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How to Shop for Fireplace Doors

We make it easy to shop for fireplace doors if you follow these simple steps:

Once you have emailed us your pictures and preferences, we will add your project to our Fireplace Door Photo Gallery where you can see how your doors might look on your fireplace. One of our fireplace door experts will follow up with you to quote prices and make sure you know how to measure your fireplace and get your doors installed. We will also determine whether you have a masonry fireplace or zero clearance fireplace to ensure you get the right type of doors. We will walk you through the entire process so you will know exactly what to expect before you commit to making a purchase. Read more about our FREE Fireplace Design Service Here!

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Custom Aluminum Doors

Design Specialties invented the aluminum fireplace door over 30 years ago. Because Aluminum does not rust or tarnish is rather impervious to heat, it makes an excellent material for fireplace door frames that is substantially less expensive that solid steel or brass. The frames are made from aluminum extrusions that are cut to fit your fireplace. You can choose from Powder Coat, the hand applied Artisan Premier or Anodized finishes. Every finish is formulated for extreme durability and resistance to heat. The glass is 1/4" thick fully tempered safety glass that comes with a lifetime warranty. Unlike most fireplace doors, you can burn your fire with the doors closed. The downside is that there are less design options than there are with steel doors and can only be made in square or rectangular shapes. Aluminum doors are pieced together, so there are seems in the corners. Most people do not mind this, but those who are looking for something more elegant may consider the pricier steel doors which have no seems.

Stock Size Aluminum Doors

These aluminum door models come in a variety of stock sizes that are available for quick assembly at the factory. Unlike other brands that make stock doors, because these are assembled to order, there are some custom options such as finish and mesh. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative and have a basic rectangular masonry fireplace, give us a call and we'll see if any of these will fit your fireplace. These doors also available completely custom made and are included in the Aluminum Custom Doors above.

Steel Doors

Design Specialties uses state of the are computerized machinery to make their steel doors. These doors are cut from a single solid sheet of 3/16" steel, so they are extremely heavy duty and there are no seems in the corners. Computerized laser cutting allows them to create virtually any shape or style of door frame, so if you do not see something here that you like, we can actually create your own design. There are more finish options with solid steel doors and more flexibility in the way doors can be made to fit odd circumstances or unique fireplaces. Steel doors are more expensive than aluminum doors because they require more hands on craftsmanship, but if your fireplace is the focal point in your room and you want a high quality door that truly compliments your decor, then a steel door might be for you.

Fireplace Barn Doors

Sliding doors that work like a barn door are the latest rage when it comes to fireplace doors. These unique fireplace doors are made using the same concept of a barn door that slides on rollers. The barn door design concept fits in perfectly with today's ever widening variety of home decor styles from steam punk to modern craftsman and all kinds of retro modern mixes. The Hudson Roller Door from Design Specialties captures the essence of craftsman style because it really is hand crafted in a rustic iron look. The Moderne Roller and Odyssey Roller both take the barn door fireplace doors into the realm of contemporary style. The Hudson Roller door can also be made with a flat wire mesh if you are looking for a Barn Door Fireplace Screen without glass.

Forged Fireplace Doors

Our forged series of doors takes the steel door to a different level. Some of these doors require a skilled blacksmith to create the look and textures that you see. Doors like these look best on rock or brick fireplaces, although when done in the right finish, will flatter a marble or tile fireplace just as well. These doors are pricier than our other steel doors because of level of craftsmanship required to make them.

Arched Fireplace Doors

Although almost any of the steel doors we have can be made with an arch, we have a few here for you to see. If you have an arched fireplace opening, we will tell you how to make a template that we will use to make your door. We can also make an arched door that fits a rectangular fireplace without the need for a template. The Buckingham and Black Rock are examples of these because they have a wider frame that can cover a rectangular opening.

Corner Fireplace Doors

Most of the doors you see on our site can also be made for corner fireplaces. Every corner fireplace is different and some have more limitations than others when it comes to how a fireplace door can be made or installed. Send us some pictures of your fireplace and we will let you know what the limitations are.

Specialty Items

Here are some other items that we would be happy to discuss with you. Please call for details about these items: 1-800-201-11936

Custom Vent Covers and Louvers

If you have a heatilator type fireplace with vents or louvers in to the masonry, we can custom make vent covers and louvers in the same style and finish as your fireplace door for a more complete elegant look. (Call for Details)

Vent Covers

Louvers

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Why Use Fireplace Glass Doors?

When you have a fire, often times you leave the damper open all night and your chimney acts like a vacuum sucking the heat right out of your house. Once the fire dies out, the process is reversed and cold are rushes into your home the rest of the night. It's worse than leaving a window open in the dead of winter. Who would do that? Closing your fireplace doors as your fire starts dying out reduces prevents this from happening and and minimizes the heat loss from your chimney, which saves lots of energy and lowers hour heating bill.

Important Information about Fireplace Glass Doors!

Before you begin shopping for fireplace doors, you need to know if you have a masonry or zero clearance fireplace (also called "ZC" or prefabricated fireplaces). Because masonry fireplaces are built from non-combustible materials that insulate the fireplace from the rest of your home, there are no special requirements for the doors to keep the firebox cool. However, zero clearance fireplace, often referred to as prefabricated or prefab fireplaces, have special requirements that must be met in order to keep the fireplace cool and safe. So it is critical to know which type of fireplace you have before you purchase glass doors. You can read more about this here: Fireplace Doors: Masonry - vs - ZC. However, before you buy a fireplace door anywhere, we recommend you call and speak with one of our fireplace door experts. Call: 1-800-201-1193. Below are some links to more helpful information about fireplace doors.

Fireplace Door Resources:

1. FREE Fireplace Door Design Service
2. Finish Samples
3. Masonry - vs - Zero Clearance
4. Fireplace Doors FAQs
5. Fireplace Door Photo Gallery
6. How To Measure
7. Avoid Common Mistakes
8. Doors for Rock Fireplaces
9. Design Your Own Brookfield
10. Design Your Own Legend
11. About Portland Willamette
12. About Design Specialties
13. Design Specialties Warranty
14. Zero Clearance Size Chart