Whether you have an old home or a new one, nothing is quite as cozy as a nice warm fire in a fireplace Trusted Source Fireplace - Wikipedia A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. en.wikipedia.org . Of course, if you are not careful, nothing can be as dangerous as making a fire in your fireplace either. Many older fireplaces are completely open, which can lead to sparks spreading throughout your home. While you could get an insert, these are a bit harder to install. You could also completely change your fireplace over to a gas-burning model. This, too, unfortunately, is a very involved process. Thankfully, if you complete a fireplace door installation, you can easily remedy this problem.
Now, you might be wondering how to install fireplace doors. Though this might seem like a challenging prospect, with the right tools and a little bit of careful work, you can easily do this job on your own. These doors will not only help to make your fireplace much safer but can also add a touch of style to your home as well. Read on to find out how to get your new fireplace doors install the first time correctly.
Obviously, the first thing that you will need to acquire is a new set of glass doors for your fireplace. Of course, we are talking about log-burning fireplaces, not gas inserts. Make sure that you carefully measure your fireplace opening so that you have an accurate idea of whether you need large, medium, or small doors. You should measure the fireplace from side to side and top to bottom before you make your final purchase. Otherwise, you might get something that is too large or too small.
Once you have selected your preferred set of glass doors for your fireplace, you will need a set of tools. This includes the following:
Now that you have your new door selected and also have your tools in place, it is time to actually install the doors. This is a relatively simple process, but you need to make sure that you take your time on each step. You do not want these doors to come loose in the future because you rushed since this could cause a fire.
Once you have your new fireplace doors at home, the very first thing that you need to do is unbox the materials. Take your pair of scissors and carefully open the box so that the entire back can flip open. That way, you won’t accidentally scratch the finish on the doors. From there, lay out all of your materials so that you can see what you are working with.
After you have the materials unboxed, take the time to familiarize yourself with the directions and what each part is called, and what they are used for. This will make sure that you use the correct parts for the correct work. It will also allow you to make certain that you have all of the necessary parts before you get far along in the installation process. The last thing that you want or need is to be searching for parts when you are almost done.
Once you have made sure that you have all of the necessary materials and understand what they are used for, the first thing in the installation process is to attach the lintel clamps. These clamps, as the name implies, will hold the doors onto the lintle, or the top bar, on the interior of your fireplace.
Measure how high your lintel is, and then set the clamps so that they are about that high as well. This will make it easier to clamp the doors in place later on in the installation process.
Next, you need to mark the screw holes for the door anchors on the floor of the fireplace. This needs to be done with the doors in place. If you have an assistant helping you, they should hold the doors against the fireplace while you mark your screw holes. If you do not have anyone helping you, you need to clamp the doors in place so that you get accurate measurements. Be sure to only mark your holes on the bricks and not the mortar in between them. The bricks will provide a solid anchor spot, while the mortar is likely to crumble.
Once you have marked the spots for your anchors, remove the doors and use the masonry bits with your drill. When drilling, be sure that you keep it as straight as possible so that the screw will go into the anchor correctly. You should also mark your masonry bit so that it does not go any deeper than the length of the anchor. The anchor might not be secure if it has extra room to wiggle.
Place your anchors into the drilled holes as far down as you can with your hand. After they will not go in anymore, tap them in gently with your hammer. Do not pound them down as you would a nail. This could cause the anchors to become malformed, which would make it much harder to attach the screws.
Before securing the door, you first need to insulate it. Using the insulation that came with the kit, line the channels along the edge of the doors. Be sure to wear your gloves while doing this so that your skin doesn’t become irritated by the
insulation
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. If any of the ends of the insulation are sticking out beyond the edge of the doors, trim them with your scissors.
When you have the door fully insulated, place it back against your fireplace. Using your ratchet and sockets, tighten the bolt down into the anchors that you drilled earlier. While you want this to be secure, do not overtighten it. This could make the anchors come loose, which could cause the doors to fall off of the fireplace or create a gap for sparks to escape.
The last step in installing your new doors is to tighten the lintel clamps. Make sure that they are high enough so that they hit the middle of the lintel, and tighten both clamps with your hand. Once they become too difficult for you to tighten by hand, use your pliers to give them another quarter turn. This will make sure that they have the right amount of tension without risking any damage to the lintel itself.
Another way to cover up your fireplace to prevent sparks is to use a screen. A screen is a much simpler way to protect your home from any damage while using your fireplace. They come in several different designs. The easiest to use are freestanding screens that you simply move in and out of place while the fire is going. Others, like this mesh screen, are hung on a rod that gets screwed into the sides of the fireplace. This style can then be moved in and out of place, much like a curtain.
Though it might seem like a daunting challenge, installing fireplace doors is not all that difficult. You just have to have the right tools and a lot of patience. After all, you don’t want to cut any corners while you are installing something to not only keep your home and family safe but also to make your fireplace look even better than it already does.
Once you have your new door unboxed, you need to first attach the lintel clamps. From there, you drill in the anchors for the bottom of the door. Next, simply attach the insulation. Then, attach the door to the anchors. Finally, clamp it into the lintel so that it stays in place. And that’s all there is how to install fireplace doors!
