Clean, Safe and Sensational Glass Fireplace Doors

Glass fireplace doors can often be the perfect choice for your home. Not only are they beautiful, but they can also be a great way to keep warm air from escaping through the chimney, which makes them an energy efficient choice. They are also easy to keep clean, and can add a beautiful and contemporary look to your fireplace area. Glass doors are also a good safety feature, making it much safer to burn a fire in your fireplace.  You'll find a wide array of styles to choose from when selecting glass fireplace doors, making it easy to add just the right decorator touch to match your overall room design, whether you prefer vintage metal bikes wall art or sleek contemporary metal sculptures. If you've been considering glass doors for your fireplace, here are some tips you can use to get the job done right.

Choosing Glass Fireplace Doors

When shopping for glass fireplace doors, you will find a wide array of prices. There are many features that can factor into the price of the doors, such as the materials used in their construction. For example, solid brass is certainly beautiful and durable, but it will naturally cost more than anodized aluminum. In some cases, manufacturers also include a lifetime warranty on the doors, which often translates into a higher cost than doors that include only a limited warranty. Additionally, if you have an especially large or unusually shaped fireplace, you might find that you have to order custom-made doors, which of course cost more than the standard sizes. Choose fireplace doors which are beautiful and serviceable, but which don't exceed your budget.

Installing Glass Fireplace Doors

If you purchase a new fireplace, chances are it will already come complete with glass doors. However, if you have an existing fireplace that doesn't have glass doors, it's certainly possible to retrofit them. If your fireplace is a common size, chances are you'll be able to find doors in the exact size you need. Otherwise, you can simply order a custom size. Installing the doors is usually a fairly simple process, especially if you are dealing with one that has a firebox made from squared-off brick. Although any door you choose will undoubtedly come with instructions, the process basically consists of attaching the lintel clamps to the top of the door unit and the floor brackets to the bottom of the door. Fit the door into the firebox, being careful not the scratch the surface. You should also never lay a glass fireplace door on the floor front-side down, as this can cause damage. With the door unit in place, mark spots on the brick floor through the brackets where you need to drill, by using a felt-tip marker. Remove the door unit carefully, drill the holes into brick floor, taking care to avoid mortar areas, and insert lead anchors. Apply the fiberglass insulation into the three appropriate channels on the backside of the door then screw the door in place. Clamp the door to the lintel bar, taking care not to over-tighten the thumbscrews. Then, stand back and enjoy your beautiful new glass fireplace doors.