How Do I Measure An Arched Opening For My Fireplace Door?

Arched openings are often associated with cut stone fireplaces. These stones tend to have variations in them, making the measurement of the arch a bit inconsistent. To hide this, a lot of installers will opt for overlapped replacement fireplace doors. However, an inside fit door allows the natural flow and beautiful design of the stone to be seen.

Regardless of the door fit you choose or the substrate material your fireplace has, measuring for a custom arched fireplace door doesn't have to be tricky. We're going to tell you how to measure for fireplace doors for your arched top application! To get accurate dimensions, you need to make a template of your fireplace opening. We recommend using a 5-7mm polyester (plastic) film to trace the arch of your fireplace. We have mylar stencil sheets specifically for this purpose.

How To Measure Your Arched Opening:

1. Obtain a very large piece of the plastic film – big enough that it will cover the entire opening, as well as an additional 12 inches above the arch and 2-3 feet on either side of the opening. (You may need to tape two pieces of film together in order to cover the entire area.) The bottom of the film should be flush with the bottom of the fireplace opening.
    
2. Use a low-tack masking tape to apply the film to your fireplace.
    
3. Use a black felt tip marker to carefully and accurately trace the opening of your fireplace. Maintain an eye level with your marker at all times to ensure an exact representation of the outline.
    
4. If the lintel is not hidden behind the stone or substrate of your fireplace, you'll need to take its measurement into account in your outline. The location of the lintel is a very important component of your template. Please take a moment to measure:
   • the height of the lintel to the face of the fireplace
   • the depth of the lintel to the face of the fireplace
      
5. Once completed, make sure to label your tracing correctly before sending it in. Mark the following information on the template:
   • left side
   • right side
   • lintel: mark “no lintel” or indicate the height & depth of the lintel
   • location of the hearth (no hearth, flush with opening, or above/below the opening – please include additional measurements in this case)
   • your name
   • purchase order number
   • your telephone number
   • contact name (person who drew the template)
   • order form/email (if applicable)
      
6. Carefully roll the film into a cylinder (writing side in!) and place in a mailing tube to ensure safe shipment.