Fireplace Doors: Cabinet VS Bi-Fold

Depending on the appearance and functionality you would like from your fireplace – it’s crucial to know what kind of fireplace door that you want. Not only does the appearance of the door matter, but so does the look of the glass. Cabinet and Bi-Fold doors both have different qualities to them that make it important to know exactly what you are looking for.

Bi-fold fireplace doors are made of a pair of doors that each house two panes of glass and open like a closet. These doors are great for homes with small children – they are difficult for small hands to open. Bi-fold doors are also available with a tracked or trackless frame. Tracked doors open similar to closet doors. They are also the most preferred – when opening they don’t fold back completely, which means that they won’t break if your fireplace has a rough or uneven surface.
Trackless doors open like closet doors, but can then be folded over onto themselves to give you a wider view of your fire. Also -thanks to the way they open -trackless doors are much easier to clean.

Although Bi-Fold doors will help to keep you warm during the chilly months, cabinet fireplace doors are much more energy efficient. Each door only has one pane, meaning there are fewer seams for any air to escape from. This style of door can fully swing open 180 degrees, and have much easier pull handles than Bi-Fold Doors. Many people prefer this style of fireplace doors because of their elegant and simple look.

When choosing your fireplace door, you will also have the option of purchasing a mesh screen. There are two different types of mesh screens – mesh doors and mesh curtains. Mesh doors open very easily; however, you can’t get a clear view of the fire unless you open them completely. With mesh screens, you can slide the screens easily to the side to get a better view of your fire. Both serve the same purpose – keeping hot ash from escaping the fire and from items entering your fire when the glass doors are open. Choosing the right screen for you depends on how you would prefer to view your fire.

Here are a few short video clips to give you a better idea of how Bi-Fold and Cabinet style doors function:

Bi-Fold Tracked

Bi-Fold Trackless

Cabinet