It often happens that the initial project of a fireplace, which is complex in a house, does not withstand operation due to the fact that some features of fire safety are not taken into account. In particular, today it is strongly discouraged to use fireplace complexes with an open source of flame. In addition, fireplaces with an open hearth are much more difficult to keep clean and in addition, such a fireplace becomes a source of soot for the whole house, especially if it is melted when the temperature outside the window is not low enough. Therefore, many people ask to repair the fireplace - to cut in the door and make the firebox closed.

There are many subtleties behind the apparent simplicity of the task, which we will talk about today.

Step 1. Preparatory stage

Initially, it is necessary to measure the width of the fireplace insert. The fact is that the industry does not produce glass doors wider than 70 cm in width. Such heat-resistant glass will be quite heavy and the jamb of the masonry or the cassette of the fireplace may not withstand, especially if you often overheat the fireplace with frequent use. Therefore, stove-makers try to make the opening no wider than 50 - 55 cm. It is for this opening in any specialized store that you can purchase a door for the firebox.

The appearance of the door.

For a complete repair of the fireplace, we need:

• "Grinder" with a cut-off wheel for ceramics;
• asbestos thread 3 meters long;
• oven mixture;
• building level;
• fastening tape.

Step 2. Determine the scope of work

We were very lucky that the furnace opening turned out to be somewhat of the predetermined door width, this will allow us to make the necessary grooves to insert the door in the right place.

First of all, we remove the glass from the door to avoid unforeseen situations. Most often, this operation can be performed by removing the hold down bolts on the back of the door. Then, with an assistant, we attach the door to the edge of the fireplace so that it covers the entire surface of the firebox. And draw a cutting line with a pencil.

The arch laid out in the original version will add some work and, in addition, a very beautiful decorative element, therefore our task is not to spoil this decor element and insert the fire door as harmoniously as possible.

Step 3. Making a groove

If you can think of the dirtiest and dustiest job, then cutting bricks in an enclosed space is exactly that. Usually one worker thins the seam, and the other pours water into the groove, but the power of the "grinder" was not enough, so it was necessary to do it dry.

We start to groove.

The fire door, which we ordered in order to be inserted into the fireplace.

A prerequisite for work - the worker making the seam must work in glasses and a respirator.

We make a groove along the entire length of the perimeter and to the depth of the door thickness, periodically checking the depth of the seam with a file for cutting metal.

After the perimeter seam has been passed, we make a second cut from the inside of the furnace in order to remove part of the brick and the firebox door would snap into place. The places where the brick was chipped are trimmed with a chisel.

Step 5. Insert the door

After the groove is completely prepared, we lean the door against the edges of the firebox. Ideally, if she completely fell into place. However, it often happens that somewhere the required thickness has not been cut or a part of the brick has not been removed in the corner. Therefore, we remove all such minor flaws manually.

The oven door is being pre-adjusted.

Pay attention to the worker's face, it is all covered in brick dust, if you work without a respirator, it will all be in your lungs.

After the door is installed and its panelka is exactly pressed against the masonry, we proceed to work on fixing it to the walls of the fireplace.

We fasten the fastening tape to the door. We make at least four fasteners, the most ideal if you do this with steel rivets.

After the fasteners are ready, we knead the oven mixture for laying the mortar.

We prepare so much solution that we can work out in half an hour of work. Be sure to stir it with a "mixer" for solutions, the revolutions should be sufficient so that there are no large lumps of unmixed mixture left.

We take an asbestos cord and dip it into the oven mixture solution. Then we carefully wrap it around the perimeter of the firebox.

We wrap the fire door with an asbestos-impregnated cord.

We make a couple of full turns and try to make the cord seem to turn into a single whole, for this we tap it with a rubber mallet.

We insert the door into place, fasten it to the ceramic dowels, and groove the cord in the places where it is necessary to create the perfect tightness of the entire firebox.

A noticeable seam has formed on the left, which must be “cut through”.

Slotting is best with a regular screwdriver, periodically adjusting the thickness of the tip.

Everything, after all the seams are pierced with an asbestos rope with a solution of the oven mixture, we let the solution grab and after a couple of days we make a trial, short-term firebox. We look at the tightness and determine the places where smoke can come out.

The only drawback of this work was the insufficient hole for the blower, it had to be increased with the help of a perforator. It took us three hours to complete the repair of the fireplace (installing the glass door), I hope that you will succeed as well!

In the operation of stoves and fireplaces, fire safety is considered a priority. Fireplace doors allow you to protect yourself from accidental sparks and coals that got into the room from the firebox. And if they regulate the intensity of fuel combustion and draft in stoves, then they are arranged in fireplaces to protect against fire. It should be visible, otherwise the essence of the hearth will disappear. Since it heats the room, and also makes it possible to admire the living fire.

Doors: construction

To create a panoramic effect, glass doors are used around the perimeter, surrounded by a metal frame, in which an insulation gasket is located. In fact, it is a transparent ceramic, therefore, it can withstand heating up to 800 ˚C. The configuration of the door depends on the style of the cabinet, while it occupies a large or the entire front area of ​​the firebox.

Glass comes in different sizes: medium, small, large. In this case, geometric shapes are made as follows:

• rectangular;
• arched;
• trapezoidal;
• flat or convex;
• round, oval.

Closing the doors with glass is also possible in various versions. Among them, the most convenient:

• double hinged (two doors in the middle are connected, hung on the hinges on the sides);
• swing (one flap is on the side hinges);
• close up vertically.

Structurally, and fireplaces can consist of one or more interconnected rigid parts. Each of them is installed in the sash, pre-framed with a seal. Panoramic glasses are the most convenient for observing the flame. They are not divided into parts and are practically equal in area to the dimensions of the sash. A similar design is suitable for a large fireplace in a country house, which is equipped with a chimney structure.

Operation of doors

If your fireplace runs on wood, then soot begins to settle on its walls over time. The situation is aggravated by coniferous logs by the fact that they actively emit resin. On the walls, they settle in the form of soot. Consequently, fireplace doors become cloudy and dirty. To combat this phenomenon, a self-cleaning system has been created.

It is an air curtain created by the flow of air through the slot. It hits the upper part cold and goes down. Thus, the glass door does not need to be cleaned.

Wrought iron doors

It should be noted that the same requirements are now imposed on the materials of the shutters, regardless of the shape of the fireplace body. If it has an angular shape, and the sash is shaped, the metal can make up its main part. For this, cast iron or refractory steel is used, and glasses in this version have the form of a stained-glass window. That makes it possible to combine glass of various textures and tints.

The door for the floor must always be closed to prevent further ignition of the floor. If a biofireplace is used (this is typical for an apartment), then it is made from the same materials: metal and glass ceramics. Fittings of various types of sashes usually include handles, which can be removable, hinged hinges, locking mechanisms, fasteners.

Metal door

Today it is very common to see fireplaces, the doors of which are made of thermal glass. The first door was made of metal. The difference between such structures is that they could not be integral. An important feature is also the shape of the doors. The point in this case is that the fireplace was able to heat the room solely due to thermal radiation, which required an open hearth.

The advantages of metal doors include their visual appeal. There are several disadvantages. In such doors, there is practically no protection against the resulting smoke. In addition, they will obscure the view of the fire, thereby depriving it of its special charm. Fireproof metal fireplace doors also differ from others in that they prevent heat radiation. And this is not particularly welcomed by the owners of the house. Although the doors do not interfere very much, since the metal can heat up and then give off a little heat to the room.

Glass fireplace doors

Glass is a very fashionable material today. It became widespread in the twentieth century. And the appearance completely changed the views on the design of the fireplace. This new material made it possible to observe the flames. In addition, it became possible to control the combustion, supplement it, change it, without checking each time by constantly opening the doors.

Among the glass fireboxes, one can see facades of different nature: convex, prismatic, angular, three- and two-sided - whatever the consumer chooses. They will not hide the flame from the eyes at all, but quite the opposite - they can increase the viewing angle.

Glass types

Today glass fireplace doors have become so popular that several varieties have appeared among them.

Strained glass

It is made from simple glass by tempering: it is heated to a temperature that causes softening, after which it is very quickly cooled. Due to such painstaking work, glass is able to acquire the characteristics that are necessary. Resistance to high temperatures (400 degrees) appears. In addition, along with this parameter, resistance to various mechanical damage arises. This figure is 2.5 times higher than that of a simple glass coating.

Quartz glass

It is made from silica (quartz or sand), not glass. Other impurities are not added at all, or at a minimum. Such glass has the most elementary composition, but the production technology is highly complex. It has a very high melting point, which makes it difficult to process and process. But today it is increasingly used in the manufacture of fireplace doors. It is due to the high efforts that were invested in the production that this glass has a high price, being considered one of the most expensive.

Borosilicate glass

This glass is made from a large amount of silica with the obligatory addition of boron oxide. This chemical element is famous for being able to provide a low melting point, which means that the glass will have plasticity. The finished product is capable of having a high degree of heat resistance (about 800 degrees). In addition, it will be endowed with a special mechanical strength, 5 times higher than that of ordinary glass. That is why fireplace doors are so often made from it.

Making doors

These works are not very difficult, therefore, they can also be performed by a non-professional. You do not need specific skills and knowledge. Production takes place in this order:

1. According to the required parameters, a corner is cut out, which is laid out on an absolutely flat surface. Then it is inserted into the mold.
2. The uniformity and correctness of the connections is checked using a square.
3. The joints of the elements are fixed to each other by welding.
4. Residues of welding are cleaned.
5. A frame is installed on a metal sheet, and door contour marks are also made on the sheet.
6. If the metal is about 2mm thick, then you don't need to weld a separate frame. Now its size is drawn - a little more than the internal one. The sheet will overlap, so it can protect the room from smoke.
7. The metal element is also cut out with a grinder.
8. The curtains are welded to the frame, after which a previously prepared element is exposed. Then the accuracy of the placement of the curtains is checked, as well as their further tacking to the metal.
9. The weld bead is removed, after which the handle is attached.

Now it is clear that it is quite possible to make a door with your own hands. Anyone can make this product. At the same time, it can be operated for a very long time.

Summing up, it can be noted that any type of doors is good in its own way. Materials for fireplaces are selected depending on the conditions of their operation. Therefore, this is the responsibility of the fireplace manufacturer.

It would seem that the fireplace doors are not the main thing in the arrangement of the hearth, but this is far from the case. It is by no means unimportant how they will look against the background of the overall design of the heating structure.

Advantages of fireplaces with a closed hearth

Let's find out why special doors are installed in the fireplace? Of course, traditionally, this hearth was installed without any closing devices, but over time, the heating structure was improved and began to be supplemented with doors that perform several functions.

The most significant in this case is the protection of the premises from sparks and flue combustion products (soot and soot) that are dangerous in terms of ignition. In addition, the presence of doors creates a guarantee of a more reasonable use of firewood, and residual coals in a closed fireplace insert burn out more fully. Based on this, a closed hearth creates more heat at exactly the same fuel consumption as an open hearth.

If necessary, you can transform the fireplace into an additional object for heating the room. To do this, forced convection is performed in the house, or a special tank is connected to the hearth, which, in turn, will be connected to radiators. We must say right away that it is unlikely that it will be possible to heat large areas due to such a device, but in the country house the fireplace will be just in place.

Features of fireplace doors

There are some features to consider when choosing fireplace doors:

1. - air must flow freely into the furnace of the device. the door should be used as a subject for traction control and full combustion of fuel,
2. - the protection function is considered an important task of any fireplace doors. That is, they should not affect the occurrence of a fire in the house,
3. - materials for the manufacture of doors should be characterized by increased heat resistance.

Modern industry produces a lot of new, improved devices that meet these requirements at the highest level. In some, a hole is made through which air enters the firebox of the hearth. Many materials are used for the manufacture of doors.

Glass constructions

The most famous is the version of glass doors, since this device performs two functions: decorative and protective. Since the glass is transparent, a view of live fire will open through it. special glass is used for this, it is fireproof, so no ignition will occur with such contact.

To perform such a device, glass is used, which includes quartz or crystal ceramics. Thus, glass doors have high indicators of fire resistance and protection. Due to them, it turns out to maintain the combustion procedure in an optimal mode and provide full access of oxygen to the fuel combustion zone.

The glass for the fireplace is on sale

1. flat (one glass);
2. segmented (three glasses);
3. circular (for central fireplaces).

Generally, raising the temperature in the home is considered an additional function of the fireplace. Today there are many more efficient heating options. But in terms of decoration, this hearth has no equal. Thus, the glass door for the fuel chamber is considered an excellent opportunity to provide a complete home decor. The latest methods for the implementation of heating equipment allow at a high level:

• - fireplace doors can be laminated or tinted,
• - there are combined devices made of glass and metal. Mosaic, art forging and casting are used as decoration,
• - a special device that helps to open the door like a guillotine.

Nevertheless, such a fireplace door also has certain imperfections; it will soon get dirty and covered with soot. True, this drawback is solved: the design of the fireplace is made with a soot burning system, which simply burns out during operation.

When planning to make your own fireplace door with glass, please note that:

• since the material can expand during heating, a small gap is left between the glass and the metal frame;
• very carefully you need to treat the installation of the door. This is how the frame is first installed, and only after that the glass itself is inserted. Since the glass of the fireplace insert is fixed on special bolts, it will be quite easy to get it back;
• a layer of fiberglass is placed in the gaps between the frame and the glass.

Forged and cast doors

The manufacture of a fireplace door is often carried out using casting or steel. Cast iron, as a material, is used for casting, and steel for forging. This is an intermediate option between glass and blind elements. A similar item is most often used to decorate the hearth, rather than as the main functional tool. After it is ready, it is treated with special enamel, thus, it turns out to extend the service life of the structure.

Metal doors

Let's take a closer look at how you can make metal doors on your own. Such material is considered the most acceptable both in terms of price and durability. Such devices are distinguished by their simplicity and safety of operation; they can be used by their owner for a long time.

You can find a design solution on the Internet, there are many photos and videos on this topic. Instructions for making a fireplace door will be given below.

Fireplace doors of this type are distinguished by their positive characteristics:

• low material cost;
• the likelihood of making it yourself, which will significantly reduce the price of the device;
• a metal fireplace door represents this durable and reliable device;
• considered a good heat accumulator, equipped with the ability to regulate the draft and flame height.

Tools and materials

Let's list the list of tools and materials.
For self-production of fireplace doors, you will need

1. drill;
2. Bulgarian;
3. hammer;
4. welding at 220 V.
5. corner;
6. sheet metal;
7. a pen;
8. gate valve;
9. veils.

The dimensions of the material at the stage of preparation and implementation of the project, you must calculate and put on paper as accurately as possible.

Making a door

Since the work is not very difficult, you can do it on your own. Note that the fireplace door must be made in advance, even before the installation of the fireplace itself. The frame with fireproof glass is built into the fireplace masonry during its execution.

1. Spreads the material on a flat surface and mark the desired outlines.
2. We control the accuracy of joints using a square.
3. We fix by welding the joints of the constituent parts.
4. After welding is done, it is imperative to very accurately measure the diagonal. The body you make must have a strict geometric shape.
5. Only after all measurements have been completed, the remaining elements of the fireplace frame are welded.
6. During welding, nodules can form on the surface of the frame, which are removed with a grinder and a grinding wheel.
7. Next, the frame is laid on a metal sheet and a contour is drawn, for which a special scribe is used.
8. Provided that the sheet thickness is two or more millimeters, you do not need to cook a separate frame. After you mark the path for the first time, you will need to draw a second path, but no longer than the first. The metal should overlap the corner, so that volatile combustion products will not enter the room.
9. With the help of a grinder and a cutting wheel, a separate element is cut out.
10. The curtains are welded to the fireplace frame.
11. We carefully examine the frame for the correct installation of the curtains.
12. We weld the curtains to the sheet.
13. We open and close the door, thus checking how the fireplace door functions.
14. We eliminate weld beads. We fix the handle and latch.

To summarize, making a frame on your own is a completely simple procedure. Any user with some construction skills can make such a door. As a result, you will get a wonderful fixture for your fireplace.

The main goal and task in the design of our fireplace doors is a painless and quick revision of fully finished, lined, commissioned open fireplaces. The design of each door and its fastening are individual, specially developed for a specific sample of a fireplace, stove, facing options, sizes, shapes, depths, and therefore the installation of a finished product takes only 15-20 minutes. At the same time, the external finish appearance of the surface is not disturbed and no changes are made to the overall design of the fireplace, which makes it possible to easily dismantle the door and return the previous appearance of the open fireplace.

As you can see in this photo, in what a deplorable state the fireplace door came during the construction of the fireplace itself by the stove-maker.

Not all stove-makers manage to pack the door well to protect it from dirt and dust.

It is impossible to cover the door close to the metal with a brick; it is necessary to maintain a gap of 3-4 mm. for laying a heat-resistant cord that will compensate for the thermal expansion of the metal. All this time, the heavy door (~ 20-25 kg.) Will somehow be fixed on the garters and therefore can easily fall or be accidentally hit by a tool, stained with solution, a lot of dust will get into the heat-resistant grease of the awnings. But the most important thing is that there is a high probability of breaking expensive glass (glass ceramics), so it is more correct to put the door in a ready-made fireplace.

One of the indisputable advantages of a closed fireplace over an open one is protection against the penetration of cold air with soot from the chimney into the room (reverse draft), as well as the loss of warm air from the room into the chimney during direct draft. Also, in the winter season, the warm and humid air that goes into the chimney from the room condenses and freezes in the form of frost, snow, ice on the inner walls of the chimney, it is even possible to completely overlap the lumen of the chimney, which will lead to a lack of draft, after which it is safe to ignite the fire and without smoke it will not work, as well as FORBIDDEN!

Our doors are sealed, the penetration of smoke into the room is excluded, provided that the rules for opening the door and correct draft into the chimney are observed, smoke emissions are also not possible.

It is categorically not recommended to use tempered glass for the door of a fireplace or stove, in 90% of cases such glass does not withstand the operating temperature inside the firebox and thus can cause irreparable damage to you.

How to protect yourself from buying a product with tempered glass, the first sign is the low price of the door, in pursuit of cheapness, many buy such doors and as a result, glass that is designed for operating temperatures up to 250C bursts at the most inopportune moment. And here it remains once again to remember that the miser pays twice. Correct heat-resistant glass or glass-ceramic has a golden or yellowish tint at the end of the cut.

It is known that in the simplest classification, all fireplaces are divided into open and closed devices. In addition to various technical nuances, the main distinguishing feature is the fireplace door. To emphasize its functional purpose, we will carry out a comparative analysis of some features of the operation of fireplaces of two different types.

Closed fireplaces are always associated with steel or cast iron models, which have implemented new technologies for the efficient use of the released energy. But, despite this, classic fireplaces with an open firebox are not inferior to their popularity and occupy a certain niche among their consumers.

In addition, such a fireplace arrangement provides some distinctive advantages. First of all, it is a living flame, which can be observed directly, admiring the magical dances of fiery tongues.

Furnace store assortment

The fireplace is a source of heat, and it does not matter how much of it is used to heat the room. Heat from an open structure is generated using infrared radiation. Such energy is believed to be more useful than heat from convection. Open fire can be adapted for additional purposes. They cook food on it, modernizing the device of the fireplace, and not the least important distinctive advantage is that an open fireplace is able to quickly warm up the owner who came from the street.

Naturally, such a fireplace has a lot of disadvantages, which are used by the designers of closed types of fireplaces. The efficiency of a fireplace with an open hearth is slightly more than 20%. With such a heat dissipation, it is impossible to rely on a fireplace as a serious source of heat. Even during its operation, the device is not capable of storing energy. This means that immediately after the firewood burns out, the fireplace will stop heating the room. The low degree of fire protection, especially in the presence of children, must not be overlooked. Sparks from wood often fly out of the firebox and can cause trouble.

Finished construction

Decor and other functions of the fireplace door

Against the background of the shortcomings of an open firebox, the fireplace door is just a miraculous salvation from all of the listed shortcomings. Even though the flame is hidden behind the glass door of the firebox, you can continue to admire it through the transparent glass. Everyone knows about the decorative functions of closed fireboxes, so let's go straight to technical issues.

A closed firebox allows you to install a water circuit in the fireplace, and this is already a prerequisite for the full use of the fireplace as a heat-generating device, moreover, the main one.

Due to the special design of the door, slow burning technology can be used. By regulating the air supply, they achieve a better combustion of the fuel, therefore, an increase in efficiency. By installing protection, you can rest assured about safety, even if children are playing in the room.

Classic fireplace design

Self-production

Does it make sense to focus on such an obvious fact as the variety of models, and the fact that today various types of fireplaces are widely represented, in particular, with closed fireboxes, can be observed without conducting special research, but simply by going to the store. These are free-standing fireplaces and built-in fireplaces. But each owner is interested in installing and making the door with improvised means.

This procedure is quite feasible, only for this you have to show imagination, patience, purchase material and acquire the necessary tool.

Simple metal construction

Glass option

The most popular models are glass doors. They are quite functional and will allow you to open the firebox space for a panoramic view of the wood burning process. The device of such a door is based on the fact that a special quartz glass for a fireplace, which has high heat resistance, is mounted on a metal frame. Glass is fixed in a special recess, it is necessary to immediately provide for the possibility of its dismantling and maintain a certain gap between the glass and the frame to ensure expansion.

A self-made fireplace door with glass should provide protection, visibility, access to the firebox. In addition, a homemade design must have an aesthetic appearance.

The simplest type of firebox design

• Before making a frame, you must correctly remove its dimensions. The entire door should fit tightly into the fireplace opening. It is better to take a stock of 2 mm when determining the dimensions. If necessary, with the help of a grinder, it will be possible to distribute the fireplace window to the desired degree.
• The frame is assembled from a metal corner. To comply with the geometry, it is necessary to carry out all work on a flat plane. The sides of the frame cut to size are tacked by welding. After that, you need to check the right angles and compare the diagonals. Only after making sure of the correctness of the design, you can scald all the seams. Then the welding places are processed with a grinder.
• The glass will be attached to the frame by means of bolts that are screwed into the corner along the plane. Thus, these bolts only keep the glass from falling out of the frame, but do not fix it rigidly. The condition for thermal expansion is met.
• A similar frame is welded from the same corner, which will play the role of an external lintel for the door. This frame is adorned with a decorative frame around the perimeter. Depending on the style of the fireplace finishing material, the door frame can be made of artificial forging elements or metal plates.
• The door and lintel are connected by means of awnings. With sufficiently accurate calculations, the dimensions of the lintel are slightly larger than the opening, as it should be. Mark with a pencil the borders of the lintel on the wall of the fireplace and cut out a recess using a grinder and a cutting wheel.

Adding forged elements to the door

• The door is inserted into the resulting recess. But before this step, the glass must be removed to avoid damage. The lintel frame is wrapped from the outside with an asbestos cord and coated with a heat-resistant adhesive solution. In order for the cord to enter the opening, it will have to be pushed in with a screwdriver. This work is painstaking, therefore it is necessary to choose an adhesive composition with low adhesion properties. An asbestos cord is needed as a seal so that heat does not escape from the firebox through the gaps.
• Only after the glue has dried can the glass be replaced. Once you have inserted a glass door into your fireplace, you can think of a lock and handle. Although this stage can be carried out at the very beginning of the installation. The metal parts of the door should be painted over with a special heat-resistant paint. It will have to be applied in several layers to hide irregularities after processing the welds.

Metal

Rarely, but still there are models in which the door is completely deaf. Its construction technology is exactly the same as that of glass, but instead of glass, an iron sheet is used.

After the frame is made, the material is cut to the dimensions of the inner part. However, some overlap should be added to them so that the sheet overlaps the frame, forming places for welding.

Forged

Real forging is very expensive, so you can use an imitation of it. But since the structure will not turn out to be so strong, it should be created on the basis of a frame. For this, two corners are used. The frame will not turn out to be solid, but only representing the lower part of the door and the one to which the hinges will be attached.

Forged doors are usually made in the form of double hinged doors. Forging elements are welded onto the created frame. The main thing is that they are identical in pairs on two doors. Such fireplace doors will not hold up the flying coals, and this should be constantly remembered.