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The picture below is of the completed Fireplace Surround, Direct Vent Conversion, FireGlass installation and the FireBalls Looks great!
Click "HERE" or on the picture below to see how this was made and installed.
The pictures below are of Dr Micheal Marshall Fireplace Surrounds
CLICK on the link or the picture below to see the surrounds with the Star-Burst Pattern!
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Here we are going to show you before and after installations for direct vent fire places.
This is a new home with logs and a screen, average at best. Has anyone ever come over to your house and said" Nice Logs"? No and we are going to show you how to create a masterpiece!
The pictures below are of a typical direct vent burner.
This is a picture of the automatic starter and thermo-coupler
After you have closed off the bottom of the fireplace and attached the adapter, your ready for glass!
Here we are testing the burn pattern of the double burners. Our burners have 2 rows of holes in each pipe to give you 4 rows of flames.
After pouring the glass make sure the automatic starter is just above the glass so it can work properly. You can hide it with glass all around the element and it helps if it is in a hole.
Here we installed an aluminum surround that has been painted black.
We have several more pictures of this fireplace with Ice and a few colors of toppers installed and we will have these pictures up in a few days.
We will also be posting several direct vent fireplaces to show you how easy it really is.
The fireplace below is a direct vent installation with Gray, Gray Reflective and Clear Pyrite installed
Has anyone ever said "Nice Logs"? I don't think so. We are going to show you how to transform your direct vent fireplace into a real attractive fireplace.
The key is not to change the amount of gas going into the fireplace, so don't change the regulator.
The thermo coupler (heat detector) will be raised to the surface to insure it will still work.
Drop in a new burner or use the one that was installed with your fireplace and your done.
The fireplace below is a direct vent self install by Norm. The colors used were: Starfire base, Cobalt Blue Topper, Pale Cobalt Blue Topper, Ice Ice Ice, Pale Gray Topper, Gray Topper and Copper Blue Topper.
We use a piece of stainless steel in the front to contain the glass to cover the burners and keep the glass level.
The fireplace below is a self install by Joyce and Tom Dane from beginning to end. The fireplace was painted, converted and finished with Pink Rosa. This is a direct vent fireplace and for those of you who say it can't be done, well you just don't know how! We do and thousands of of customers do as well.
Above you can see they painted the interior and it now looks much better.
The lava filler underneath the burner.
Test the burner and pour the glass. There are so many who tell us this can't be done.
You can leave the doors on or take the doors off, which ever you prefer.
We actually prefer the doors and screens removed and finish with some sort of surround.
The fireplace below is in Beverly Hills and is also a self install direct vent fireplace. This fireplace was filled with Gold and topped with a few pounds of Platinum.
The old burner was removed and a new bottom plate was installed
Test the burner and thermo-coupler
The Gold was added over the lava rock
and there you have it, fire! If your installer does not understand this then have then call us so we can guide them through the process.
The fireplace below is a direct vent self installation with a Starfire base and hyacinth topper. There are a few fireplace companies who say this can't be done, really! So I guess this doesn't really didn't happen, did it?
Above you see all the components that make a direct vent work
and below you see the finished product. This was completed by Teresa Leets, an attorney in Los Angeles. So much for those fireplace guys.
The fireplace below is a direct vent fireplace located in Palm Springs California at Palm Springs Modern Homes.
www.PSMHomes.com . We have done over 60 of these installs in the condo complex and they all are outstanding! For those of you who say it can't be done, well here is is. Just because you don't know how doesn't mean it can't be done.
The fireplace below is in Rancho Mirage just east of Palm Springs California. This is a direct vent fireplace and we used a Bronze Base Glass with
Bronze Reflective Base Glass on top. We use the original burner as it would do just fine. We are also cladding the bras with brushed stainless steel and we will post the pictures as soon as we get them. We did two identical fireplaces in this home. One in the master and the other in the family room. You can tell by the back ground.
The fireplace below is in Venice Beach California. This is a direct vent installation and we will now show you how easy it really is. For all of the installers out there who say it can't be done, well here you go. Pay attention now!
The glass that was installed was Starfire.
The house is and was under construction so please excuse the debris around the fireplace. The pictures explain what we did. We didn't change the amount of fuel (btu's) being burned just the way it looks. Flip the switch, the ignitor lights, allowing the gas to come up through the burner and the pilot light lights the gas rising from the burner below. As for the doomsayers that tell you this can't be done, Oh Well! This will be our little secret. If you have any questions on your conversion please send us pictures and we will help you convert your direct vent fireplace as well.
Most fireplace manufactures will tell you this will void your warranty. But you need to actually read the warranty to understand what they will or won't cover. The person telling you this at the factory, ask them what the warranty actually implies. We have read many of these warranties and they won't cover the fireplace anyway. These warranties were written by attorneys to keep the liability from the manufacture and lay the blame on the consumer at any expense, no really read one.
The fireplace below is a direct vent conversion. The most important issue to address here is to NEVER increase the amount of fuel that your fireplace was designed to burn.
We will explain as we move forward:
This is the burner in this particular direct vent fireplace.
This burner will work just fine.
Nice Logs? Isn't that the WOW! factor you were looking for?
Now we add Bronze Rust Copper base glass with Gold on top.
You tell me, which looks better?
Sev in Las Vegas installed Gray base glass (FireGlass) in his direct vent fireplace. A very simple fireplace design.
Nadine is very creative and always tries to add her personal touches.
The next
"B" vent or Direct Vent fireplace is from Mark Basillus, Showing how easy it actually is. Again for all of those "Dummies" out there that keep telling you that you can't do it. Also keep telling you "the sky is falling!" I had to say that!Oh look! Nice logs! NOT!
Here is what Mark had to say:
Ed,
Wanted to share with you the photos of our finished conversion to fireglass.We are really pleased that we decided to paint the inside of the fire box
red. That coupled with the glass had made the fireplace a focal point to
our living area!
Mark Basilius
[mailto:MBasilius@evgvikings.org] 
