how do you secure a glass fireplace door

• Attach lintel clamps to door. Stand the door on its bottom edge and either lean it against your leg as you work or have a helper hold it for you.
• Adjust the clamps. Pro2Pro Tip: Never lay the glass-door unit on its front or you will damage the doors. ...
• Mark for screw holes. Carefully fit the door into the firebox opening, making sure not to scratch the finish. Align the unit snugly into the opening.
• Drill holes for lead anchors. Pro2Pro Tip: Always drill into brick, not mortar, which crumbles easily and won’t hold the anchor. ...
• Insert lead anchors for screws. Use a wet/dry vacuum to pick up the dust left from drilling the holes. Be sure to vacuum out the dust in the holes, too.
Insulate door. Put on a pair of gloves and unroll the fiberglass insulation that comes with the door. ...
Screw door to firebox floor. Carefully slide the door into the firebox opening. Check that no insulation is sticking out around the edge of the frame.
Clamp door to lintel. Pro2Pro Tip: Don’t tighten the thumbscrew too hard or you will bend the clamp. ...

Full Answer

How do you install a glass fireplace door?

Our 1848 fireplace has a surround that's undersized, so the glass doors make it safer by blocking the fire from the too close wood floor and mantel. Installing a fireplace door is simply a matter of fitting the door unit into the firebox opening and attaching it to the masonry.

What is the best way to cover a fireplace wall?

These are usually metal and glass for best fire safety and become a clean face on your fireplace wall without taking up much floor space. You keep the doors closed, even perhaps inserting a foam board piece inside the doors when the fireplace is not going to be in use for a season, to prevent drafts.

Do you have to close the doors on a gas fireplace?

Tips for properly operating a fireplace with doors installed: Fireplace doors must remain fully open while an active fire is present. Doors can only be fully closed once the fire has died down to a coal bed. When using gas logs, fire glass, or modern gas media the doors must remain fully open at all times while in use.

Can you put a door on a wood burning fireplace?

Because of this, the only doors or glass panels that can be safely installed on these units have to come directly from the original fireplace manufacturer and be designed for use with the specific model of fireplace. Fireplace doors must remain fully open while an active fire is present.

How do you secure a fireplace door?

5:0610:55How To Install Fireplace Doors / Pleasant Hearth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold it up in place make sure that your set screw is nice and tight so that it doesn't move at allMoreHold it up in place make sure that your set screw is nice and tight so that it doesn't move at all it slides in and out to adjust for the opening. Once you have it set to the opening.

Can glass fireplace doors break?

Even though it can withstand high temperatures, it's still vulnerable. So, if your fireplace glass door is continuously exposed to temperatures of 600 degrees or more, they will shatter.

Are glass fireplace doors safe?

They are stronger than mesh screens and act as a protective barrier to prevent sparks and burning embers from escaping the fireplace and causing fires when they land on combustible materials such as carpets. Also, fireplace glass doors increase safety around pets and small children.

Are fireplace glass doors tempered?

Fireplace glass doors are generally made of tempered glass. They can handle the heat better, as well as make the burning of firewood more efficient. You also do not have to worry about the glass getting fractured by the heat.

Can you close glass doors fireplace while fire going?

The doors should always be fully open or fully closed. Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. The glass doors should be closed as the fire dies down to minimize the amount of room air going up the fireplace chimney.

Can you burn fireplace with glass doors closed?

Answer: Yes, you can burn a fire with the doors closed if you buy doors that are made for that purpose. Doing so can dramatically improve the efficiency of your fireplace and help your wood burn much longer.

Why do fireplaces have glass doors?

Glass doors actually help your fire burn better. By enclosing the burning area, firewood is able to burn greater and produce more heat. The glass doors also absorb and radiate heat into the room better than a fireplace without doors.

Why does fireplace glass break?

The biggest cause for tempered glass breakage is due to overexposure to heat. This is why tempered glass should never, ever be used in wood stoves. Woodstove generates well over 1000 degrees. The intense heat will cause the glass to break, sending glass flying and the fire exposed.

What are the glass doors on a fireplace called?

Each door features one solid pane of glass. They are called cabinet doors because they open much like your kitchen cabinets. They will open fully as long as there is nothing blocking the door clearance like a fireplace tool set or the stonework on a masonry fireplace.

How do I know if my fireplace glass is tempered?

Ceramic glass panels always break into larger chunks while tempered glass panels shatter and spiderweb into small pieces. At times, identifying the type of replacement glass you need for an item is as easy as inspecting the broken glass on your stove or fireplace doors.

How can you tell if glass is tempered?

Tempered glass has smooth edges Tempered sheets have smooth and even edges because of the extra processing it goes through. On the other hand, if the glass is not tempered, the edges feel rough to touch. So, the best way to feel is to run your fingers over the edges.

How hot does fireplace glass get?

Industry standards for gas fireplaces allow the temperature of the ceramic glass to reach as high as 1,328°F. Tempered and annealed glass is allowed to reach 500°F and 446°F, respectively.

What are the doors on a fireplace?

Most of the doors used on this type of fireplace are aluminum, and generally fit a certain track or channel that was put in during the original manufacturing process. These doors are semi- customizable. Trim shape, finish color, glass color, and frame texture are a few of the things that can be customized.

What is the easiest fireplace to work with?

Masonry fireplaces are by far the easiest to work with. The have very few restrictions on the type of door that can be used. Most doors for masonry fireplaces are constructed out of heavy steel and can be finished in almost any color or texture. With a masonry fireplace that is being used to burn wood the doors can have a huge advantage.

Why are fireplaces not allowed in big box stores?

Because these fireplaces are built to extract air from both the exterior and interior of the home to prevent fires; they all have restrictions for which type of door can be used. Doors found at big box stores are almost never approved for this use!

What is a zero clearance fireplace?

Zero Clearance, Pre-fab, Air Cooled, and Manufactured Fireplace Doors (all the same thing) Pre-fab fireplaces are the most commonly found wood burning fireplaces in homes built after 1990.

Why do you tint glass doors?

Tinting the glass on your doors can reduce the visibility of things like ashes or soot/smoke stains. Doors with shiny or polished finishes (brass, chrome, polished copper) should be cleaned regularly to prevent patina and discoloration. Check with the dealer or manufacturer to find out the appropriate cleaning method.

Why do doors and glass panels have to be tested?

Due to this, the doors and glass panels have to be tested during the manufacturing phase in order to gain the required safety certifications. This testing and certification process is exceptionally expensive and requires repeated attempts prior to certifying. Because of this, the only doors or glass panels that can be safely installed on these ...

Can you burn wood in a fireplace?

With a masonry fireplace that is being used to burn wood the doors can have a huge advantage. When burning wood, it is commonly known that the damper must remain open throughout the night until the coals are cool to the touch. This results in MASSIVE air loss up the chimney, and usually results in a cold room/home upon waking up in the morning.

What type of glass is used in a wood burning fireplace?

Most wood burning fireplace doors use tempered glass. This high temperature material is regular glass that has been subjected to a treatment of heated chemicals to achieve its tensile strength. Regular glass would crack and/or shatter under extreme heat. Tempered glass is resistant to constant temperatures up to 500°F. It also has a maximum thermal shock rating of 400°F. (Thermal shock occurs when a variation in temperatures causes the glass to expand and contract.) If it were to fracture, it would break into tiny pieces, versus jagged shards like regular glass. This safety glass option is perfect for wood burning fireplaces, which produce significantly lower temperatures as compared to gas fireplaces or pellet stoves.

What is pyroceram glass?

Also called pyroceram glass, this heat resistant glass-ceramic material is more suitable for stoves and fireplaces capable of producing temperatures in excess of 1000°F. It is a transparent product with a subtle amber tint that transmits light and radiates heat, making it an ideal material for gas fireplaces and heating stoves. Pyroceram possesses the astonishing strength of ceramic and the sealing properties of glass. This combination ensures tensile and elastic strength, fracture resistance, shear and compression-stress tolerance.

Why do you keep the doors closed when you make a fire?

You keep the doors closed, even perhaps inserting a foam board piece inside the doors when the fireplace is not going to be in use for a season, to prevent drafts. The glass doors slide open when you make a fire to allow the heat to warm the room. Some do-it-yourselfers will take plywood, covered with a foam layer to prevent drafts, ...

Is a fireplace a permanent covering?

However, keeping that space active may not always be the most efficient when energy bills heat up. Depending on your plans, there are both temporary and permanent coverings you may choose for your fireplace that keep the look of your room clean ...

Can you seal a chimney?

It's also possible to hire a chimney worker or fireplace specialist to seal the top of the chimney as well as the opening in the house. Unless you are particularly skilled in this area, hire a professional to complete this permanent chimney closure.

What is a glass door in front of a fireplace called?

When a door is in place in front of a fireplace, it already comes insulated. It is often called a fireplace screen insulation and comes in a form of a glass door. These glass doors are used specifically for masonry fireplaces and are much valued because they can help reduce the escape of heat inside a room and allow more efficient air control.

Why is it important to insulate a fireplace door?

Properly insulating fireplace doors is very important for everyone’s safety around the home while enjoying the comfort and warmth of a fireplace and avoiding any injury or fatal fire-related accidents.

How to keep drafts out of a fireplace?

Make sure that there are no gaps between your insulation and fireplace frame to avoid any draft coming into the home. If this happens, it is likely that your heating bill will increase. Good insulation will keep drafts out and help avoid raising heating bills.

Can a fireplace door be insulated?

A fireplace door can come insulated and be permanently installed on the fireplace door or can be something temporary. But whatever you choose to do, always consult a fireplace expert to determine what your home needs for proper heating. It will depend on the type of fireplace you have, what you burn as fuel, the size of the fireplace, wind draft and so on. Here are some tips for installing a fireplace door.

Can you use polyurethane foam for fireplace insulation?

Use can use polyurethane foam for foam insulation for your fireplace door. This is the most widely used form of insulation in the market and a preferred choice for fireplaces. This foam insulation is very good in sealing little or large gaps that exist in a chimney door. Properly insulating fireplace doors is very important to conserve heat inside your fireplace. If needed, purchase extra weather stripping. This will help seal off your fireplace and conserve heat inside your fireplace.

Glass fireplace doors

Aside from decorative styles and sizes, the two main types of glass fireplace doors are tempered glass and ceramic glass. Both styles look fantastic, with the ceramic version being able to handle higher temperatures and being overall sturdier.

Glass Fireplace door benefits

Safety for people and pets: Popping embers and shooting sparks from the fireplace won’t pose an injury risk if you have glass doors sealing off the firebox.

How to protect rails from pliers?

Rest the 1”x1” piece of cardboard scrap that you cut earlier against the bottom outside of the rail. This will protect the rails from the pliers during the installation of the retainer clips.

Why should glass panes hang slightly over the edge of the table?

The edges of the glass panes should hang slightly over the edge of your working space so that the door handles will not contact the table's surface and create pressure points.

How to protect panes from scratches?

Place the drop cloth or blanket over the cardboard. This set up will help steady the panes and protect the surface from being scratched.

How to protect glass panes from scratches?

Prepare your work surface (table) by laying down either a large piece of cardboard scrap or a drop cloth (blanket). This will help protect the glass pane from being scratched and keep them steady during installation. Carefully remove your new glass panes from the box and set them, side by side.

How to install glass retainer clips?

Glass retainer clips. With your utility knife, cut a small piece (approximately 1” x 1”) off the cardboard and set aside . You'll need this later when it is time to install your glass retainer clips. Prepare your work surface (table) by laying down either a large piece of cardboard scrap or a drop cloth (blanket).

How to use channel lock pliers?

Using the channel lock pliers, grip the bottom of the rail and the top of the glass retainer clip. Slowly press the clip into the rail. Repeat this process for the remaining 3 clips.

How many panes of glass are there in a bifold door?

There will be 4 panes of glass altogether for a set of bi-fold doors. Start with one side (2 panes), then complete the installation for the other side. Make sure that the top and bottom rails of your bi-fold door frame are clear of debris and old retainer clips. Install the bottom rail first (this is the one with the door handles on it).

Can bifold glass be replaced on a fireplace?

Bi-fold glass panels can be easily replaced on fireplace doors. Keep in mind this is tempered glass that has been specifically designed for use with wood burning fireplace applications. Before getting started, make sure you have the appropriate tools on hand to complete the task:

Can you fold bifold glass?

Finally, if your bi-fold glass panels do not appear to be aligned, you can fold the door in half and apply firm but careful pressure to the top of the glass.

Can you install a glass rail without the door handles?

The ends of the glass panes should hang slightly over the edge of your working space. This will allow you to install the rail without the door handles contacting your work surface (which creates pressure points).