Whether you just bought a home with an outdated fireplace, or you just want to spruce your current fireplace up a bit, replacing the doors is a great place to start. However, you might be wondering if you can even replace fireplace doors?
Luckily, if you ever decide to replace your fireplace doors, the process will be fairly easy as long as you’ve bought the right doors! The type of door will depend on whether you have a prefabricated or masonry fireplace.
Keep reading to find out how to determine which type of fireplace you have.
What Should You Consider Before Replacing Fireplace Doors
There are several elegant fireplace doors on the market, but not all of them will be compatible with your fireplace. So, unless you want to go through the hassle of buying and returning a product, there are a few factors that you need to take into consideration before buying new fireplace doors.
Type of Fireplace
The fireplace at your place will either be prefabricated or masonry. A prefabricated or zero-clearance fireplace is usually made of metal and is what you can find in modern homes.
Fireplace doors that work for these models are usually made of 4 glass panels, two panels on each side, hinged together. These fireplaces can look like the traditional ones, but they’re easier to install.
A masonry fireplace is the traditional one and is built at your home by a craftsman. The fireplace and the chimney are custom-built at your home using brick, mortar, or stone, according to your preference.
If you’re unable to determine the type of fireplace you have at home, you can examine it yourself. If you go on the roof, and you can see some of the ceramic lining that can be found inside the flue, then you have a masonry fireplace.
If you have a zero-clearance fireplace, you’ll see black metal inside the firebox. You’ll also be able to find an information tag that shows detailed information about the manufacturer and the assembled fireplace.
Finding a door for a masonry fireplace might be a little easier because most of these fireplaces have a standard shape. Prefabricated fireplaces usually have unusual shapes, so in most cases, you need to buy a custom-made door to fit the fireplace perfectly.
Material
Fireplace doors are made of different types of materials, and some of them are more affordable than others. Stamped sheet metal is the most affordable option out there and is usually plated in brass.
However, these doors lose their color within a year or two of ownership. These doors are usually found at home improvement stores.
Aluminum doors are a little bit more expensive, but they’re more durable. These doors don’t change color or rust with time, and they’re sturdy.
However, because of the construction process, the doors will have corner seams which might not appeal to every homeowner.
Steel and forged iron are two other durable and elegant options. Designers can design and fit a steel door into any fireplace regardless of its shape.
They also use a laser beam to add custom designs to steel doors. Forged iron is suitable for masonry fireplaces because it completes the overall rustic or antique look.
Fireplace doors are fitted with tempered glass to withstand the heat and pressure. These glass doors rarely break.
Some doors are fitted with a mesh net, but these are not very safe because the burning ash and sparks can fly and cause a hazard in the house.
The glass inserts make your fireplace energy-efficient because they prevent the heat from escaping and control the amount of oxygen, so your wood will burn better.
The glass can also trap the heat and prevent it from escaping into air-conditioned rooms.
Shape
If you have a rectangular or square-shaped fireplace, you’ll probably have more options to consider when you’re shopping for fireplace doors. This is because these shapes are easier to cut and assemble.
However, some fireplaces have unique designs, so they could be arched, L, or U-shaped. In this case, the fireplace doors should be custom-made.
Details
Fireplace doors come in various designs, and you can choose a specific one that complements the other pieces of furniture in your room.
For example, some people prefer sliding doors, while others prefer rolling barn doors or the standard window panes. You can either go for a standard design or order a custom-made one, which will cost more.
Conclusion
Whether you have an antique masonry or modern fireplace, you can easily replace your fireplace doors and choose new ones.
Fireplace doors add a sense of style and elegance, but they also make your fireplace more energy-efficient and safer. There are lots of options available when it comes to choosing fireplace doors, so you can stick to the stock ones or order a custom-made model.
