Fireplace Safety Recommendations

Shawn Folks • December 5, 2018

Keep fireplace sparks at bay. Invest in a wire mesh or glass gate from your local fireplace store to help keep sparks and ash off carpet, curtains, and rugs.


Mesh fireplace screens and curtains are used to protect your home from sparks and embers that can occur with the use of a wood burning fireplace. They are also designed to withstand high temperatures. Mesh curtains minimize the risk of hot embers or sparks popping out of your fireplace and burning your flooring or catching your home on fire.

 

Should You Use a Fireplace Mesh Screen or a Glass Door for Spark Protection?

Sometimes people think that they can just use a glass door instead of a mesh screen or curtain for spark protection. That’s not the primary purpose of a glass fireplace door. Glass doors cannot be closed while there is a fire in your fireplace. It presents a hazard because the glass can break because of the heat buildup. Mesh curtains can be closed when there is a fire in your fireplace because they allow the heat to pass through. That’s part of their purpose: to keep the hot embers in the fireplace where they belong.


So, remember – glass doors can only be shut when your fireplace is not in use. Keep your doors open if your fireplace is in use and shut the mesh curtain instead. If you don’t have a fireplace mesh screen or curtain, you run the risk of sparks getting out of your fireplace and causing damage.

 

Using Mesh Doors to Match Any Decor

Some people want mesh doors for their fireplace to help disguise or makeover an ugly masonry fireplace. This is done because mesh curtains can be ordered in a wide variety of sizes and styles. They can be purchased to fit just about any size fireplace. There are mesh screens that are simply pulled along a track to close and open, and there are mesh screens that are built into the fireplace door itself.


There are two things that you should think about if you want to use mesh for decorative purposes. First, remember the true purpose of mesh: to act as a spark guard and protect your flooring (and home) from hot sparks and embers that may pop out when you use a wood burning fireplace. Sparks and embers generally aren’t an issue with gas fireplaces, so if that’s what you have you may not need one. Although the mesh is designed to tolerate high heat, as mentioned earlier, it does eventually become rusty. The rust (and sometimes the age) of a mesh curtain can make it hard to close. That, of course, makes it less effective. More simply put, every mesh curtain eventually must be replaced because there is no way to stop the decay caused by being that close to a fire for an extended period of time.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: Zack Klein Director of Marketing and Business Development 225-753-8682 Zack@247GRS.com Guarantee Restoration Services Launches National Sales Team to Expand Strategic Partnerships Across the Country BATON ROUGE, La. – June 16, 2026 – Guarantee Restoration Services (GRS), a leading full-service restoration contractor serving the Gulf Coast since 1974, is proud to announce the implementation of its new National Sales Team. This strategic initiative marks an exciting step forward in the company’s continued growth and commitment to serving clients and partners on a broader scale. The newly established team will be led by Barrett Dick, Director of National Sales, alongside Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing. Together, they have played a pivotal role in growing GRS relationships across multiple industries throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond for over a decade. 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After graduating from Louisiana State University, Barrett began his professional career with Marucci Sports before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in July 2016. Just weeks into his time with the company, the historic Great Flood of 2016 impacted Southeastern Louisiana, providing him with firsthand experience managing large-scale losses and coordinating restoration efforts for major school districts and commercial clients. Since then, he has helped cultivate business development efforts throughout Louisiana and nationally, working closely with partners in hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. “Our focus has always been relationship-driven,” said Dick. “We want our clients and partners to know they have a team they can rely on before, during, and after a disaster. This National Sales Team is another way we are investing in those relationships and positioning Guarantee to better serve organizations wherever they need us.” As part of the expansion, GRS hired David Stern as a National Sales Account Executive. Stern brings more than a decade of high-level sales and relationship management experience from the professional sports industry. Prior to joining our team, he served with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans organization, where he consistently ranked among the organization’s top sales representatives and generated more than $38 million in multiyear contracts throughout his career. “David’s experience of building relationships, managing high-profile partnerships, and delivering exceptional client service makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” added Klein. “His background and skillset align perfectly with the direction we are heading as a company.” The National Sales Team also includes Chad Catalano, who joined Guarantee Restoration Services in January 2026. Catalano brings nearly two decades of restoration industry experience, with a strong background in sales leadership, project coordination, and relationship development throughout the Southeast and Gulf South regions. Prior to joining GRS, Catalano served as National Sales Manager for ServiceMaster DSI and spent more than 16 years with US Restoration as a Sales and Project Coordinator. Throughout his career, he has built long-standing partnerships while helping clients navigate complex restoration and recovery projects. In addition to his restoration industry experience, Catalano also spent several years as a successful high school baseball coach in the New Orleans area, earning multiple district championships and Coach of the Year honors. His leadership, communication skills, and client-focused approach make him a valuable addition to the growing national team. Guarantee Restoration Services continues to serve clients across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with six locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. 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