Facing the fireplace with artificial stone: what you need and how to do it. Facing the fireplace with artificial stone: varieties, features, application Artificial stone round for a fireplace

Type of fireplace lined with artificial stone

One of the most relevant design methods is the decoration of the fireplace with artificial stone (see). Moreover, natural materials are constantly becoming more expensive. Artificial components are produced with such a quality that it is difficult for a non-specialist to identify products (see).

Let's figure out why decorating a fireplace with artificial stone is better than other design methods. Main advantages:

finishing the fireplace with artificial stone is quite simple, this is achieved due to its soft mechanical characteristics;
preparation and installation of structural elements will not be difficult, only a grinder may be needed;
the finishing stone for the fireplace contains soft and light fillers in its composition, this facilitates the weight of the entire structure;
in retail there is a large amount of such material, the elements of which have different shapes and configurations, this will allow you to choose any pattern;
artificial stone for finishing the fireplace will cost much cheaper than natural, which will reduce the cost of the product;
this material can fully reflect the course of your design ideas, will allow you to create any pattern.

Choosing an artificial stone

High-quality finishing with a fireplace stone is possible with the right choice of product components.

Criterias of choice:

Material cost. As a rule, the price of foreign-made products exceeds the cost of domestic ones.
When purchasing a product, check the hygiene certificates and the certificate of conformity. If they are missing, it is better to refrain from buying. This is a chemical production, so you should take only high-quality goods, otherwise the finish can be harmful to health.
Pay attention to the time the manufacturer has been on the market. The more it is on the market, the better.

The time of work allows polishing the technology and producing a quality product.

Inspect all the elements and pay attention to the structure of the material. With the wrong production technology, the structure of the front surface will be porous, which affects the strength and, accordingly, the life of the structure.
A quality product arrives at the points of sale in the appropriate packaging, which has the manufacturer's logo.
Find the date of manufacture. The maximum strength of the elements is gained only after 28 days after manufacture. If you saw an earlier production date, then the products cannot be of high quality.

Fireplace finish

The work of finishing can be mastered by a person without special qualifications (see).

But stone finishing of fireplaces is carried out according to certain rules that should be followed:

Finishing fireplaces with stone is carried out on metal, chipboard, wood and other elements of a similar type only with a certain surface preparation. It is different for every material.
Finishing work should be carried out at temperatures above 5°C.
The fireplace trim stone should be fixed from top to bottom, starting from one end to the other, this way you will avoid contamination of the elements.
Pay attention to what kind of glue or solution the manufacturer recommends.
Elements can be cut with a conventional hacksaw for metal. Do not use a tool with a large tooth, you may damage the material.

Surface preparation

Finishing stone for a fireplace can be used with any material for the manufacture of a fireplace.

Just every surface should be properly prepared for installation.

When processing a wooden surface, it must first be covered with waterproofing so that it is not susceptible to moisture. To do this, you can use a pigment. It is laid in a horizontal position, the top row should overlap the top one by 4 cm. The vertical seam is also overlapped by about 8 cm.
When this work is done, the plaster mesh should be fixed, this is done using special fasteners.
Vertically, the distance between the fastening points should be 12-15 cm and horizontally up to about 40 mm.
A layer of plaster is applied on top of the grid with a thickness of about 1 cm.
After that, the plaster is given time to dry completely.
If the fireplace or portal is made using metal or concrete, then the cooking procedure differs only in that it does not require the installation of additional waterproofing, which is available in retail.
If fastening is carried out to brick or concrete, this plane must also be plastered, only it should first be applied along the notch plane.

Rules for laying artificial stone

Finishing fireplaces with natural stone and artificial performed almost the same.

In order to correctly imagine all the structural elements, to further facilitate subsequent work, they should first be laid out in front of the cladding site.

Do not install with one type of element, they should be alternated. This will give the design a more natural look. Change color, texture, thickness. Apply elements in work from different boxes.
If you use the laying of elements with subsequent jointing, start installation only from the top of the structure.
When laying, try to make the seam approximately the same, you can apply a template, do not make the seam too even, it should have one plane, but fluctuate slightly in thickness. Do not make horizontal seams located on top of each other.
If there are significant discrepancies in the thickness of the material and its surface has an uneven structure, do not try to eliminate the irregularities and correct the material, anyway, the design in its total mass will look quite harmonious.
Using seamless masonry, the elements should be fixed from the bottom up. When installing, press the elements against each other.
When making a “brick” cladding and using rectangular elements, pay special attention to vertical seams. Control the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines, the angle of intersection should be 90°. Use a template to test.

Required Tools

To start work, you should prepare the necessary tool:

screws or nails for fastening auxiliary materials during installation;
sprayer or brush to moisten the masonry surface and material;
construction trowel;
a hammer;
grinder with a cutting wheel;
drill;
a flat block of wood;
container for mixing solution.

Getting Started

The beginning of fasteners is a crucial moment.

How you start is how you finish.

At the beginning of facing the fireplace with stone, the finishing is carried out from the corner. Laying should be carried out alternately, alternating long and short elements.
First of all, fasten the thickest tiles and use the minimum amount of mortar for this. This will help you in further work.
In order to make the structure look as natural and aesthetic as possible, the elements of the installation should be adjusted in size. To adjust the size, use wide cutters or a hacksaw. Try to mount the processed sides in such a way that they are either below or above the angle of view.
Apply a layer of mortar of about 1.5 cm to the laying element. Use a trowel for this. Control the distribution of the solution on the surface, it must be covered completely and evenly.

After laying the mesh, a layer of mortar should be applied

When laying the element, it should be pressed lightly and slightly moved to different positions by pressing. This will help to completely fill the seam and secure the element most correctly.

Seam adjustment in progress

When laying, the mortar should protrude slightly from the seams.
When carrying out seamless masonry, attention should be paid to end seams. They must be filled. To do this, apply the solution to the entire surface of the element (excess is removed during shrinkage). After extrusion, excess mortar should be removed with a trowel.
When fastening to a surface that is too dry or during installation work in dry weather, the surface of the elements and the laying plane should be moistened with a spray gun or a paint brush. The laying elements can simply be lowered into a container of water and after 2 minutes in the water they are ready to be laid.
With seamless installation of elements, they must be moistened, regardless of weather conditions.
After contact with the solution on the surface of the cladding, do not remove it immediately, let it dry a little.

How to do the stitching correctly?

To give masonry for a more natural and aesthetic appearance, the joints are completely filled with mortar. For stitching, it is better to use only branded stitching materials.

Do not use mixtures that are designed for laying tiles.

To completely fill the seam, you can use a bag to fill the seams. It can be done quickly by yourself, you just need to cut off 1 corner of a regular plastic bag, only the hole should be slightly smaller than the seam to be filled.
We fill the bag of solution (do not pour too much, the volume should fit in the palm of your hand), press and force the solution into the seam. Try to avoid getting liquid on the front surface.
We wait until the mortar in the seams begins to set, after which it is necessary to remove its excess with a trowel and at the same time press it into the seam. Do not try to remove the sags immediately after filling, you will only stain the front.
After removing the excess, the seams should be finally cleaned with a panicle, which should be made from plant materials. Do not use solvents for cleaning.
Jointing is an extremely important process of work, which completely eliminates the ingress of moisture into the surface. If moisture penetrates under the cladding, cracking of the surface is possible.

End of work

After the surface of the structure is completely dry, it can be treated with a special hydrophobic composition. It forms a translucent protective film on the surface. Such a coating does not allow moisture to pass through and does not collapse when the structure moves. It is good to remove dust from it. It especially helps with temperature changes (if the fireplace is located in the country, where there is no constant heating).

Job done right. You can step back from the design a few steps and admire your work.

Decorative finishing of the fireplace allows you to make it a chic addition to the interior created in a country mansion. With a professional facing of the fireplace with brick or other material, you can not only purchase an excellent heater, but also create a wonderful decorative element in the living room.

Advice! Finishing the fireplace with decorative stone should be carried out by professionals, in which case it will be not only beautiful, but also safe for the inhabitants of the house.

Benefits of natural stone

Decorative finishing of the stove, fireplace with natural or artificial stone, baked clay, ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware has the following advantages:

high strength;
long service life;
environmental friendliness;
solidity;
resistance to high humidity and temperature changes

High-quality finishing of a fireplace with a decorative stone is not a cheap pleasure.

Advice! Natural stone has irregularities, so it is better to entrust work with this finishing material to a true professional.

Finishing a decorative high-tech fireplace is associated with some details. For example, modern materials and innovative technologies are used.
Variants of modern heating devices

Depending on the design features and location of the heater, four types of heating devices are currently distinguished:

wall-mounted;
corner models;
built-in structures;
island models

Wall fireplaces are located mainly in the center of the room. Such models are large in size, therefore they are suitable for heating living rooms with a large area. It is the wall-mounted fireplace that interior specialists make the basis of the interior, and around it they have a soft corner for family holidays.

Corner models are mounted in the corner of the room. Since they are much smaller in size, decorative fireplace trim will require a much smaller amount of finishing material.

Advice! Corner fireplace is suitable for a small company.

The built-in fireplace has a chimney and firebox in the wall masonry, which involves the use of a significant amount of facing material. Outward, it protrudes in thickness no more than half a brick. Designers prefer to use the same material for finishing such a fireplace that is chosen for wall cladding.

An island fireplace is comparable to a pool with low sides. Inside it is a firebox. To remove smoke, a suspended hood is installed above the outlet. Decorative finishing of fireplace stoves of this type does not require a large number of decorative stones.

The wall and corner fireplace should have the following elements:

firebox for burning firewood;
a smoke collector through which smoke enters the exhaust pipe from the furnace;
portal decorated with decorative material;
draft chimney

Discussing how to trim the fireplace with a decorative stone, we note that only the chimney and the portal need it.

Work materials

Making a fireplace with a decorative stone requires certain skills from the master. Granite, limestone, shell rock, buoys, marble are suitable for work. But - these are fragments of natural sandstone, having a mass of no more than 50 kilograms.

Advice! For lining fireplaces and stoves, pieces in the range of 15-45 cm are suitable, the weight of which does not exceed 10 kilograms.

This material has been used in construction since ancient times, and its main advantages are accessibility and high strength. This stone is widely distributed in nature, so it has an insignificant price.

Uneven shapes and dimensions do not allow making even surfaces with this finishing material, therefore, to compensate for the protrusions, a binder solution is required, which is a mixture of sand and cement.

Recently, when decorating fireplaces and stoves, they began to use non-natural, artificial rubble. It has much less weight, smooth fragments, convenient for work.

Advice! If desired, it is quite possible to make such a finishing stone at home, using special forms and dry mixes based on pigments and silicone.

Cement can be taken as a binding element, since gypsum is not able to withstand temperature extremes.

White limestone is also considered a good material for facing fireplaces, which favorably differs in strength and refractory properties. During heating, this material does not expand or deform. Its weight is less than that of natural buta, so it is much easier to handle and fix it on the surface of the portal.

The stone has a white tint, so the atmosphere in the living room will be cozy and comfortable. With use, limestone only acquires additional strength.

The marble has a beautiful texture with original veins. This finishing material is chosen by many cottage owners for lining fireplaces, since it can be used to make the interior truly luxurious and unique. Marble slabs have high strength, excellent heat capacity, so during its processing it is possible to obtain parts of different shapes.

Attention! The procedure for grinding and installing the mineral is a laborious process, and marble is also very expensive.

A natural fireplace is not suitable for decorating stoves and fireplaces, as deformations and cracks will appear in its structure as the temperature rises.

Shell rock is ideal for lining stoves and fireplaces, as it has excellent hygroscopicity, strength, and is easy to process. This material first absorbs moisture, then releases it to the outside. In the structure of this stone there are small air pores that give the stone strength. The shell rock has original patterns and warm colors, so when facing a fireplace with it, you can get an excellent result.

Among the many artificial materials used to decorate the facade of a stove or fireplace, acrylic material is most suitable. In its manufacture, chemical components are chosen with silicate, marble chips, crushed stone, as well as other components. The presence of dyes allows you to give the plates different colors. When keeping the mixture in special forms, the fragments get a smooth surface. For fixing artificial slabs, cement glue is used. Acrylic is not able to absorb dirt and dust, and rags can be used to clean it.

Among the artificial stones, quartz can be noted. This material has excellent technical characteristics at a low cost.

Finishing methods

Consider, as an example, decorating a corner fireplace, which is made from several types of natural stone. To decorate the lower part with a recess for firewood, a large but of various dark colors is used, planted on a cement solution. The chimney and the portal with the firebox are lined with flat pieces of beige limestone.

Advice! This decor option will make the fireplace truly homely and cozy.

Professional designers advise lovers of aristocracy and sophistication to use dark granite to decorate a country fireplace. Burgundy and red shades of this natural stone will look great with natural wood.

In spacious rooms, an island fireplace, decorated with an artificial booth, is appropriate. Under the stone cladding, you can hide a suspended chimney, and the design itself will harmoniously fit into the interior of the living room.

A wall-mounted fireplace, for the facing of which white delicate marble is chosen, is suitable for an elite country living room.

Currently, urban property owners are increasingly installing false fireplaces in their apartments. Such designs do not require complex installation, they do not require the arrangement of a smoke collector and chimney, heat-resistant and refractory walls. "Firewood" in such a fireplace is an electric heating element. The feeling of an open fire can be created with the help of decor. With the help of a false fireplace, real warmth cannot be replaced, but it is quite possible to bring comfort and homeliness into the living room.

In addition, you can create a real “hearth” in the biofireplace burner by drawing an imitating pattern or making flickering artificial lighting with electricity.

Advice! You can equip a false fireplace near the external battery. In this case, there is no need to supply an additional heat source, only decorative elements will be required.

The arrangement of a real fireplace in a country house is a responsible and costly undertaking. Before proceeding with the installation of the fireplace, you first need to choose the right place for it. If you decide to build a real fireplace in the living room, it is better to make a special base for it. In addition, under it you need to provide space for the chimney. If you settled on the corner option, in this case you will have to make sure that there is free space from the wall to the heating element. Otherwise, the operation of the fireplace will pose a danger to the residents of the house.

As the main material from which heating elements are constructed, building bricks are in the lead. Cement mortar is used as a link between the bricks. All work related to the arrangement of the fireplace must be carried out by a professional stove. Otherwise, there is a high risk of incorrect placement of the portal, chimney, which will negatively affect the technical characteristics of the heater.

After all the main work related to the construction of the fireplace is completed, you can proceed to the most interesting stage - decorating the heater. The simplest option would be to line the chimney and portal with artificial stone. In order for you to enjoy the aesthetic appearance of the fireplace after finishing work, carefully study the recommendations offered by professional designers, see the photo

Conclusion

If it is better to choose marble or rubble for finishing a real heating element, then decorating an artificial model allows the use of cheap and light finishing materials. For example, the main frame can be made of drywall and metal profiles, and porcelain stoneware or acrylic plates can be glued onto it.

Many owners of country houses and city apartments dream that on cold winter evenings they will admire the flickering of fire in a fireplace insert. If you arm yourself with the advice of professionals, choose the right model, finishing materials, it is quite possible to make this dream come true not only in the house, but also in an ordinary city apartment.

The fireplace has long been considered not only a source of heating in the house, but also an original, interesting piece of decor and decoration. With the help of such a heating unit, it was possible to design a fireplace in a certain style and with the help of a number of materials, in a characteristic color palette.

The facing of the fireplace was originally carried out with materials such as natural stone and tiles. Facing a fireplace with tiles is the simplest and most familiar option, both earlier and today. However, not everyone knows that it is possible to decorate and decorate a fireplace not only with the materials listed above, but also with other, more modern textures and variations.

Choice of natural materials

The fireplace, the stone for which is selected only with good heat resistance, durability and environmental friendliness, is one of the most popular, but at the same time expensive facings.

The furnace, the lining of which is made with natural minerals, is primarily such stones as: marble, granite, quartz, sandstone, slate, pebbles, quartzite and many others. From such materials, both full and partial lining of a fireplace insert or portal can be made.

Even more expensive stones, which are used only to decorate very expensive fireplaces, are minerals. You can decorate the fireplace with jasper, onyx, jadeite, serpentine.

Finishing a fireplace insert and a portal with natural stone has a number of advantages, which you can find in more detail below:

A fireplace finished with natural minerals will always look interesting and only get prettier over time. A firebox lined with stones will last a very long time;
The fireplace, the portal of which is decorated with stones, is distinguished by good durability. Such a coating tolerates high heating temperatures and its sharp decrease;
Stone, the cladding of which is especially popular today, is an environmentally friendly material based on only natural components. When heated, it does not melt and does not emit harmful and hazardous combustion products into the air;
A fireplace, the firebox of which is complemented by real stones, will always look interesting, stylish and elegant. This decor looks equally good in any interior.

Finishing a fireplace with natural minerals, in addition to its advantages, like any other material, has its drawbacks, which are as follows:

The stone for the fireplace has a fairly large mass. That is why, before facing the fireplace insert or portal, it is necessary to calculate the total weight of the structure and, if necessary, reinforce the floor, walls, or even build an additional foundation in the house. Also, large and voluminous stones can be fixed not only with glue or refractory mastic, but also additionally fixed with the help of special hooks and fasteners;
A fireplace made of stone, especially if the mineral is natural, is quite difficult to fix and finish. Such material should be laid by an experienced stove-maker or according to well-written instructions;
Finishing the fireplace, the photos of which you can view in this article, is not only time-consuming, but also the high price and cost of the stone. Of course, this parameter depends on the chosen type of stone, but since all of them are environmentally friendly and are mined with certain difficulties, the cost for such a cladding is higher than for other varieties.

A fireplace in which the brick is lined with natural stones will have a higher heat capacity and accumulation.

When choosing and buying natural minerals, you need to get acquainted with each of them in more detail:

Granite is often used for facing fireplaces, fireboxes and portals. Due to its good machinability, if necessary, it can be sanded or sawn into the desired shape. Granite has various colors and patterns;
The cost of sandstone is affordable, in comparison with other types of stones. It has a large and varied color palette and is well processed;
The advantages of slate include ease of processing and affordable cost. The material is no less durable and interestingly shimmers when light from lamps, backlights or a flame burning in the hearth hits it;
Marble is one of the most expensive materials. Its color can be either white or milky, or charcoal, brown and even black. The benefits include strength and durability. Facing a fireplace with marble requires professional tools and skills, which is why it is done by a professional;
The advantages of shell rock include high strength and heat resistance. The surface of the mineral is highly porous and mimics the structure of shells. The characteristic color palette is white, yellow, pastel and cream shades;
For facing home and outdoor fireplaces, such a mineral as tuff is perfect. It not only tolerates high temperatures and their sudden changes, but also an atmosphere with high humidity. Also, the advantages of tuff include ease of processing;
With the help of pebbles and cobblestones, you can also make a fireplace lining. The design of the heating structure using such coatings will be very interesting and original.

artificial materials

Artificial stone is used for facing fireplaces quite often. The advantages of such a coating include the most accurate visual imitation of natural stones, not only with the preservation of color, but also the structure. At the same time, the products are characterized by low weight and versatility. They tolerate high temperatures well and can be used to finish any surface.

The portal of the fireplace, lined with artificial stone, does not have a significant impact on the floors of the house. At the same time, artificial analogues are easy to process with your own hands and without the use of a professional tool.

Today, in the assortment of stores, you can find an artificial stone with a certain texture, imitation, coloring. The product is easily cut and takes the necessary shape.

But artificial minerals can also have their drawbacks. Before buying, you need to make sure that you are buying products from a trusted manufacturer, for which the seller has all the necessary quality certificates.

Many products are of insufficient quality and are not intended for lining heating units. When heated, they begin to release harmful and hazardous decay products into the space.

High-quality material should not have various chips, deformations, and other damage on its surface, which can lead to a violation of tightness and safety when kindling heating equipment.

The composition of artificial analogues also partially contains environmentally friendly components. These include stone chips, which makes the product strong, durable, heat-resistant and safe to use.

Stone development can be carried out using one of the two technologies below:

Acrylic stones are based on marble chips, which can be about 70-85 percent of the total composition. In order to give the final material the necessary strength, acrylic resin is added to its composition, from which the name of the stone arose. Also, the composition may contain various additives and dyes that give the product a certain color or pattern. This, in turn, allows you to imitate almost any stone, even precious. The advantages of this variety include durability and ease of care. To eliminate pollution, it is not required to use chemicals, a sponge or cloth soaked in water is sufficient;
The most convenient and simple is the installation of a modern flexible stone. Due to innovations and developments, such material is produced in sheets, the dimensions of which are 96x48 centimeters, with a sheet thickness of 1-5 millimeters. The sheet is based on marble chips, due to which the surface of the product is slightly rough. Externally, this material resembles linoleum. The advantages include low weight, no seams that need to be overwritten, good tolerance to high temperatures, environmental friendliness and the absence of harmful emissions. With the help of such material, you can decorate a fireplace and any piece of interior with your own hands and in the shortest possible period of time. Even simple stationery scissors are suitable for cutting.

Gypsum stone is the easiest and most budget option for facing a fireplace portal. You can either buy it or make it yourself from a special solution and pre-purchased or made blanks-forms. The advantages of the material include environmental friendliness, durability and low weight.

Finishing the portal with your own hands

Even the simplest finishing of a fireplace portal or firebox, which at first glance will not be difficult, must be done in a certain step sequence.

First of all, you will need to clean the surface of dirt, dust, previous lining, excess mortar, degrease it and level it if necessary.

The stone is pre-sorted by size, shape and color. The initial layout is done on the floor and only after that it is transferred to the fireplace and fixed with heat-resistant glue or mastic.

Sawing stone or other facing is best with a hacksaw or a nail file with teeth. So you do not damage the material and do not spoil its appearance.

The mastic or adhesive should be suitable for fireplaces and stoves, and have a fireproof characteristic. All excess solution must be removed in a timely manner, without waiting for drying. In this case, you should not do this immediately, the solution should partially dry out. So you can easily remove it without ruining the cladding.

At the last stage, the surface is treated with a special varnish or impregnation, which will protect the material from contamination, deformation and will not allow absorbing moisture. Such a coating will significantly extend the life of the cladding and retain its visual appeal.

This video examines in detail the lining of the fireplace with your own hands, its firebox and portal with decorative gypsum stone or tiles:

The arrangement of a fireplace in the house helps not only to create an additional source of heating for the room, but also to decorate the interior in an original way. There are many ways to decorate the surface of the fireplace. Most of them can be used without the help of professional craftsmen. And how to do this, we will tell in the article.

Tile finish

For this cladding method, a heat-resistant material with a high level of thermal conductivity is required. Porcelain stoneware or clinker tiles are suitable. To avoid cracking, it is advisable to take small plates and attach them to an adhesive with a high level of heat resistance.

Options for finishing the fireplace and its decorative decoration are diverse in the patterns and patterns created.

The advantages of the material include:

ease of installation;
undemanding care;
resistance to high temperatures;
variety in color and texture.

At the beginning of facing work, it is necessary to prepare a standard set of tools. The surface should also be treated. All masonry seams are embroidered, the walls of the fireplace are cleaned of dirt and treated with a primer. To strengthen the structure, it is necessary to make reinforcement by fixing the mesh with screws.

For laying tiles, a solution is prepared from water and heat-resistant glue. Work starts at the bottom. The glue is applied to the wall at the rate of 3-4 plates and leveled with a spatula. Having attached the tile, it is necessary to tap on it with a rubber mallet and check for level.

The protrusions and corners are finished using special devices, and for attaching the second row, crosses must be fixed. After completion of the work, the surface of the tile is treated with a heat-resistant varnish.

brick finish

If you are looking for an answer to the question, what is the best way to finish a fireplace, then you can not think for a long time and leave open brickwork without decorative ornaments. But you still have to work hard. First, it is necessary to highlight the coating more clearly by applying a hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid solution.

And secondly, accurate stitching is advisable. To do this, a space of up to 7 mm unfilled with mortar is left on the outside of the masonry. They need to be treated with grout, but after the glue mixture has dried. It is desirable to grind the surface of the brick. The originality is given by the chamfering of the edges.

Stone cladding

The use of natural or artificial stone, as can be seen in the photo of the fireplace, will create a very durable coating. Along with this advantage, it should be noted the simplicity of masonry. After all, the master does not need to create perfectly even seams. On the contrary, some negligence can be a highlight of decoration.

But you should not forget about the disadvantage - the material is quite heavy, which complicates the laying a little. Although a technique similar to tile fixing is used. You just need to close the seams in a different way.

Among the most commonly used materials are:

Shell rock is an inexpensive stone that is easy to install and affordable. However, its softness causes a risk of damage, and the presence of pores leads to the accumulation of soot in them.

Limestone with sandstone allows you to choose any style of decoration, but their strength is low, they strongly absorb soot.

Granite - can be used both in raw form and after polishing. The color palette is varied. The stone is durable, resistant to detergents.

Slate is an aesthetic and durable material, but demanding the right choice of style.

Marble is distinguished by its decorative variety and the possibility of decorating a fireplace in interiors decorated in many styles.

The use of plaster

Do-it-yourself fireplace decoration is possible by applying plaster. This method is very simple and does not require large financial investments. For cladding, strengthening the foundation of the fireplace is not required, and after a while the surface can be easily updated or a different decorative solution can be chosen.

You need to choose heat-resistant mixtures that include fixing components, for example, clay, lime, asbestos additives, hemp and straw. If the plaster contains fibers, then its reinforcing properties increase by several orders of magnitude.

And for decorativeness, the surface subsequently needs to be painted with heat-resistant colorful materials.

Plaster is applied using the following technology:

removal of the old coating and cleaning of dirt;
moistening of the walls of the structure;
jointing masonry joints up to 10 mm deep for better adhesion;
base heating;
fastening with nails or screws of a reinforcing mesh;
dilution of the mixture and applying it to the surface;
drying the plaster for 2-3 days with periodic heating of the fireplace;
applying decorative paint or putty to the surface.

Tiling decoration

These are decorative tiles made of ceramics or clay. They have a box shape. Such facing provides fast warming up of a fireplace and long preservation of heat. The coating is durable, environmentally friendly, moisture and heat resistant.

With the help of tiles, you can hide structural defects and strengthen it. But at the same time, such a decorative finish of the fireplace has some disadvantages:

high cost;
masonry complexity;
large weight of products.

At the first stage of facing, it is necessary to prepare the surface. It is cleaned, the seams are deepened by 10 mm, self-tapping screws are attached to them. The plane is primed, and then the mesh is attached. For quality work, the level is checked, and then the beacons are fixed.

Clay mixture is used for masonry. In the process of cooking, you need to sift the clay, removing lumps and stones. Clay is poured with water and kept in this form for a day. Then you need to mix clay with sand in a proportion suitable for the level of heat resistance of the fireplace.

After determining the pattern and the laying order, work is carried out in the following order:

pre-soaked samples are applied to the wall for verification;
tiles are fixed from the corner, and the solution is applied to their reverse side;
pins are attached to the holes in the tiller, a wire is fixed on them, which is tied to the grid and to the masonry with a self-tapping screw;
the rumps are joined together by brackets, and the space between them is closed with mortar.

wood finish

This option may not seem very successful from the standpoint of fire safety. But it is not so. Due to the naturalness of the wood, a very beautiful fireplace finish is obtained.

It is necessary to use heat-resistant species - alder or ash with a special coating against fire. It is also desirable to trim with wood only individual structural elements that are not in contact with the firebox. And cover it with a protective screen.

Facing the fireplace is a very important stage in the interior design of the room. By showing creativity using original materials, you can decorate your home, make it more comfortable.

Photo of fireplace decoration

Decorative and natural stone used to be a sign of luxury and prosperity. Just a couple of decades ago, including a fireplace in the interior of a house, and even more so an apartment, was problematic and difficult. Now, manufacturers produce a huge range of electric fireplaces, for which it is enough to mount a plasterboard niche like a fireplace and decorate it. For example, a fireplace decoration with a decorative stone is suitable.

Acquaintance with artificial stone

Decorative stone has such a set of properties as strength, reliability, durability and beauty. But besides this, it also has a number of other advantages that put it one step above other finishing materials:

Environmental friendliness. When it comes to high-quality material, it is safe to say that it is produced on the basis of exclusively natural ingredients. That is why even with high surface heating, no toxic substances and vapors that can harm human health will be released from this material.
Fire resistance. Artificial stone is a non-combustible product, which allows you to bring it as close as possible to an open hearth.
Strength and heat resistance. Even if the fireplace will constantly function, the material will not lose its properties.
Ease of processing. Everyone can cope with the decoration with a decorative stone with their own hands, just read the recommendations and instructions.
Versatility. You can give the material absolutely any shape.
The weight. Artificial stone trim will weigh significantly less than natural stone.
Range. In hardware stores you can find a wide variety of colors, shapes and textures.
Price. Unlike natural stone, artificial stone will cost several times cheaper.

Due to the fact that manufacturers use modern equipment and innovative technologies in the manufacturing process, decorative stone can be given any look that will be as close to natural as possible. Particular attention should be paid to the components:

sand;
fillers (perlite and expanded clay sand);
natural pigments.

The manufacturing process is primitive and simple: a mixture of components is poured into a special relief mold and sent to settle.

Cement-based stone is resistant to moisture, so it can be placed in the kitchen, but the gypsum base is not suitable for this purpose.

Criteria for choosing a decorative stone

First of all, you should get acquainted with the most common types of decorative stone suitable for facing the fireplace.

Porcelain stoneware is similar to natural stone due to its properties and appearance.
Majolica is a ceramic tile that is filled with glaze.
Terracotta is similar to majolica, but does not have a glazed finish.
Clinker is made on the basis of clay, into which various additives are mixed.

Each of them can harmoniously fit into the created interior and style of the room. But, since we are talking about finishing the fireplace, the choice of material should be approached responsibly so that the result of the work will meet all expectations. To do this, it is enough to take into account a few tips from experts.

It is important to carefully consider the design of the fireplace, as its shape, size and color of the finish must fit into the interior of the room.
Carefully read the technical specifications, which should be indicated in the accompanying documentation.
All purchased items must be identical in size, weight, color and texture. The surface should not have any defects: dents, stains, cracks and scuffs.
Domestic products will cost less than imported ones.
Check quality certificates and documentation from laboratories after testing.
Pay attention to the date of their manufacture. Facing material should not go on sale before the expiration of 28 days, since it is during this period that the stone gains strength.

All facing materials are transported in special packages. They must bear the logo of the manufacturer.

Carrying out facing with natural stone is a rather laborious and expensive process that will require special knowledge and skills. Those who decide to save money choose artificial stone. Experienced builders compare this process with laying ordinary ceramic tiles, which does not cause any particular difficulties and problems. The process is divided into several stages.

Tools and materials

In the process of finishing, the employee will need the following tools and materials:

adhesive mixture (cement mortar or liquid nails);
grout for joints or putty;
paint for seams;
grinder (for gypsum stone);
mixer for mixing the solution;
building crosses;
rubber mallet;
nails;
twine with weights;
level;
pencil.

Preliminary work

Finishing with artificial stone does not provide for special preparatory work. So, the surface will be sufficiently cleaned of dust and debris. If the lining will be done directly on the reinforcing mesh, then you will need to first fix the mesh with nails, and then level it with an adhesive solution.

You can proceed to the next step only after the leveled and prepared surface is completely dry.

stone fireplace trim

There is also a simple algorithm of actions.

For convenience and accuracy of work, two nails are hammered in the upper part of the fireplace and a twine with weights at the end is tied. This will ensure vertical stacking.
Start laying the stone from the bottom. To do this, an adhesive solution is applied to the surface of the fireplace with a notched trowel in an even layer. You do not need to immediately use a large area.
The decorative stone is pressed tightly against the surface and the evenness of the masonry is adjusted in accordance with the plumb lines. Lightly tap with a rubber mallet. Plastic crosses are fixed between the tiles to align the seams - two on each side.
Evenness must also be observed along the plane, for which a building level or a flat rail is used. If an incorrectly fixed element is found, it should be immediately re-glued until the glue has hardened.
Similar actions are repeated for all rows until the very end.
After completion of work, at least 24 hours must pass, after which you can proceed to grouting and removing crosses. In the store you can find a fairly rich assortment of mineral grouts. The grout should be applied with a rubber spatula, and leveled with a damp sponge without strong pressure.
Residue can be removed from the tiles 20 minutes after application, using a dry cloth. You can put the fireplace into operation in a day.

The instructions described the suture method of laying, but to save the adhesive solution, you can also choose a seamless one - the stones should fit snugly against each other.

In the process of laying decorative stone, it is necessary to immediately remove residues and traces of glue from the surface.

It is important to know

For a fireplace, it is recommended to choose only heat-resistant stone. The same principle must be followed when choosing glue.
Too large stones, the adhesive solution will not be able to withstand.
Facing with decorative stone is carried out only on the side, and the upper part must be even so that it can, for example, put photos and scented candles.

A fireplace lined with decorative stone will look great in combination with a variety of surfaces: wooden, rough, smooth and glass. Using artificial material, you can design a fireplace in various styles. If you want to achieve the effect of antiquity, you should choose a stone with a coarse-grained structure. Unusual relief and irregular shapes will help to realize any idea and design solutions. This element will combine sophistication and elegance at the same time.

Video

The technology of finishing the fireplace with a decorative gypsum stone is described in the video:

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