Fireplace Doors Buying Guide
We're here to help...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What's the difference between a prefab/zero clearance fireplace and a masonry fireplace?
PREFAB
MASONRY
It is important to get the right door for your fireplace for installation & safety reasons.
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
Prefab Fit
Compare Masonry Fireplace Doors
|
$349 |
$359 |
$379 |
$539 |
$769 |
$629 |
$759 |
$1319 |
$1779 |
|
Arlington |
Brighton |
Briggsdale |
Madison |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
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.
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.
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
Spark Guard
Glass Panels
Door
Door Frame
Things To Consider
1. FRAME
STEEL
- Strong and durable
- No sway or movement
- Powder coat finish
ALUMINUM
- Economical
- No rusting
- Anodized Finish
2. SPARK GUARDS
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.
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
- 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
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
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
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?
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 COVERAGE
Coverage: Warranties vary by manufacturer and typically the better the door the longer the warranty.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If you have questions before, during, or after your purchase, feel free to contact us at 800-897-7175.
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?
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?
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.
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 [email protected]. For more detailed information about how to take proper measurements of your fireplace, read our measurement guide here.
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.
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:
- Whether you have a factory built/zero- clearance fireplace or a masonry fireplace.
- 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.
- Your firebox opening dimensions. Read our fireplace door measurement guide here.
SHOP BY FIREPLACE TYPE
SHOP BY FIREPLACE BRAND
