How Do I Install A Fireplace Door?

How Do I Install A Fireplace Door?

Every fireplace door comes complete with an installation guide. That being said, the method of fireplace door installation will be different for each model, depending on the manufacturer, the measurements of your application, and the type of fireplace that you have (pre-fab or masonry).

You'll want to make sure you have the following tools for your install:

• REMEMBER: Your fireplace should be completely cooled before installing fireplace doors!
• ATTENTION: Do you have a custom-made masonry brick fireplace that has been built in your newly constructed home? If so, the mason who created your fireplace most likely used a acid-wash to remove any debris and bring out the natural beauty of the brick. This wash must be completely removed in a process called neutralizing. Failure to do this can cause rust and pitting on your fireplace door frame. If this procedure was not completed, consult your fireplace owner's manual for detailed instructions on how to remove this residue.

For Steel Door Installation:

1. Carefully remove the packaging material and contents from the box, taking care not to scratch the glass or frame.
2. Retrieve the installation manual and check it over to make sure that all hardware has been included with your doors. (Contact us at 1-877-373-6677 if anything is missing.)
3. Lift the door from the box by the sides – never the top – to avoid damage to the frame. Place the doors up to the fireplace opening to ensure it is the correct size.
4. Our doors will arrive to you fully assembled and adjusted by the manufacturer. It is possible that, during the shipping process, the doors may have been subject to shaking and jostling. No worries! Our doors are very easy to adjust right in your home! (We'll tell you all about that in Step 11.)
5. Our fireplace doors are typically mounted with an edge and a bottom brackets on both sides. Simply attach the brackets using the designated screws that came with the hardware packet.
6. Once secured with the hardware, you'll need to bend the bracket back (toward the fireplace opening).
7. Place the door in the opening (remember: brackets should be bent inward). Mark spot on the inside of the fireplace (through the slots on the brackets) with your felt tip marker to identify the spots that you're going to drill in order to mount the door. Remember to do this for all four brackets.
8. Drill the mounting holes using a 5/16” masonry drill bit in your electric/cordless drill. You'll need to drill about 1-3/4” deep for each hole.
9. Insert the included lead anchors into the holes; you may need to tap them into place with a hammer so that they are flush with the firebrick.
10. With the lag screws that are provided, insert the lag screws (they have hexagonal shaped heads) through the brackets, directly into the lead anchors. Using a 3/8” ratchet wrench, make sure the screws are snug.
11. At this point, perform any adjustments that need to be made:

• If one part of your fireplace door is sticking out: open the doors, loosen the attachment bracket, and either pull or push the frame into alignment. Re-tighten the brackets.
• If your fireplace doors don't close all the way (this is due to misaligned hinges): tighten the hinges from the inside of the door with a Phillips-head screwdriver. 
• If that doesn't work: use an Allen wrench to loosen the hinge the backside of the frame, then adjust the hinge on the inside of the door. Re-tighten the hinges.

12. Once your door is perfectly aligned, it is now time to tighten all of the screws.

For Aluminum Door Installation

1. Carefully remove the packaging material and contents from the box, taking care not to scratch the glass or frame.
2. Retrieve the installation manual and check it over to make sure that all hardware has been included with your doors. (Contact us at 1-877-373-6677 if anything is missing.)
3. Lift the door from the box by the sides – never the top – to avoid damage to the frame. Place the doors up to the fireplace opening to ensure it is the correct size. 
4. Our doors will arrive to you fully assembled and adjusted by the manufacturer. It is possible that, during the shipping process, the doors may have been subject to shaking and jostling. No worries! Our doors are very easy to adjust right in your home! (We'll go over this at the end of these instructions.)
5. Pre-bend the included C-clamp brackets into a U-shape (with the opening facing towards you).
6. Insert the C-clamps into the built-in C-race extrusion on the inside of the door. Using a little pressure, simply bend the C-clamp backward to lock it into place. 
7. Mark the areas on your firebrick where you will drill your holes (4 total). Measure approximately 3-6 inches from the top and the bottom of the opening for your side mount holes. (They should also be approximately 2-6 inches back from the fireplace face.)
8. Drill the 4 holes about 1-3/4” deep using a 5/16” masonry drill bit.
9. Insert the included lead anchors into the holes; you may need to tap them into place with a hammer so that they are flush with the firebrick.
10. Attach the mounting straps into the C-race on the door so that they align with the mounting hole.
11. Using a 7/16” wrench, only snug up the brackets. Do not tighten them.
12. Completely install one side of the door by attaching both brackets. Then attach the brackets on the other side. This will help prevent the door from racking out of alignment.
13. Should you need to make adjustments:

• If one part of your fireplace door is sticking out: open the doors, loosen the attachment brackets, and either pull or push the frame into alignment. Re-tighten brackets.
• If the stiles do not line up: open the doors, loosen the attachment brackets, and pull up or down on one side of the frame or the other to get the door to rack in. Re-tighten brackets.
• If gaps in the door are not uniform: loosen the fold back hinge screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver and move the panel to the right or left as needed. Re-tighten hinge screws.

What if my door has an inside fit and needs to be mortared in?

1. Mask the doors off, starting on the inside track on the bottom. This prevents any mortar from getting into the draft assembly.
2. Mask across the fireplace door facing to prevent the mortar from damaging the finish. It may also be wise to lay a drop cloth on the hearth and/or floor in front of your fireplace, in case of any drips or spills.
3. Apply the mortar according to package directions. Wipe off any excess with a clean, damp cloth. Once the mortar has been applied, carefully remove the tape. 
4. Let the mortar cure (set) according to package directions. Using a fireplace glass cleaner, thoroughly clean the glass, inside and out.