Fireplace Insert Faceplates & Trim Kits

What a faceplate does

A wood insert slides into an existing masonry fireplace, and it is almost never a perfect fit. The faceplate — also called a surround, trim kit, or fireplace trim — is the flat steel panel that covers the leftover gap between the insert body and the fireplace opening, so the finished install looks deliberate instead of improvised. It also blocks room air from spilling into the dead space around the insert. Every wood insert needs one, and it is sold separately from the appliance on nearly every brand, which is why so many people finish an install and then discover they are still one part short. Our wood insert bundles include the faceplate and a liner kit together for exactly that reason.

Cuttable vs. regular faceplates

A cuttable faceplate ships oversized in 18-gauge steel and is trimmed on site with a grinder or shears to match an opening that is an odd size, out of square, or smaller than the standard plate. A regular faceplate is a fixed size, arrives finished, and needs no cutting — the better choice when your opening falls inside its coverage. If you are between the two, the cuttable plate is the safer buy: you can always remove material, but you cannot add it.

How to measure your fireplace opening

Measure the height and width of the finished fireplace opening at its widest and tallest points, then measure the depth from the face of the fireplace to the back wall. The faceplate has to be larger than the opening in both directions with enough overlap to sit flat against the surrounding masonry — a plate that only just meets the edge will show light gaps once the insert is in. Check the insert's own dimensions against the opening depth at the same time; a faceplate cannot rescue an insert that does not physically fit. Our faceplate and trim kit guide walks through the measurements in detail, and the wood stove inserts guide covers choosing the insert itself.

Liner adaptors and hook-up systems

The other half of an insert install is the venting. A wood insert has to be connected to a continuous stainless liner running the full height of the chimney — the liner is what makes the insert draft properly and pass inspection. The offset liner adaptor handles the common case where the insert's flue collar does not line up under the chimney flue, and the hook-up liner system makes the final connection at the appliance. The liner itself comes from our stainless steel chimney liner kits, sized to the insert's flue collar.

Faceplate and trim kit FAQs

Is a faceplate the same thing as a trim kit?

In practice, yes — faceplate, surround, trim kit, and fireplace trim all refer to the panel that covers the gap around an insert. Some models add a separate decorative trim, such as the nickel trim kit on the Drolet plates here, which is a finish upgrade layered on the faceplate rather than a different part.

Does my insert come with a faceplate?

Usually not. Faceplates are almost always ordered separately because the right size depends on your fireplace opening rather than on the insert. The exception is our insert bundles, which pair the appliance, faceplate, and liner kit in one order.

What if my fireplace opening is bigger than the largest faceplate?

Then the plate cannot cover it and the gap has to be closed another way — typically by building in the opening with non-combustible material before the insert goes in, which is a job for your installer. Measure before ordering rather than after.

Can I cut a regular faceplate down?

No. Regular plates are finished to a fixed size and cutting one ruins the edge treatment. Buy the cuttable version if you know you will need to trim.

Do I need a liner as well as a faceplate?

Yes. The faceplate is cosmetic and air-sealing; the liner is what actually vents the insert. Every wood insert install needs a full-height stainless liner sized to the appliance.

Do you charge sales tax on faceplates and trim kits?

No. StoveSource charges no sales tax in any state, with no exceptions, and orders over $250 ship free to the lower 48.