ᐅ Fireplace – Recessing Fire-Resistant Glass into Hardwood Flooring

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

Hi,

we have a glass panel on the fireplace that rests on the parquet floor in the corner. This was custom-made and approved.

In our previous rental apartment, the corner was tiled, and then the parquet floor started. I’m not sure if glass is recommended. At the very least, it should fit so that no dirt, dust, or debris can get underneath.

We once considered that as well – you need to know very precisely how the unit is positioned and what the dimensions are.

In the end, we didn’t go through with it, although it does bother me quite a bit to have a glass panel placed "like that" in front.

Another option would be to cover the entire living room floor with wood-look tiles. This also automatically complies with the chimney regulations. Alternatively, you could install tiles around the fireplace and parquet flooring in the rest of the room. A glass panel or something similar in a transparent material will likely collect dirt from below sooner or later, which you won’t be able to clean out again.

Whether the parquet or the tiles are higher depends on what you choose. The most elegant solution is probably if both are within plus or minus 1mm (0.04 inch) of the same height.

If you use a glass panel just as a cover at the end, arrange it so you can remove it together with the built-in fireplace (meaning the fireplace does not rest on the panel). Otherwise, you won’t be able to remove the panel for cleaning.

PS: There really is a lot of fine dust that accumulates in front of the fireplace, and the tiles in front of our fireplace have already paid off twice.

My recommendation would be to go with a granite slab. Glass has the disadvantage of scratching over time, and you cannot remove so-called thunderbugs trapped underneath. Additionally, with granite, it is not necessary to level the screed. The location of the stove must be clearly defined, regardless of the type of slab chosen, as this determines the required size of the slab. The stove installer will know this. I would therefore have the slab installed first, with a transition profile prepared for the parquet flooring. Then the parquet is laid, and the gaps between the slab and parquet are closed with the profile cover. This has the advantage that the slab can be easily replaced if needed.

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Regards, Sigi

Wood-look tiles... well, you have to like them. A tile backsplash in front of them, too... doesn’t always match visually.

I will probably only install the boards in the cold season, otherwise nothing in front...

In any case, it’s a good coordination test – with many chances for things to go wrong.