Fireplace Doors Guide

Fireplace Doors - Terms and Definitions

Thursday, December 4, 2008 Posted by Marcus D
I was talking with an individual the other day about a rather technical subject that I didn't know much about. He rattled off some big words and even some acronyms like IAD and DPI and I simply did what anyone else would do; I nodded my head and pretended to know what he was talking about while at the same time making a mental note to myself to look up those big words in Wikipedia when i got back to the office. I suppose I could have interrupted him and asked him point blank to explain it in plain English but the conversation was already going on for about 5 minutes more than I could handle and I am slightly ADD. My point is; ignorance is not always bliss.

I prefer to have a basic understanding of the subject I am discussing so as not to come off like an idiot. I can do a good job of 'faking it till I make it' but that always feels like cheating. I could use my new phone to look up these words on the internet - it only takes about 30 seconds to get an entire encyclopedia entry for just about any word - but my wife clued me in that this behavior is rather annoying.

How does this apply to shopping for fireplace doors? I have found that when homeowners are shopping for fireplace doors there needs to be a bit of an education so the homeowner can make a good buying decision. The technical terms that we throw around the office as often as a beauty pageant contestant says "like such as" are not that common to the average person.

That's what this blog entry is all about. There are a host of technical terms related to fireplace doors peppered all over this site and in our webstore. This blog is going to aggregate all those terms with their definitions so that you can quickly educate yourself on the most common words and phrases.

Anodized Aluminum - Aluminum is a lightweight, yet strong material that can be extruded into many attractive and functional profiles. After the metal is extruded, it is anodized (an electrochemical process that gives the extrusion its color and durability). The coating on the surface of the aluminum is very durable and will not tarnish, even in salt-air climates.

Beveled Glass - Made by taking one-quarter inch-thick clear glass and creating a one-inch bevel on one side around the entire periphery. These bevels act as prisms in the sunlight creating an interesting color diffraction which highlights the glasswork and provides a spectrum of colors that would ordinarily be absent in clear float glass.

Bifold Fireplace Door - A door unit that contains a pair of doors that each houses two panes of glass. Bifold Fireplace Doors come in a "Tracked" version or a "Trackless" version.

Cabinet Style Fireplace Door - A door unit that houses a pair of doors that each contain one pane of glass. This style door can fully swing open 180 degrees.

Ceramic Glass
- Formed as a glass, and then made to crystallize partly by heat treatment. Unlike sintered ceramics, glass-ceramics have no pores between crystals. Ceramic Glass is used for wood stoves and for fireplace doors. It has a thermal shock resistance of 1400 degrees fahrenheit.

Clearance - The distance required by manufacturers and building codes between stove, connector pipe or chimney, and any combustible materials.

Damper - The mechanism on a fireplace door that controls the flow of combustion air into the firebox.

Door Stile - A metal frame that holds the glass in place. This metal frame is then attached the main frame of the fireplace door.

Extrusion - Aluminum profile shaped with a die under pressure and heat

Filigree - A decorative design that features a curvy motif. Used in some fireplace doors as a mask for a damper.

Firebox - This term refers to the box-like section of the fireplace that houses the fuel (wood for example) and where combustion takes place.

Fireplace Doors - As well as being a decorative feature, these serve the purpose of closing off the firebox when the fireplace is not in use, to ensure that heat is not lost through the vent or chimney. See more additional safety and efficiency benefits of fireplace doors.

Fireplace Insert - This is an insulated system with a pair of glass doors that can be installed onto the opening of the fireplace. This increases the temperature in the firebox - meaning the fire burns more slowly and efficiently. Inserts can come with fans included to blow the warmth into the room. These are particularly useful in wood burning fireplaces as the increased heat and slower burning means that there is a reduced amount of combustion by-products, such as smoke. This term is also used to describe any retrofit for fireplaces. This includes inserts to convert a wood burning fireplace into a gas fireplace.

Glass Doors - Doors attached to a fireplace to close off the opening of the hearth from the home to prevent heat from escaping up the chimney and prevent cold air from entering the home when the fireplace is not being used. See more additional safety and efficiency benefits of fireplace doors.

Glass Door Enclosures - A term used to refer to the doors attached to a fireplace to close off the opening of the hearth. See Fireplace Doors and Glass Doors.

Hearth - This is basically the floor of the fireplace where the grate would be positioned and is normally made from brick or stone. The term is also used as a general description of the firebox in fireplaces and stoves.

Heat Resistant Clear Finish - To prevent tarnish, all solid brass and plated brass finishes have been coated with a clear enamel which is baked on at high temperatures, forming a glass-like surface.

Lintel - Metal bar located at the top of a masonry fireplace that is used to support brick work above the firebox.

Masonry - This is a term that describes anything constructed of stone, brick or tiles. In respect to fireplaces structures: the mantel, hearth, surround and chimney are commonly made from these materials.

Mesh Curtain - A tempered steel woven wire which has been darkened to provide a black finish. Black mesh curtain is easier to see through, which permits better visibility of a burning fire, provides spark protection and allows some regulation of heat by opening and closing.

Mortar - These are the materials used to bond the stone, brick or tiles in masonry. It is normally made using lime and/or sand mixed with cement either on site or in the factory.

Prefabricated Fireplace - A factory-built fireplace that is constructed so that it can be placed safely, with close clearances to combustible materials. These types of fireplaces are typically found in newer homes and require a specific type of fireplace door. Also frequently referred to as a "prefab fireplace" or a "zero clearance fireplace".

Riser Bar - A piece of material that is attached to the bottom of a glass door enclosure to compensate for raised hearths.

Tempered Glass - Tempering is a process in which glass is heated and then rapidly cooled which allows it to resist thermal stress and significant impact. Each piece of glass can generally withstand a minimum temperature of up to 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit for sustained periods of time.

Zero Clearance Fireplace - A factory-built fireplace that is constructed so that it can be placed safely, with close clearances to combustible materials. These types of fireplaces are typically found in newer homes and require a specific type of fireplace door. Often referred to as a "prefabricated fireplace" or a "prefab fireplace."

This list is not exhaustive so feel free to leave a comment if there is a term that you are looking for a good definition on.

0 comments:

Post a Comment