Our fireplace is real, but 1979 prefab sheetmetal, not used since 1993. We had gel logs, used once, they smelled and made our eyes water. We kept those with a string of flickering flame lights for years. These electric ones look fine behind the screen. There was a puff of smoke and brief smell on turning on the heat, didnt last. The flames reflect nicely on the back of the firebox. The heat probably wont heat the room, dont care. One thing, it looks like the photo on Wayfair but did not see Mariami anywhere on it did see Duraflame, was it a substitution Dont know. We like what we got!