I opted out, but wish I had bought them...We have a Napoleon. There are some really pretty doors out there...we just didn't want to spend the extra $ for something that really didn't do anything...and plus, I guess they get really hot too, but then again, so does the glass! I do think they are aesthetically pleasing.

Are you talking glass doors vs. just the single glass that usually comes with a gas fire place? Or are you talking no glass/doors at all?

Ah, now I see what you're talking about in a Napoleon brochure--with doors--not clear that they open or are just decorative. And even open fps. I saw one in a client's home. She was very happy. To me, it's like staring at your oven gas burner close up--if you like that sort of thing.

carolyn, I'm talking about either having glass doors--the bi-fold ones--or only having a screen with the gas logs. Thoughts? The problem I am having is that the builder didn't know I was supposed to have glass doors even though it is in the specs and in the plans, and the fireplace has been build already and the doors we spec'd won't fit. So we either have to have custom doors, no doors, or take the stone down and make them fit.

Thank you!

The supposed reason for glass doors used to be to keep heat from within the house from going up the flue. We added glass doors to a wood-burning fireplace for that reason. I never liked the look and it was a pain to clean the doors.

I agree with worthy: The charm is gone for me by putting the flames behind glass.

One of the reasons that my husband wants glass doors is that he said it's easier to close the doors when the fire is out, than to keep opening and closing the flu (sp?). Also, if we someday have grandchildren, having doors there will keep the kids out of the fake ashes. The fireplace guy told us that when we have the gas fireplace turned on, the doors need to be kept open.

It sounds like you have a full chimney. Why can't you keep the doors closed when the fire place is turned on? I live in a cold climate so just about all of the fire places around here use outside air for combustion and don't need to draw air from the house for combustion which means the glass doors can be closed when the fireplace is being used. If you need to keep your doors open, then you must not use outside air. With kids, the biggest advantage of glass doors is being able to close the doors while the fireplace is in use--at worst they get a burn from the hot glass if they are playing around the fire place and happen to touch it. Screens are much more easily moved or tipped over. As chisue said, another advantage of the doors is (if you can close them while the fireplace is on) that you prevent conditioned air from going up the chimney. Good luck.

If this is a GAS fireplace you're talking about, there is no flue.

The fireplace guy told us that when we have the gas fireplace turned on, the doors need to be kept open.

Why?

If you are doing a masonry fireplace with a gas log set, you may be able to go without glass.

If you are buying a gas fireplace from Mendota, Napolean, etc., it will have a glass air barrier, and will be far more efficient as a heating appliance.

I have 5 direct vent gas fps, all have glass. 3 have metal doors and screens that close in front of the glass, making the glass less noticable. The screening also obscures the flames just enough to make them more like wood, IMO-- sort of like the old Holywood stars were always photographed through gauze.

I keep a glass and screen firescreen in front of one of the non-door models...

There are 2 types of gas fireplaces, vented and non vented, if you have gas logs then it’s a vented gas fireplace witch means it works like a wood burner and the damper has to remain open at all times, so this is what the glass doors are for to keep the draft out of your room when not in use, burning gas logs with the glass doors closed could cause them to explode or shatter, Glass doors must remain open on a vented fireplace

no glass you cannot hear the flames and the glass gets hot...burns your hand...

ugly.....im trying to find another one...

no

replace mine with only a screen , who does this i only want a set of regular gas logs to replace napoleon

I know this is an old question, but folks searching might benefit from my answer.

Glass doors on a fireplace that is vented to the outside have multiple purposes.

If you have children, kittens, puppies it can keep them out of the fireplace. We have had two of the mentioned get into the cold, dirty fireplace.

Most important, if you were to have a chimney fire, you can shut down the available oxygen and help put the fire out.

And also important, if you are vented to the outside, you can keep your glass doors shut to prevent bats from getting into your house.

The CDC recommends everyone in the family get rabies shot even if a bat is just flying around your ahouse because apparently you don't always feel a bite or scratch and it can happend during the night.

I don't like how the glass doors look but they do have a purpose.