How to Retrofit a Fireplace

You can retrofit, or add a new element, to an aging brick fireplace in many ways. Some methods, such as installing a fireplace insert, require considerable knowledge and skill and are best left to the professionals. A simpler way to add a new and compelling element to your hearth, however, is to cover the opening with a glass door. A safety feature that prevents sparks from escaping the firebox, a glass door also installs easily with only a few simple tools.

Lintel clamps
Phillips head screwdriver
Brackets
Glass door
Felt tip pen
Drill
Lag shield
Fiberglass insulation
Socket wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Attach the the lintel clamps to the the back of the glass door. Screw them in place with a Phillips head screwdriver.
- 2
  Screw the two brackets into their slots at the bottom of the doors.
- 3
  Place the door frame over the fireplace and align it flush with the opening.
- 4
  Take a felt tip pen and mark the bricks where the brackets contact the floor.
- 5
  Remove the door frame from the fireplace opening. Drill 2-inch deep holes at the marks.
- 6
  Hammer a lag shield, or lead anchor, into each of the holes you made at the bracket marks.
- 7
  Place the fiberglass insulation that came from the manufacturer onto the frame. Fit the insulation into the gaps or indentations around the back of the door. Ensure that the insulation fits snugly onto the frame, with none sticking out.
- 8
  Place the door flush over the fireplace opening. Reach into the opening and screw the brackets on the floor into the lag shields. Tighten them securely with a socket wrench.
- 9
  Position the clamps at the top of the doors over the lintel, a metal bar that runs along the top of the fireplace opening. Tighten the screws until the clamps fit firmly against the bar.

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