Local prefab fireplace repair for Lockwood homes

Caring for tempered door glass

Tempered door glass is tough within limits. One maker says its glass withstands a gradual temperature rise beyond what a normal fire produces, and that the glass must warm slowly and evenly. It warns against letting flames touch the glass and against slamming or striking the doors.

Cleaning takes the same care. The manual calls for a commercial glass cleaner or soap and water, no abrasives and no cool water on glass that is still hot. Cracked or chipped glass is replaced with the maker's part before the doors go back into use.

Why chimney parts from different makers stay apart

One maker's warranty states that certain of its products are listed for use only with specified chimney systems, and that using chimney components other than those specified in the product manual voids the warranty.

Pipe sections from different makers can look alike and still differ in diameter, joint design and spacing between walls. We match every replacement section to the system already in your house by brand and series, and tell you if the existing chimney is itself a mix.

• Same maker as the existing system
• Same series and diameter
• Same joint design
• A note if the chimney is already mixed

Decorative tops on metal chimneys

Decorative shrouds dress up the top of a metal chimney. Sections R1004.3 and R1005.2 of the residential code permit a shroud at the top of a factory-built chimney only if it carries a listing and label for that exact system and goes on the way its maker instructs.

An unlisted shroud can trap heat and change how the chimney drafts. If your house has one, we check for its listing, and if there is none, we explain the options for replacing it with a listed top.

A cracked firebox floor panel

The floor panels of a factory-built firebox carry the grate, the fire and the ash, and they take the knocks from logs and tools. Cracks there often show before the side panels wear.

One maker divides the floor into bottom rear and bottom front panels, so a cracked front piece can sometimes be replaced alone. We check both before ordering.

• Bottom front panel
• Bottom rear panel
• Grate position over the floor
• Retainers along the edges