Glass Doors for Wide Smokey Fireplace - Project #20150

Customer Comments: I don't need anything that is just a screen as I already have that. I'm more interested in glass doors to help keep the smoke contained. The man that cleaned my chimney said that I have a large firebox but a small/narrow flue. When I start a fire smoke kind of goes everywhere until it's nice and hot and the draft goes up the flue. I was thinking that the glass doors could really help with that. Thoughts?

Our Comments: Glass doors are your best solution. The doors I have selected below have a draft control at the bottom to allow or block air into the fire and can be burned with the doors open or closed. It is best to close the doors and open the draft when starting a fire since that is when it tends to smoke them most. It also will smoke as the fire dies out and the draft decreases, at which time you would close the bottom draft and the doors to block the smoke and keep the warm air in your home during the night.

I also noticed the bricks on the sides stick out about 1/4" to 3/8". There are two ways to accommodate this: Fit the doors inside the opening leaving a 1/4" gap that must be filled with mortar. 2: Overlap the bricks and add a 1/2" return on the back side of the door to cover the gap at the top. I have created examples of both options.

Pyro Ceramic Glass vs Tempered Glass: The first several doors have 1/4" tempered safety glass, which can handle sustained temperatures around 500°F, so care must be taken when burning with the doors closed to keep the fire at least 8" from the glass. Pryo Ceramic glass can handle sustained temps around 1200°F, so the flames can come much closer without breaking the glass. The downside is, Pryo Ceram glass is very expensive (adds about $1600.00).

Fireplace Opening: 48 7/8" W x 28 3/4" H

Before

Before:

Affordable Aluminum Doors

Aluminum is an excellent material for fireplace doors because it does not rust and can handle high temperatures when treated with powder coated finishes. It is also the most affordable.

Stiletto

Option #1: Design Specialties Stiletto Fireplace Glass Door in Rustic Black with Clear Glass. Shown as an inside fit. Cannot be made as an overlap fit.

Medium Range Steel Doors

Steel doors are more substantial than the less expensive aluminum doors. They are heavy duty and rugged and are more customizable because the frames are laser cut. These doors can be made with narrower frames to fit inside or wider frames with a 1/2" return to overlap the bricks.

Legend

Option #2A: Design Specialties Legend Glass Door with an Extra-Wide Frame and 1/2" Return in Forged Iron with Clear 1/4" Tempered Glass. Shown as an overlap fit.

Legend

Option #2B: Design Specialties Legend Glass Door with 1 1/4" Wide Frame in Forged Iron with Clear 1/4" Tempered Glass. Shown as an inside fit.

Craftsman

Option #3: Design Specialties Craftsman Glass Door with 1 1/4" wide frame in Forged Iron with Clear 1/4" Tempered Glass. Shown as an inside fit.

High End Pyro Ceramic Glass

These doors have 1/4" Pyro Ceramic glass that can handle sustained temperatures up to 1200°F. Pyro ceramic glass always has rough edges, which requires each pane to be fully framed as shown in the example below. Fully framed doors also provide the best seal.

Air Seal Ceramic

Option #4: Hearth Creations Flat Steel Fully Framed Fireplace Door in Charcoal with Pyro Ceramic Glass. Shown as an inside fit.

Other Pictures

Fig #1 - Closeup

Fig #2 - Room Setting

Fig #3 - Width

Fig #4 - Height

Fig #5 - Brick Depth