A fireplace door is a safety precaution as well as an aesthetically-pleasing device. They protect our families, pets, and home from fire hazards; as well as adding a visual appeal to our décor. But that’s not all: they also cut our fuel and home heating costs by reducing the amount of air and heat lost up the chimney year round. If we opt to burn wood as opposed to gas logs, we find that these treasures help eliminate excessive smoke from our hearths and homes; and lets us truly enjoy the warmth and comfort that only a fireplace could provide. Choosing a fireplace door can seem overwhelming at times with all the varying options, qualities, and features to look for. Below is a compilation of the different types of fireplace doors, frames, glass, and necessary features you should be looking for when shopping: essentially all the information you need when buying a fireplace door for your home.
1 - Type
Depending on what type of fireplace you have will determine what type of fireplace door you’ll want. There are two basic types of fireplaces: Masonry and Zero-Clearance fireplaces. If you’re not sure which one you have, take a look inside the fireplace. The Masonry type will have a brick and mortar chimney, while a Zero-Clearance one will have either a metal box or a firebrick lining and a metal pipe extending up to a metal chimney. Accordingly, you’ll be able to search for the Masonry and Zero-Clearance Fireplace Doors; or opt to design your fireplace doors with mitered frames and different colored glass and glass widths, to customized specifications.
2 - Glass
Once you’ve determined what type of fireplace door you’ll need for your fireplace, next is the decision of materials: the type of glass and frame for your fireplace door. There are so many
to choose from of varying styles, qualities, anti-spark safety levels, and economical values. Glass comes in a variety of thickness’ and hues for the effect of safety and aesthetics, respectively. When perusing manufacturers’ specifications of either type of fireplace doors, you want to make sure that the glass is tempered and thick, thus eliminating the safety hazards of gas leaks and loose sparks. Glass colors usually come in bronze, gray, and standard clear for varying visual fireplace effects.
3 - Frames
Anodized Aluminum is probably the most popular frame because it is the most cost-effective material that provides safety for family and living space. It also allows many different color finishes to be applied and can be customized for an altogether different look by adding metal inserts, easily and quickly. Some people opt for a more qualitative and physical charm in their fireplace doors with brass-plated or wrought-iron frames. The brass-plated frames are more sturdy and aesthetically appealing, and should be already coated with baked-on lacquer to ensure fire-resistance and easy maintenance. When looking for a wrought-iron frame, be sure that the wrought-iron is made of heavy steel bar stock, and has rigid angles and bar maneuverability to ensure perfect door alignment. Because of the all-welded construction of wrought-iron fireplace door frames, you’ll find that these last you longer and are less susceptible to deterioration and excessive wear. As always, you get what you pay for. The sturdier, longer-lasting, and aesthetically-appealing a device; the more expensive it will be.
4 - Other Features to Look For
You know what type of fireplace door you need, what glass and frame you prefer…now what other details should you look for? Because fireplace doors typically have more than one glass panel, you’ll want to know whether you want the convenience of bi-fold swing trackless doors or the visual appeal of full view cabinet style doors. It also helps to have a center spring wedge lock on your doors: easy-open, easy-close; as well as a hidden center draft control (found on most) which allows you to control the burning rate of your fire. Look for glass that is guaranteed for life: this means the manufacturer stands by their product, and handles do come on Masonry, Zero-Clearance, and Custom for easy pick-up, transportation, and installation with its self-aligning hinges.
