UPDATED 2020 EDITION

Fireplace Doors Buying Guide

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Do you want to replace your worn, outdated fireplace glass doors or purchase new doors for the first time…but just keep putting it off because you don’t know where to start? We understand that it’s an important decision and not a purchase you make every day. A quality set of fireplace doors is a significant investment in your home that will not only enhance your home’s decor but will help with energy efficiency.
You can count on us to give you the best advice and information possible. We have over 30 years of fireplace industry experience on our team and we’ve put together this guide to help you make a confident, educated choice. If you’re ready to let us guide you through the process (which is what we do best), read on with no worries…Our fireplace door consultants are here to take care of you every step of the way!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What's the difference between a prefab/zero clearance fireplace and a masonry fireplace?

How do I know what kind of fireplace I have? Why is this important?
Prefab Zero Clearance Factory Built Fireplace

PREFAB

(Also know as 'Zero Clearance' or 'Factory Built'. Inside of fireplace is made of sheet metal)
Masonry Fireplace

MASONRY

(Inside of fireplace was made by actual mason using real brick or stone)

It is important to get the right door for your fireplace for installation & safety reasons.

Because prefab fireplaces are made out of metal they have different ventilation requirements than do masonry fireplaces that are made out of brick. For more information, see National Safety Code 123.

Prefab/zero clearance fireplaces are what builders install in many neighborhood homes. They are typically made in a factory out of sheet metal and are essentially a firebox enclosed in a steel cabinet. There is sometimes a metal plate in the upper corner of the insert with a manufacturer name & model number. Some popular manufacturers include FMI, Heat & Glo, Heatilator, Lennox, Majestic, Marco, Martin, Preway, Superior, and Temco.

Since these inserts are all different sizes and the doors fit just inside the firebox opening, it’s helpful if you can find out the manufacturer and model number of your fireplace as well as the measurements, (length and height), of your firebox opening. Our fireplace door consultants can help you with this process.

Masonry fireplaces have a brick or stone firebox, chimney, and surround.

Differences Between Prefab/Zero Clearance Fireplace Doors & Masonry Fireplace Doors

Lexington Fireplace Door in home
Before you start shopping, there are a couple of significant differences between prefab fireplaces and masonry fireplaces that you ought to be aware of. Prefabricated fireplace doors come in hundreds of different sizes. This means there is a good chance you will have to have a door custom made for your fireplace. (FYI, this is why big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards do not sell prefab doors) Masonry fireplace doors usually come in small, medium and large which make them a much easier purchase.

Prefab Fit

Prefab fireplace doors require a precise fit so there is proper ventilation to meet national safety codes. Lower end masonry fireplace doors have a wide frame and utilize an overlap fit, which means you cover up your fireplace surround, but have a lot of wiggle room for the installation. But don’t worry, buying and installing a replacement door for your prefab fireplace is an easy do-it-yourself project. (Tape measure, screwdriver, & drill).

Compare Prefab Fireplace Doors

Prefab Fireplace Door Buying Guide

Compare Masonry Fireplace Doors

$349

$359

$379

$539

$769

$629

$759

$1319

$1779

Peachtree

Arlington

Brighton

Buckhead

Georgian

Mercadonia

Briggsdale

Madison

Rectangle Heritage

Peachtree.jpg

Arlington.jpg

Brighton.jpg

Buckhead.jpg

Georgian.jpg

Matheson.jpg

Briggsdale.jpg

The Madison.jpg

Rec Heritage.jpg

Welded Steel

Welded

Welded

Anodized Aluminum

Welded Aluminum

Welded Steel

Steel

Solid Steel

Welded Steel

Stylish and affordable, this fireplace will enhance most traditional fireplaces

Durable low profile door loaded with lots of extras

An elegant and beveled style makes it look as if you spent a fortune on your fireplace.

Smooth look and lots of extras!

Our classic style fireplace that will stand the test of time. A bestseller for its cabinet style doors.

Classy Architectural design header with a beautiful 9-panel Prairie door design. Gorgeous door.

Elegant oil rubbed bronze frame makes this an eye pleaser.

Clean Look! Laser cut from a single sheet of thick solid steel and is then plated with a durable heat resistant finish.

Laser cut, welded steel frame.The  inner return of the frame will extend 2 ½” into the opening.

Durable  14g Welded  Steel frame and hidden damper controls

16 Gauge Welded Steel Frame with hidden damper controls

Thick 14g Welded Construction, Elegant Beveled metal Frame

Corrosion-Resistant Anodized Aluminum

Durable Welded Aluminum frame is 1/8” with a 2” channel enclosure

16g welded steel construction for a frame to last a lifetime.

Heavy 14 gauge steel frame construction

Solid Steel Welded Construction, Rugged self aligning hinges.

Handcrafted seamless, durable welded steel frame

Quick ship 48-72 hours on 5 Stock Sizes

Quick ship 48-72 hours on 5 Stock Sizes

Quick ship 48-72 hours on 3 Stock Sizes;

Quick Ship 48 Hours on 8 stock sizes.

Made to Order – Avg 2-3 Weeks. Sizes up to 44×31

Quick Ship 48 Hours on 3 stock sizes.

Quick Ship 48 Hours on 8 stock sizes.

Made to Order – Avg 2-3 Weeks

Made to Order – Avg 2-3 Weeks

Bifold Door, Vintage Iron frame, Smoked Glass, Heavy Duty Cabinet Style Mesh Curtains Included. Heat-resistant fiberglass insulation strips

Bifold Door, Vintage Iron frame. Smoked Glass, Heavy Duty Cabinet Style Mesh Curtains Included. Heat-resistant fiberglass insulation strips, Premium Handles

Bifold Door, Matte Black or Nickel Frame finish, Smoked Glass, Heavy Duty Cabinet Style Mesh Included. Heat-resistant fiberglass insulation strips

Bifold trackless  Doors, Powder Coat Textured Black Frame, Bronze Glass, Heavy 19g Mesh Curtain Included,

Cabinet Style Doors, 15 Powder Coat Finishes, Choice of Glass Color, Handle Style Option,

Powder Coat Matte black frame finish. Smoked Glass, hidden damper controls, Heavy Duty 19g mesh curtain included

Bifold doors open 180 degrees, Smoked Glass, Hidden damper controls, Heavy Duty 19g mesh curtain included. Made in the USA.

15 Frame Finishes, Bronze, Clear or Grey Glass, Self Aligning hinges for easy installation, Optional air draft controls, and heavy duty 19g or 25g mesh curtains. Bifold Tracked or Trackless doors.

15 Frame Finishes, Bronze, Clear or Grey Glass, Bifold Trackless doors. Optional 25g mesh doors and optional Air draft controls.

One Year Limited Warranty

One Year Limited Warranty

One Year Limited Warranty

Lifetime Glass;  Frame – 5 years

Lifetime Glass;  Frame – 5 years

One Year Limited Warranty

One Year Limited Warranty

Lifetime Glass;  Frame – 5 years

Lifetime Glass;  Frame – 5 years

Overlap Only

Overlap Only

Overlap Only

Overlap Only

Overlap or Inside Fit

Overlap Only

Overlap Only

Overlap Only * Not Made for Stone Fireplaces

Overlap or Inside fit

Helpful Tips When Choosing Your Fireplace Doors

Energy Icon

INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Fireplace doors cover the opening of the firebox when a fire is not burning and can help eliminate drafts and cold air coming down the chimney into your home. The Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association recommends that all fireplaces be provided with glass doors especially if you burn real wood. Fireplace doors are helpful in reducing air leakage up the chimney, eliminating hearth odors when the fireplace is not in use, and stopping smoke spillage into your room.

Beauty Icon

STYLE & BEAUTY

Fireplace doors are not only functional keeping the cold air out of your home and the warmth in, they add a finished, decorative touch to your fireplace. After burning a fire, the firebox may have unsightly stained walls, piles of ashes, or soot stained gas logs. Our bronze or gray tinted glass covers the firebox and makes it easy to hide the remnants of a fire. You can choose from a variety of painted and anodized aluminum or steel frames from standard black to bronze, pewter, and brass with clear or tinted glass.

Help Icon

DID YOU KNOW?

The most frequently asked question regarding fireplace doors is “Can I burn my fire with the doors closed?” The answer is NO. Your glass could shatter. Also, leaving the doors open ensures the fire has enough air to burn effectively.

Parts of the Fireplace Door

Buckhead Masonry Fireplace Door

Spark Guard

Spark Guards come in the form of mesh doors or mesh curtains and are typically mounted behind the door. Spark guards help prevent sparks from popping out of the firebox while a fire is burning.

Glass Panels

Fireplace door glass panels are made with tempered safety glass to prevent injury. Some doors offer tinted glass options to help conceal leftover ash and soot in the firebox.

Door

Doors typically come in three different styles: bifold, bifold trackless, and cabinet.

Door Frame

The frame is what you insert into (inside fit) or overlapping on top of (overlap fit) your firebox opening. Frames come in many different styles and finishes. The actual doors themselves clip into the frame.

Things To Consider

1. FRAME

STEEL VS. ALUMINUM?

STEEL

  • Strong and durable
  • No sway or movement
  • Powder coat finish
The Merino Fireplace Door

ALUMINUM

  • Economical
  • No rusting
  • Anodized Finish

2. SPARK GUARDS

MESH DOORS, CURTAINS, OR SCREENS?

MESH CURTAINS

Mesh curtains are the most affordable spark guard option. Most of the fireplace doors on our website come with the option to add a mesh curtain or even have them arrive pre-installed. While sturdy, hanging mesh curtains aren’t secured at the bottom of your fireplace and may not prevent logs from rolling out of your firebox if you’re burning real wood.

Fireplace Mesh Doors

MESH DOORS

Mesh doors are built into the frame of your fireplace door. If you burn real wood, mesh doors are the best option for preventing logs from rolling out of your firebox. Unlike fireplace doors, mesh doors can be kept closed while a fire is burning. Since vent-free fireplaces reach very high temperatures, they can often discolor fireplace doors, even if they are open. If you have a ventless fireplace, we recommend using mesh doors in place of fireplace doors.

MESH SCREENS

Mesh screens are placed in front of the firebox on the hearth, and can be used with any fireplace. While they take up more space in front of the fireplace, they also provide more clearance to protect pets and small children. Fireplace screens come in a variety of styles and often feature artistic paneling/metalwork that make for a good decorative piece. Fireplace screens are not secured to anything and therefore may topple over with enough force.

3. DOORS

BIFOLD OR CABINET STYLE?

BIFOLD

  • Doors are locked into track
  • Open 90°
  • Limited view of fire
  • 4 glass panels, 2 on each side
  • Doors fold, taking up less space than cabinet
EZ fireplace door

TRACKLESS BIFOLD

  • Doors snap out of track
  • Open 180° or more
  • Full view of fire
  • 4 glass panels, 2 on each side
  • Doors fold back completely, take up less space than cabinet
The Merino Fireplace Door angled open

CABINET

  • Doors open like cabinets
  • Open 180° or more
  • Full view of fire
  • 2 glass panels, 1 on each side
  • Doors take up more space than bifold

4. GLASS PANELS

CLEAR OR TINTED?
Brick-Anew Fireplace Door Glass Colors

Many of our fireplace doors come in a tinted glass option. Tinted glass helps to hide your firebox after a fire. Tinted glass is a great way to make leftover ashes less noticeable.

OUR RECOMMENDATION

If you burn real wood, tinted glass is a great choice to hide the ashes and soot after a fire. If you have a beautiful set of gas logs, clear glass shows them off when they aren’t burning. Got a personal preference? Go with that! It’s totally up to you.

How To Install Your Fireplace Doors

Now that you have purchased your new fireplace doors, you need to know the details on how you will be installing them. First, we’ll address a few frequently asked questions from our customers.

Not at all. If you can hang a picture frame, you can install fireplace doors by yourself. The process is easy and can be done with a few common tools.

You’ll need an electric drill, drill bits, and a Phillips head screwdriver. If you need help, just give us a call and speak to a member of our customer service team.

At Brick-Anew, we stand behind our products. If you have any questions, you can call us at 800-897-7175 and speak to a fireplace door specialist who can help you with any problems you may encounter.

What Do I Look For When Choosing A Fireplace Door?

Here’s our helpful checklist to determine what’s important to you:
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Style & Beauty
  • Safety
  • Easy Installation
  • Customer Support
  • Less Time Cleaning
  • Draft / Cold Air Reduction
  • Warranty Coverage
  • Customer Support

LOW MAINTENANCE

Once your fireplace doors are installed, you can sit back and enjoy. We offer both a glass conditioner and a glass cleaner to keep your doors looking like new for years to come.

LESS TIME CLEANING

Fireplaces can get dirty. Fireplace doors, especially ones with tinted glass, can help hide the mess so you don’t have to clean up the firebox right away or after every fire.

Warranty Icon

WARRANTY COVERAGE

Coverage: Warranties vary by manufacturer and typically the better the door the longer the warranty.

Customer Support Icon

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

If you have questions before, during, or after your purchase, feel free to contact us at 800-897-7175.

Fire Icon

SAFETY

If you have small children or pets, glass doors provide a barrier to the firebox when the fireplace is not in use. Purchasing safety locks for the doors is an extra precaution.

The #1 Myth About Fireplace Doors...

Can I burn a fire with the doors closed?

The answer is no!

And a better question is… Why would you want to? If you burned a fire with the doors closed, most of the heat would go straight up the chimney. Fireplace doors were designed to keep cold air from coming down the chimney into the house. Before fireplace doors were available, a homeowner would have to wait until the fire went out and the flue was closed before going to bed at night. Otherwise, the house would be icy cold the next morning. Closing the fireplace doors when the fire is close to dying out not only keeps sparks from popping out of the firebox but helps keep the cold air out and the warm air in your room. Many people want the ambiance of a fire burning behind closed glass doors, but your doors are not designed to be used in that way. The tempered glass cannot withstand the heat of a full fire, moisture can build up in the tracks and the glass can shatter into your room if the heat gets too intense. Always burn your fire with the doors open.

 

MISLEADING MARKETING

You may be asking, “If I’m not supposed to burn a fire with the doors closed, why have I seen so many pictures of it online?” The reason why is because fireplace door manufacturers photoshop fake fires behind the doors to make them more visually appealing. At Brick-Anew we recognize that these images can be confusing to customers and do our best to avoid using them whenever possible.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Occasionally, we have a variety of stock doors available in some sizes. These doors can ship faster than harder to fit and or custom doors. Be sure to give us a call and we’ll let you know if we have the door you need in stock.

Your doors will be packaged securely to prevent damage during shipping. After you open the box, inspect the doors and contact us if you have any concerns. The frame, glass doors, hardware for installation, and instructions are included in the box.

We’ve been in the business of selling fireplace doors for over ten years. If you ever need assistance, we are just a phone call away. That means you can relax and enjoy your doors for years to come.

Ready to order?

Here’s what to do next:
STEP 1

Locate your fireplace model number & manufacturer.

If you have a Prefab fireplace, locate your model number & manufacturer. Prefab fireplaces will typically have a metal plate on the front, or just inside the firebox, sometimes it will be inside above the opening. This plate tells you which brand you fireplace is, as well as the specific model number. Having this information on your order makes the confirmation process more efficient.

How To Find Fireplace Model Number and Manufacturer

STEP 2

Take your measurement photos.

Once you’ve identified the manufacturer and model number, take some pictures of the height, width, and recess depth of your fireplace. See below for more info on how to take proper measurement photos. If you are unable to locate your model and manufacturer, review the pictures below, send those photos to sales@brick-anew.com. For more detailed information about how to take proper measurements of your fireplace, read our measurement guide here.

How To Measure A Fireplace Opening for Fireplace Doors

STEP 3

Confirm your size and order.

Once you’ve taken your measurements, place your order. One of our fireplace specialists will reach out to personally confirm your order and ensure that your prefab fireplace door will fit perfectly upon arrival. You may be asked to send photos if your measurements are off or you have a custom order.

Order Fireplace Glass Doors

Need help? Watch our in-depth video on how to find get the model number and measurements of your fireplace.

It's helpful to know:

  1. Whether you have a factory built/zero- clearance fireplace or a masonry fireplace.
  2. The manufacturer and model number of your factory built/zero clearance fireplace. Check for a metal tag on the front or inside of your firebox.
  3. Your firebox opening dimensions. Read our fireplace door measurement guide here.

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