ᐅ Fireplace – Recessing Fire-Resistant Glass into Hardwood Flooring
Created on: 19 May 2016 23:40
M
merlin83
Hello,
I want to create the fire protection zone around the stove insert using a glass plate that will rest on parquet flooring installed lower than the surrounding floor level. The glass plate should be recessed into the floor so that its top edge is flush with the surrounding floor surface. The screed installer should take the thickness of the glass plate (approximately 12mm (0.5 inches)?) into account. This means the parquet flooring will be installed about 12mm (0.5 inches) lower.
Has anyone here done something like this and can offer advice on important considerations? In particular, I’m interested in the following points:
What type of glass plate did you choose (construction/structure)?
How are the edges of the glass plate finished?
What gap did you leave between the parquet and the glass plate?
Thank you in advance for helpful tips.
Best regards,
Merlin
I want to create the fire protection zone around the stove insert using a glass plate that will rest on parquet flooring installed lower than the surrounding floor level. The glass plate should be recessed into the floor so that its top edge is flush with the surrounding floor surface. The screed installer should take the thickness of the glass plate (approximately 12mm (0.5 inches)?) into account. This means the parquet flooring will be installed about 12mm (0.5 inches) lower.
Has anyone here done something like this and can offer advice on important considerations? In particular, I’m interested in the following points:
What type of glass plate did you choose (construction/structure)?
How are the edges of the glass plate finished?
What gap did you leave between the parquet and the glass plate?
Thank you in advance for helpful tips.
Best regards,
Merlin
I’m not sure if the chimney inspector would approve of something that can be easily removed all the time. I can only say that we’ve already had glowing embers fall out twice, and a normal wood (or similar) floor covering would have been ruined. Of course, the house wouldn’t catch fire from that, but the floor in that area would definitely need to be replaced.
A single-piece granite slab also has its charm. But it’s certainly not cheap either.
Well-installed wood-look tiles are hard to distinguish from real parquet flooring without expert knowledge. Everyone assumes we have parquet until they touch the tiles with their hands. Even the chimney inspector was fooled by it because he still wanted to delay us with an extra floor slab.
Unfortunately, it’s still relatively cold in winter despite the underfloor heating, as modern houses simply don’t need to heat up as much anymore *G*
A single-piece granite slab also has its charm. But it’s certainly not cheap either.
Well-installed wood-look tiles are hard to distinguish from real parquet flooring without expert knowledge. Everyone assumes we have parquet until they touch the tiles with their hands. Even the chimney inspector was fooled by it because he still wanted to delay us with an extra floor slab.
Unfortunately, it’s still relatively cold in winter despite the underfloor heating, as modern houses simply don’t need to heat up as much anymore *G*
S
Sebastian7920 May 2016 09:27Yes, of course it accepts that – it’s a common procedure with the board in front.
Hello,
I think you have taken on a real challenge here
.
The glass panel doesn’t have to be 12 mm (0.5 inches) thick—that would be almost like bulletproof glass. The panels my stove fitter offered me were 5–6 mm (0.2–0.25 inches) thick. That is tempered safety glass (ESG), basically the same type used for glass doors.
The edges I saw were polished with a rounded finish.
The gap will be the real issue. First of all, it’s almost impossible for the screed installer to level your floor perfectly to the millimeter. If you get within plus or minus 3 mm (0.1 inches), consider yourself lucky. You will always have a gap where dirt can collect. Even if the screed layers the height precisely, you can’t fix the glass panel rigidly because the parquet floor expands and contracts between summer and winter.
So, the panel needs to be movable so it doesn’t lift the parquet and so you can lift it again to clean underneath.
Currently, we are planning to place a 1 mm (0.04 inches) stainless steel plate in front of the stove instead of a glass panel. We will have it laser-cut to size, and it can be stored in the basement outside the heating season.
In my humble opinion, this whole thing tends to be somewhat overrated. We had an open fireplace at home (open on three sides, no glass panels!) with parquet flooring and a Persian rug (!!!) in front of it. It was never a problem for 30 years—we didn’t set the house on fire, and even the rug never got burnt.
Best regards,
Andreas
I think you have taken on a real challenge here
merlin83 schrieb:
Good day,
Which glass panel did you choose (construction)?
How are the edges of the glass panel finished?
How wide is the gap between the parquet floor and the glass panel?
.
The glass panel doesn’t have to be 12 mm (0.5 inches) thick—that would be almost like bulletproof glass. The panels my stove fitter offered me were 5–6 mm (0.2–0.25 inches) thick. That is tempered safety glass (ESG), basically the same type used for glass doors.
The edges I saw were polished with a rounded finish.
The gap will be the real issue. First of all, it’s almost impossible for the screed installer to level your floor perfectly to the millimeter. If you get within plus or minus 3 mm (0.1 inches), consider yourself lucky. You will always have a gap where dirt can collect. Even if the screed layers the height precisely, you can’t fix the glass panel rigidly because the parquet floor expands and contracts between summer and winter.
So, the panel needs to be movable so it doesn’t lift the parquet and so you can lift it again to clean underneath.
Currently, we are planning to place a 1 mm (0.04 inches) stainless steel plate in front of the stove instead of a glass panel. We will have it laser-cut to size, and it can be stored in the basement outside the heating season.
In my humble opinion, this whole thing tends to be somewhat overrated. We had an open fireplace at home (open on three sides, no glass panels!) with parquet flooring and a Persian rug (!!!) in front of it. It was never a problem for 30 years—we didn’t set the house on fire, and even the rug never got burnt.
Best regards,
Andreas
S
Sebastian7920 May 2016 09:33I wouldn’t say it’s an overestimation—that kind of spark generation happens very quickly. With our vinyl flooring, I don’t want to test how long it can withstand that.
I also consider the risk of something catching fire to be low, but damage to the floor is more likely.
I also thought about stainless steel, but I imagine it would look too bulky. Especially with our three-sided fireplace, where a clean, simple look just looks really cool...
I also consider the risk of something catching fire to be low, but damage to the floor is more likely.
I also thought about stainless steel, but I imagine it would look too bulky. Especially with our three-sided fireplace, where a clean, simple look just looks really cool...
As mentioned, unlike a pressure switch, having a protective plate in front of the fireplace really makes sense. Sparks are less of an issue than falling glowing embers. These can quickly burn through the floor covering down to the subfloor.
If you install a glass or granite plate, the gap between it and the parquet flooring must be filled with silicone (or a similarly flexible material).
If you install a glass or granite plate, the gap between it and the parquet flooring must be filled with silicone (or a similarly flexible material).
Well, for that:
you must have installed a very flammable type of flooring...
Especially with a wood stove, something can only fall out when you open the door to add more fuel. That means you are standing right next to it. Then you just pick up the pieces again, and that’s that. You won’t burn through hardwood flooring in just 5 seconds.
But anyway, having a glass, stainless steel plate, or tiles in front of the stove is and remains a good idea.
Best regards,
Andreas
Payday schrieb:
glowing pieces falling out. They can quickly burn through the flooring down to the screed.
you must have installed a very flammable type of flooring...
Especially with a wood stove, something can only fall out when you open the door to add more fuel. That means you are standing right next to it. Then you just pick up the pieces again, and that’s that. You won’t burn through hardwood flooring in just 5 seconds.
But anyway, having a glass, stainless steel plate, or tiles in front of the stove is and remains a good idea.
Best regards,
Andreas
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