I started my experiment with the steel version. Steel fireplace grates are the strongest ones available. But does strength really matter when it comes to a grate? Don’t all we need is a grate that will ensure a healthy fire? You would think so. So I built a 6 log fire in a steel grate that I purchased online. The fire started and burned very quickly and evenly. To be honest with you, I really couldn’t tell the difference between this material and anything else. Wow, I need to get a hobby!

I then proceeded to start the same 6 log fire in a cast iron grate. Same thing, started easily and burned strong. Now here is one interesting thing that I didn’t expect. To me, the cast iron grate provided for a hotter fire! Why? I think the cast iron material absorbed the heat and radiated into my living room better. It seemed to me that the grate was much hotter than the steel counterpart and therefore threw off more heat. Who would have thought? I did an internet search and could find no such information to confirm my thoughts but I’ll tell you this, I felt a difference. I actually thought I should put a thermometer outside my fireplace to check the temperature between the two grates but I couldn’t find a thermometer that would work. You can thank me later but this lame little experiment was actually very interesting. For me, I see no reason not to buy the cast iron grate over the steel one.

So who reading this thinks I’m crazy? The beauty of the internet is that anyone can have a voice. I’m a little strange and have various interests. Since I’m a firefighter many of my interests revolve around fire so this little experiment was actually kind of fun. If my buddies knew I had actually built a website around this they would totally laugh at me. However, where else could you get someone to do a test between different kinds of fireplace grates?

First up are you local chain stores. Walmart, Target and even your local hardware store all likely carry grates of at least a few shapes and sizes. Price tends to be about the same amongst these retailers. The one thing I did notice was that sometimes they wouldn’t have a great variety of grates in stock.  They had plenty to go around but not really that many choices.  I was in need of a large fireplace grate and these retailers just didn’t have what I needed.

There is another local option though. My local hardware store (and yours too I’m sure) had a few grates for fireplaces. These tended to be jammed in the back of the store and the selection was quite poor. I would tend to stay away from your local hardware store. In addition to poor selection they also have higher prices.

The best place to purchase your grate would be on the internet. Whether its Amazon or a specialty retailer the prices and selection just can’t be beat. Most also include free shipping which can come in quite handy since some grates weigh in excess of 30 pounds.  I did a price comparison between the big chain stores and the online retailers and the online stores beat them handily. I was also able to find a fireplace grate in any form that I wanted. Did I need a cast iron large version that could hold 8 logs? Internet retailers had those! In this day and age I am really started to question shopping anywhere but the internet.

To summarize, you really do have plenty of choices when it comes to buying your grates. Particularly if you live in the middle of nowhere like some of us (like me) do. The ability to just order online and have it delivered via UPS, for free, is really quite enticing.  My firefighter buddies all agreed and in fact we bought our station grate at an online site. My friends and family have joked with me through the years as the guy that gives bad gifts. Why? Because I bought my mom a grate for her fireplace last year. Hey give me a break, we all have our interests!

A grate is used in your fireplace for a very good reason. Quite simply it is to keep the logs above the bottom of your fireplace so as to create air flow. This is done so as to increase the breathability of the fire and to allow oxygen to reach the flames. This in turn will allow your fire to burn brighter and hotter. As we all know you can’t have an adequate fire with air flow so the fireplace grate serves that purpose.

I don’t think the type of grate material is all that important. The cast iron and steel versions work equally well I think. Remember the purpose of the grate is to increase airflow and that is the final goal. As long as you can get a lifetime warranty on your product you shouldn’t much care about the material it is made from.  More important is the size and shape of your grate. A small grate will keep the logs tightly together as they burn and this sometimes causes a small fire. When a larger fire is desired you should use a larger grate. Keep in mind that with the larger model you will be burning wood much more quickly.

When it comes to shape of the fireplace grate this is up for much debate. The manufacturers claim that they have versions for keeping your logs closer together, further apart, certain models for one-sided or double-sided fireplaces…  I happen to think this is all overkill. Again the purpose of your grate is to create airflow don’t overcomplicate the purchase of your product. One option that might be worth considering is the ember catching type. When they manufacture this version they place some wire type fencing on the bottom of the grate so that when the fire burns the embers are caught and not allowed to the bottom of the fireplace. This supposedly promotes a hotter fire and I can attest to this fact. Also the ember catching models don’t allow your fire to suffocate if you are burning it for several hours.

Perhaps the best places to find your fireplace grate is online or in your local hardware store. Once purchased, your product should last a lifetime and you shouldn’t have to give it another thought. This is one of the set and forget type of purchases.