Fireplace screen seal

[Frank]

I just installed a pre-fab fireplace screen-- glass doors/screen/ metal frame. One of my objectives in doing this was to control air flow into the fireplace. The metal frame does not fit exactly flush with the brick exterior leaving some space for air to come in. Ideally, I would like to use some sort of fire-proof calking to seal the frame to the brick from the inside. Is there such a product??? Any recommendations. Thanks

[Ralph Mowery]

Is the glass rated to be closed while the fire is in use ? Many fireplace glass doors must be open while the fire is burning.

[Michael Strickland]

As mentioned by another poster, you should make sure that the glass is rated to handle being closed while burning before you close them while burning a fire. According to the instructions I've seen with glass doors, they are more for show than anything else. They can be closed when the fire has died back, but are not intended for controlling the size of the fire. Claims of stopping air flow up the flue during the off season are probably exaggerated since the panels (at least on any glass doors I've seen) do not form an airtight seal.

As to filling the crack, you can use the caulking material (don't recall the product name offhand) designed for wood stoves. It comes in a regular caulking gun tube and is as easy to apply as normal caulk. Since winter is approaching, I would think that you can find it at most home improvement stores - it's a seasonal item in some of them I found out (I found it in the paint dept with the rest of the caulk during the off season). Just ask for the stuff to seal a wood stove - and don't let the idiot get away with showing you the fiberglass rope/strips, although, if the crack is wide, you might consider putting some of that material into the crack before caulking.

Mike

Later, Mike

[tgilb]

I routinely need to remove my fireplace doors to clean the box and chimney. Would be difficult to do if caulked in place.