Fireplace Glass Replacement
- Cracked or crazed ceramic glass replaced
- Glass sized to your door
- Heat-rated ceramic glass, never window glass
- New glass gasket fitted
- Front and side panels
- Glass checked for a tight seal
Cracked fireplace glass, doors that leak smoke and rope seals that have gone flat or hard, replaced across Cape Town. We measure, supply and fit the right ceramic glass and seal for your make and model.
Fireplace glass is ceramic glass, made to take high heat. It still cracks if a log knocks it, if the door is slammed, or if a bent frame puts pressure on one corner. Once the glass is cracked, the fireplace should not be used until it is replaced.
Rope seals are the most overlooked part of a closed fireplace. Over a few winters the rope goes flat and hard. Air then leaks in around the door, the fire burns too fast, the glass goes black and smoke can escape into the room. A new seal fixes all of this.
For smoking fireplaces, flues and other faults, see our fireplace repairs Cape Town page. For a closer look at the job itself, read our fireplace glass and rope replacement guide.
Every fireplace is different, so we quote the exact price before any work starts. These are the things that change it.
Your make and model. Some glass is a standard size. Some has to be cut or ordered for your door.
Front or side glass. Double-sided and three-sided fireplaces have more panels and more seal.
The door itself. A warped door or broken hinge must be fixed first, or new glass and rope will not seal.
Doing jobs together. Glass, seals and a chimney sweep in one visit saves you a second trip.
1. Photos first. Send photos of the fireplace, the door and the model plate if there is one.
2. Measure and order. We confirm the glass size and the rope thickness for your door. Fireplace rope comes in different thicknesses, so it has to match the channel in your door.
3. Strip the old seal. The old rope and glue come out completely so the new seal sits flat.
4. Fit and glue. The new ceramic glass and gasket go in, and the rope is set in heat-resistant glue.
5. Test the door. We close the door on a strip of paper all the way round. If the paper pulls out easily, we adjust until the door is tight.
6. First fire. New glue needs a small, gentle fire to cure. We show you how before we leave.
Real repair and upgrade jobs from recent Cape Town homes, photographed on site.
Send us a photo and we will tell you what it needs, usually the same day.
Black glass. Glass that blackens within one fire usually means a leaking seal or wet wood.
Smoke at the door. A smell of smoke in the room, or smoke marks above the door, points to a worn rope.
A fire you cannot slow down. If closing the air vent does not calm the fire, air is getting in around the door.
Cracks or chips. Any crack in the glass, even a small one at the edge, can spread with heat. Stop using the fireplace until the glass is replaced.
No. Fireplace doors need heat-rated ceramic glass. Normal or toughened window glass can shatter from the heat. We only fit ceramic glass made for fireplaces.
Almost always wet wood or a worn rope seal. Wet wood makes smoke that sticks to the glass. A worn seal lets air in around the door, which stops the airwash from keeping the glass clean. Dry wood and a new seal usually fix it.
It depends on how much you use the fireplace. Check it every year before winter. If the rope is flat, hard or frayed, or the door closes too easily, it is time for a new one.
Yes. Most of our glass and seal work is on fireplaces other companies installed. Send us the make and model and a photo, and we will source the right parts.
No. Heat can make a crack spread, and a cracked door lets smoke and sparks out. Leave the fireplace off until the glass is replaced.
