How Do I Choose A Fireplace Door?

Selecting the perfect door to accent your fireplace and living area can be quite enjoyable. However, before you begin browsing through our exquisite collection of gorgeous replacement fireplace doors, there are a few things you'll need to take into consideration first.

Verify whether you have a masonry or zero-clearance (factory built) fireplace.

• Masonry fireplaces are constructed with the home in which they reside. They are created with brick or natural stone and held together with mortar. When you look at the interior of your chimney, you will see that the brick or stone is consistent. Additionally, the chimney outside your home would be brick or clay only – not vinyl or any other type of siding. There should be no metal facing on a masonry fireplace.
• Zero-clearance fireplaces are ones that have been built someplace else and installed within your home. Take a look at the chimney: if the exterior is covered with vinyl or another type of siding, or if you have a metal surround for your fireplace, then you have a factory-built unit.
• Masonry doors are designed quite a bit differently than zero-clearance, or pre-fab, fireplace doors. Pre-fab units must be custom-made so that the door frame does not cover up the air inlets that are found within the opening of the metal fireplace. If air cannot circulate through the inlets, the fireplace could overheat and lead to a fire. Pre-fab doors also come with specific hardware for attachment to a metal fireplace. 

Measure your fireplace

• Obtain the dimensions of your fireplace opening. Take note of your hearth's position (flush with the firebox, not present, above the firebox, etc.). All of these measurements will help you determine if you need a stock or custom-made door. This does not refer to the look, as much as it does the structure. Stock doors are usually an overlap fit, where custom-made doors fit inside the fireplace opening. Properly fitting doors are vital to your fireplace's performance. Those that don't fit appropriately not only decrease the efficiency of your heating application, but they can also pose a fire hazard. For more details on how to measure for fireplace doors, click here

Pick a style!

• Now that you know what type of fireplace you have and which door type you require, you can browse through our beautiful line of custom fireplace doors! We have many different styles available from rustic and vintage to elegant and industrial. We also have modern and contemporary designs that blend in with almost any décor. You'll have the opportunity to pick from a variety of options to fully customize your door, including the finish color, spark protection, handle style, and glass tint!