at a time.
- Because of the pre curing warm up time, and the one – two hour minimum length for a small curing fire, we are suggesting that the minimum time you’ll run a fire for curing purposes is 3 hours.
- If you are going to run your fire for more than 3 hours — during this extended time, move the wood and embers around, so the fire is in different parts of the firebox.
- Each time you light a curing fire — try and position the fire in a different place, one end or the other or the middle of the firebox.
- If at any stage the concrete begins to sweat while the fire is running, move the wood and embers to another position in the fire. This is because you don’t want the moisture to turn to steam in the masonry, as this impacts the size of cracks that form at this time.
- As you progress through the 40 hours you can begin to run bigger fires, but always aim to start your fire small, then increase the size of the fire over time.
- To avoid cracking at any stage, even after curing, aim to start your fire with small fires, then build up your fire. Starting your fire with a big full load of wood will cause some cracking.
Large cracks are an indication that the fire has been cured too fast, or that you have started with a big fire. Hairline cracking is normal, and almost unavoidable. Following the above procedure however, will minimise the size of cracks in your fireplace. Concrete does have a mind of its own and in our experience often you can do the right thing to minimise cracking but unfortunately cracks still appear. The cracks are of no concern structurally. The fireplace has a lot of steel through it and will not fall apart.
Watch the instructional video below, see the warranty here.
Finishing Your Flare Fire – How It Arrives
Due to the nature of casting masonry expect some irregularities with your fireplace. Surfaces will not be completely flat and not 100% level. Also during transit often other minor defects may occur.
Concrete is brittle and easily chipped, if this occurs the defects can be easily repaired. Defects deeper than 5mm should be filled with ChemSet (included in the kitset), apply it just below the surface. Then use the Rockcote or plaster supplied to fill in the remaining area. Defects less than 5mm deep use the Rockcote or plaster to fill.
All our fires are supplied as a Natural Precast fire. Unless asked not to, we skim coat the fire with a plaster to touch up some defects however the fireplace is still considered a raw concrete product with surface air holes and other minor defects. We supply a bag of Rockcote which you can use to fill the joins or any defects once the fireplace is together.
If you have ordered a polished finish, the fire will come with a polish to the front of the firebox and chimney and wood box tops, or just the wood box tops on their own, depending on your order. In both these cases the rest of the fire will be the Natural Precast finish as above.
If you would like to have your fireplace plastered, there are a number of options. In this case, follow the cure guide above and then let us know and we will put you in contact with a plasterer in your area.
Note: We do not finish the back of the fireplace, if this is requested extra charges will apply.
Most customers leave them with the Natural finish, but some stone and schist their fireplace, others plaster and paint them. See more finishing options and inspiration here.
Now gather round and enjoy your Flare Outdoor Fireplace!