Fireplace trim with decorative stone

In a modern interior, a fireplace is not so much a source of heat as a design element. Its appearance often determines the overall style of the room and sets the tone for the entire interior, so fireplace decoration requires a responsible and competent approach. To help in this matter, I will give you several options for decorating the fireplace, and we will familiarize ourselves with their features.

Fireplace decoration example

Method 1: Tiled

Tiling is one of the most popular ways to decorate a fireplace, as it allows you to get the design of the portal literally for every taste.. Of course, special tiles are used for decorating fireplaces, which have high thermal conductivity.

As a rule, it is made of ceramic, porcelain stoneware or clinker. Also, the fireplace is often trimmed with gypsum tiles imitating stone.

Tile Fireplace Example

The high popularity of decorating a fireplace with tiles is also associated with a number of advantages of this solution:

Artificial or natural stone?

Natural rock is a natural composite that has been formed over the years from stone chips, marble powder and quartz, bonded together with polymer resins. This material was used in ancient times and it did not lose its relevance until the time when the brick was invented. Artificial stone has some advantages over natural rock:

The composition of the composite contains lightweight fillers, due to which each bar has a small weight. This feature of the material allows it to be used to decorate not only the fireplace itself, but also the accent wall on which it is located. Due to its high weight, natural stone is not recommended for decoration in surfaces with a height of more than 1 m.
The fireplace decor stone is easy to install, and its suppleness and relative softness allow you to sheathe a complex configuration.
Only a grinder is needed for cutting material, while cutting a real cobblestone is not so simple.
The affordable price of artificial stone, perhaps, has become its main advantage. For a very reasonable fee, you can finish not only the fireplace, but also part of the wall, doorway. Natural cobblestones require painstaking processing using special equipment, which leads to a large cost of material.
Artificial stone is produced in various color variations. The usual breed is distinguished by a meager range of shades. Stones of rare colors will be very expensive.
The material allows the use of seamless technology for decoration, which is impossible when working with natural breed.

Although the purchase of artificial stone for cladding seems like a great idea, it also has disadvantages:

Natural breed has a unique pattern. No imitation can repeat the natural texture of the material.
Real stone, due to its hardness, is not afraid of mechanical damage, and its service life varies from several tens to a couple of hundred years.

Although both materials with the right approach allow you to embody the most original design ideas, artificial stone is more "flexible" in this regard.

Criteria for choosing a decorative stone for decoration

When choosing the optimal artificial material, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of nuances:

The item must be well packaged.
The surface of the material should be smooth. If the stone has a porous structure on the front side, then the technology of its production was violated. Such material will not last long.
Experts believe that imitation should have a "shutter speed". In their opinion, the strength of the stone reaches its maximum values only after a month from the moment of its manufacture.
There are several certificates attached to the product. Since the material is synthetic, it is important that these documents are available, because we are talking about finishing the surface, which will periodically heat up. Production flaws will certainly affect the quality of the artificial stone, as a result of which it can become harmful to human health.
On the packaging of high-quality imitation, the name of the manufacturer's company, the date of manufacture, are necessarily present.

Also, do not buy artificial stone “with hands”, since you do not know where and by whom it was produced, how much it meets quality standards and how many years it will last.

Tile suitable for decoration

Not every type of tile is suitable for decorating a fireplace. Depending on the manufacturing technology and structure, the material is classified into several types. Each of them differs not only in cost, but also in characteristics, installation features and service life. Tiles are selected based on the characteristics of the room, which is decorated with a fireplace.

For example, for a bath they buy heavy-duty material that is not afraid of high temperatures and high humidity. For the kitchen, an imitation with similar characteristics is selected. Living rooms, bedrooms, cabinets are less demanding on tiles. Their microclimate is stable.

Terracotta

Clay acts as the main component of the tile. The material is perfectly attached to any surface using conventional liquid nails. Terracotta has a high vapor and air permeability. This helps the decor to absorb excess moisture in the room and participate in the formation of a favorable microclimate. Terracotta is faced not only with fireplace portals, but also with the facades of houses. The material is frost-resistant, so it is ideal for decoration of rooms with an unstable temperature (for example, baths). The special texture of the surface allows the terracotta to give off heat for a long time, so fireplaces decorated with such tiles cool down more slowly. In terms of strength, the material does not lag behind the kiln brick.

Majolica

Majolica is a glazed terracotta. An additional glossy layer allows cleaning the surface with abrasive compounds, contact with which will not damage the tile. According to the characteristics of the majolica, it does not lag behind terracotta. It is also easily fixed to the surface, gives off heat for a long time, and can be used in any type of premises. In production, the top layer of majolica is decorated with patterns. A wide range of drawings allows you to choose the material for interior design.

Heat-resistant brick tile

Clinker is made from several grades of clay and chamotte powder. Natural dyes are added to the composition. The material is environmentally friendly. Since its structure is low porosity, it slowly gives off heat. Frost resistance allows you to trim fireplaces in homes and temporarily used baths. Clinker thickness varies from 0.9 to 1.2 cm. The tile is strong, durable and insensitive to mechanical damage. On the surface, the clinker is fixed with liquid nails. Unfortunately, the material does not have a terracotta hitch; therefore, reinforcing mesh is additionally used for decoration.

Porcelain Tiles

For the appearance of porcelain, we owe Italians. The production technology of the new cladding material was first tested at the end of the last century. The monolith is non-porous, which significantly increases its service life. Porcelain is made of marble chips, metal oxides, quartz sand with the addition of pigments by pressing under high pressure. Artificial material proved to be good during low and high temperature tests. This quality of granite allows it to be used in the design of fireplaces in steam rooms, in the kitchen and for decorating house facades. Material can decorate a room with almost any style, since it is available with a wide range of color and texture options. The surface of porcelain stoneware does not fade under sunlight.

Tiles

Tiles - piece finishing details made of special types of clay. Their surface is treated with glaze, which gives it a glossy sheen. Due to the high cost, the tiles failed to break out into the market leaders. The technology of their manufacture involves firing at high temperatures, which makes the material heat-resistant and durable. The tiles are characterized by high heat transfer, which is useful for those rooms where the fireplace is not just an interior element, but also an alternative source of heat.

Since tiles are very expensive, they can only issue a mantelpiece. For the rest of the portal, cheaper material is selected that will be combined in color and texture.

Master - tile laying class

Putting a fireplace with your own tiles is not so difficult. The whole process of finishing will take 5-8 hours. A high level of skill of the builder will significantly speed up the procedure. Grouting is done the next day, so you can get a beautiful, stylish interior element in just two days.

The finishing process is divided into three stages:

Surface preparation
Facing work,
Finishing

The process is completed by decorating the mantelpiece and part of the chimney, if you plan to use wall decorations.

Preparatory work

Before facing the fireplace, its surface must first be prepared. If the old finishing layer was removed from it, then the portal is cleaned of adhesive residues and leveled. Then the surface is degreased and small particles of dust are removed, which subsequently can affect the quality of fixing of the finishing material. The treatment is completed by applying a layer of mastic, which seals microcracks.

Tools and materials

The following materials will be required for work:

Tile,
Corner elements
Heat-resistant grout for joints and glue,
The same pieces of drywall to create even seams between the elements.

The standard set of tools includes:

Level and plumb
Rubber gloves,
Construction gun
Grinder with a disk for cutting tiles,
Comb spatula
Rubber mallet,
Waste container (bucket, bowl),
Drill and nozzle for mixing dry mixes.

The list of materials is sometimes supplemented with special tools for surface treatment after laying tiles. For example, some use dirt repellents.

Technology for laying tiles on the walls of the fireplace and exhaust pipe

A fireplace should be wrapped only after finishing work on the surface. Start from the corners. They are fixed after the measurements. They will serve as a guideline that will ensure the laying of even rows of tiles without distortions. Heat-resistant glue is mixed in a container. Then it is applied with a comb spatula to the back of the tile. For better adhesion, the surface of the fireplace is also coated with adhesive in a similar way. Then a tile is applied to it and, after positioning, is pressed with force. Finish fastening by tapping with a rubber mallet. In order to maintain a gap of the same width between the seams, pre-prepared pieces of drywall are inserted into them. It will be possible to remove it only after 12 hours from the moment of fixing the decor. If necessary, the tile is cut with a grinder into fragments of the desired size. A day after laying, you can proceed to grouting the seams. The composition has a basic white color, which is adjusted using special dyes. The grout is mixed with the pigment according to the instructions, and then refilled with a construction gun. Its nozzle is inserted into the groove of the seam and the mixture is gently squeezed out, moving along the gap. The grout should level with the tile, but not protrude above it. If part of the composition gets on a clean surface, do not immediately try to wipe it. The grout is removed after it has hardened with a screwdriver or knife. After 1.5-2 hours, the composition will begin to thicken and acquires the consistency of a dense paste. Now they begin to stitching the seams, which is carried out using a conventional flat screwdriver.

If the elements will be fixed using glue without mastic, then the “wrong” side of the finishing material is slightly moistened with water.

Conclusion

After laying the tiles, the portal and the chimney are decorated with stucco moldings, wooden elements, metal decorations. The fireplace should be made out in accordance with the stylistic concept. In the classic interior, it is decorated with paintings, candlesticks, antique watches. In modern versions, avant-garde and futuristic sculptures, author's pictures are used. Porcelain vases, plates on coasters and fresh flowers are selected for provence.

In eco-style, preference is given to natural decorations: wood cuts, cobblestones, cones, dry twigs, gathered in a bouquet. Fireplace decor for the New Year is made of holiday wreaths, miniature Christmas trees, garlands, socks for gifts. Variants look unusual when the portal is on a pedestal, and it has a hollow niche for firewood.

The advantages of decorative stones

Artificial stones are used to decorate electric and wood fireplaces, gas structures, bio-fireplaces and stove-fireplaces. Due to the achievement of the maximum similarity of designs, the decoration of the fireplace with decorative stone complements the general style of the interior.

Such facing stones have several advantages:

high refractory rates,
maintain a natural color and appearance for a long time.
convenience when decorating due to the lightness of the material,
a variety of colors and textures allow you to select stones for fireplaces in the desired style,
low cost compared to natural stone,
ease of independent use, convenient cutting and styling,
does not emit harmful odors, as it relates to environmentally friendly materials, does not contain impurities and toxic reagents.

Artificial stone is made from cement with the addition of expanded clay, pumice or perlite fillers. Dyes are added to give the necessary colors to the material.

Thanks to these technologies, artificial stones weigh about half as much as natural ones.
At a low cost, the external texture of the material differs little from natural stones, sometimes they are difficult to distinguish from each other.
The appearance of the material repeats the natural shape of the cobblestones. They come in the form of chipped, sawn rubble stones.

Recommendations for choosing a decorative stone

To clad a stone fireplace with your own hands, you need to purchase the appropriate materials.

Choosing a decorative stone from the whole variety, you should approach this issue creatively, decide in advance on the design style of your design. It is important to consider the following tips:

Do not chase the goods of foreign companies. Most often, Russian analogues have the best quality and at the same time have a low cost.
Stone fireplace decoration is performed using heat-resistant products. Before purchasing decorative stones, consider heat-resistant characteristics, depending on the type of source used. If you decide to use non-heat-resistant decorative stones for cladding, then toxic substances may be released when heated.
Read the quality certificates for products, such documents will guarantee that they meet the specified parameters. If they refuse to provide certificates, this indicates a questionable quality of products. It is possible that the production was carried out using harmful components.
Get material from well-known manufacturing companies that have been working for a long time and have established themselves in this industry.
High-quality products on cardboard packaging have a brand logo and the coordinates of the manufacturer.
Before buying, pay attention to the appearance of artificial stone, the presence of defects in the form of cracks or chips, as well as other signs of marriage, is unacceptable.
Pay attention to the date of production of the stone, since the process of solidification of the material is carried out for another month after release. Only after this time does the material gain its strength.

In addition to decorative stones, it will be necessary to stock up

heat resistant adhesive
water-repellent impregnations with protective properties,
grout
a cleaner designed to remove residual cement from the surface,
specialized varnish for facing surfaces, creating the effect of wet stone.

For revetment of a fireplace the special glue structure is used. It must be chosen taking into account the main surface: a high-quality connection can only be in the case when the composition of the decorative stone coincides with the glue base.

For example, a gypsum decorative stone is glued together with gypsum glue, and cement stone requires a cement adhesive.

Moreover, if the main surface has hollows, then mastic is used. It can qualitatively fill in all the bumps.

Construction recommendations of specialists

When used as a base on a wooden surface, it is pre-coated with waterproofing.

If the fireplace is made of metal or concrete - do not produce waterproofing.

Please note! In case of serious irregularities in the concrete or brick walls of the fireplace, it is necessary to apply plaster.

The plaster mesh is fixed to the base with special fasteners.
Plaster is applied on top of the mesh and wait until the layer has completely dried.

If the thickness of the materials has discrepancies or forms of decorative stone with an uneven structure, then it is worth laying them in a chaotic manner. So the overall composition will look natural and believable.

Necessary tools

Before carrying out construction work, prepare the appropriate tool:

In addition to the tools indicated in the photograph, it is desirable to have:

screws or nails for mounting auxiliary materials,
spray gun or brush to wet the surface of the base before applying glue,
building trowels,
ordinary and rubber mallet,
grinder with a stone disc,
screwdriver and drill,
smooth wooden bars as guide racks,
the container in which the solution is stirred.

Stone cladding

Decorating a fireplace with a decorative stone is shown in the photo, we will analyze the main stages of the facing work and focus on the important nuances of the process itself.

If the portal is brick - they clean it, removing excess mortar or uneven joints. With a sharp and strong metal object, make a groove in the seams between the bricks.

With irregularities of the main surface - it is leveled with plaster or cement mortar, applying it to the grid.

Before finishing work, make a drawing and lay out all the details on the floor. Before laying dry, try on one row and check the configuration.

When using a tile having an irregular shape, it is necessary to mark it from the wrong side, the numbers of adjacent parts are written on the faces.

It is important to know that a lined fireplace will turn out even if finishing work begins with reinforcing thick stones. They will become a guideline for applying glue under the thin details of the masonry.

When laying stone tiles, take it from different boxes to evenly distribute the pattern, as they may vary in color and thickness from each other.

If possible, make seams between tiles of the same width so that the pattern subsequently matches.

Facing the fireplace with seamless masonry, firmly press all the details to each other.

If you want to veneer "under a brick" or using parts of a rectangular shape, watch for the verticality of the corners. Closely control the connection of horizontal and vertical planes, maintaining an angle of 90 degrees.

To do this, you can use a special template on which the thickness of the seams and the intersection of perpendicular lines are marked.

The finishing process always starts from the bottom corner. After the lining of the corner surface is completed, they move to the upper horizontal row. Next, the main work is carried out, which is carried out from top to bottom.

Having finished work, it is necessary to withstand at least a day until the glue completely dries, then you can proceed to rubbing the seams.

Important! Pre-check the quality of the grout on the trimmed decorative stone - does it leave traces on it.

After the surface of the entire structure has dried, it is treated with a special fire-resistant hydrophobic composition. Thus, a protective film is created that does not allow moisture to pass and preserves the decorative stone during deformation or external impact on the fireplace. Dust is easily erased from such a surface. Also, the protective film retains the structure of artificial stone at temperature extremes.

It is desirable to trim the front and side of the portal with a decorative stone. For the upper part, choose solid planes from ready-made slabs made of natural or artificial stone.

DIY stones

Having little experience in construction work, you can independently produce facing stones of the required size and color.

For this, silicone molds are used in which a solution of cement, sand and dyes is poured.

In accordance with some technologies, the cement mixture is replaced with alabaster. At the same time, all the components are immediately mixed, diluted with water to the required consistency and poured into molds.

In the forms, the material must completely harden, only then can it be used to decorate the fireplace.

Decorating a fireplace with decorative stones is available for anyone. At first glance, it seems that it is very difficult and time-consuming, although it is not. If something doesn’t work out in the process, remember that you can always redo it.

The main thing is to choose the selected details correctly and be creative in the process, following the recommendations. In this case, the fireplace will fill with the beauty and charm of the hearth, while at the same time delight your whole family for many years.

Varieties of finishing materials

For the decorative decoration of fireplaces, the following types of decoration materials are used. These include:

Heat resistant plaster. The composition uses fire-resistant components that can cope with sudden changes in temperature. Special pigments help to add bright colors, which are combined with the construction compound at the initial stages of finishing work.

Ceramic tile. This type of building material helps to achieve complex textured lines and add decorative details to the interior space.

Decorative rock. Most often, artificial stones are used for finishing work. It is a polyurethane elements that are attached to a special adhesive. Such artificial fireplace decoration is no different from natural materials.

Modern pigments and technologies help to achieve a complex color cast and depth of textured lines. All these elements will be perfectly combined with the chosen stylistic direction.

Types of plaster for decoration

This type of decorative fireplace decoration is considered the most durable and durable. Special devices and tools help create any texture on the surface of the decorative coating.

For decoration, two types of building composition are used. The first is used for initial or rough coating. It has a dense texture and dark color. Layer thickness should not exceed 5 mm. The construction composition allows you to get rid of external defects of masonry on the surface of the fireplace.

The second type of building composition has a white tint, which can be further changed using special color tones. It is applied in a thin layer and left to dry completely.

To create textured lines use a decorative roller or spatula. Refractory materials are present in the composition of decorative plaster. They prevent excessive accumulation of soot and soot during the burning of wood.

In addition, they reduce the risk of possible deformation. Most often, their surface has a moisture resistant coating. This allows you to clean the plane as it becomes dirty.

Decorative stone finish

For finishing work, they use special tiles that completely imitate natural stone. Elements have a minimum weight, which facilitates the installation of decorative parts.

Stone decoration of the fireplace is carried out on a previously prepared plane. To do this, use rough plaster, which allows you to get rid of external defects on the plane of the fireplace.

For additional protection, a special refractory cloth is used. It is mounted on top of the rough plaster. It is fixed with a special adhesive composition. Next, they begin to fix the decorative elements.

For this, the adhesive composition evenly distributes with the help of a notched trowel along the plane of the stone walls. Tiles are installed from the bottom rows. This will correctly determine the guide line.

To prevent rows from deforming, plastic clamps are used for this. They are cross-shaped parts that are fixed between the tiled rows. When the adhesive is completely dry, they are carefully cleaned.

Upon completion of the finishing work, they proceed to grouting the seams. To do this, use finishing plaster. Most often it has a snow-white shade.

The construction composition is evenly distributed between the decorative parts using a thin rubber spatula. A photo of the decoration of fireplaces presents the entire workflow.

Finishing Cost

The price of finishing fireplaces directly depends on the type of finishing material and the area of the stone structure. As a rule, ceramic tiles are much more expensive than decorating with artificial stone.

The budget option is decorative plaster. The cost of the construction composition depends on the components and special equipment that is used during the work process.

Facing Features

The fireplace fits easily into almost any interior, regardless of style, color scheme and a variety of shapes and textures. He quickly fills the space with special warmth and becomes the main "highlight" of the room. At the same time, the fireplace not only embodies the dreams of home comfort, but also acts as a heating element and part of the heating as a whole.

If everything is clear with the functions of this interior item, then the appearance raises a lot of questions, since the variety of shapes, colors and textures is simply amazing. The result depends solely on the vision of the designer and the materials used to decorate the fireplace. They can be both natural and artificial origin. In appearance, it is difficult to determine how the material is produced and what its cost is, which allows you to reduce the cost of installing and decorating the fireplace, and the beauty of the product will not be affected.

There are a lot of advantages of stone finishing, but there are also certain disadvantages that can affect the decision of the master.

the high cost of the materials themselves, especially of such beautiful stones as marble and granite,
problems in terms of installation, since it is difficult to find a specialist who has experience in this matter and is well acquainted with stone facing of surfaces,
marble and granite have a high weight, which also creates great difficulties with installation.

At the same time, the market for building materials is replete with decorative stone, which is an ordinary tile with a surface that imitates the natural texture of individual materials. Its cost is not so high and installation does not cause great difficulties, therefore, such materials are chosen by those who prefer a budget, simple, but at the same time no less attractive option. Falshkin often has the most diverse design. Such portals can be overlaid with all kinds of materials.

Brick

No less popular material for decorating a fireplace is ordinary brick. This is especially convenient if the fireplace is completely made of brick, since such masonry can be left in its natural form. You will only have to slightly decorate the surface and tidy up the seams to get a finished and attractive look.

Experts advise finishing in several stages:

The surface of the brick requires polishing, although some options can do without these manipulations.
At the second stage, the facet of the brick is chamfered.

Brickwork becomes more attractive when treated with sulphate or saline. This makes the surface bright and beautiful, and the final touch in the fight for the attractive appearance of the fireplace can be painting. There are special paints for bricks, with the help of which it easily takes on any shade.
After painting, it is advisable to take care of the appearance of the seams. To do this, it is necessary to process all these elements with a special solution and decorative grout.

Quite often, the brick is covered with tiles, mainly clinker, but this will require large expenditures and labor.

The facing brick is completely unsuitable for such work., since it gives too “overweight” appearance, since the material itself is quite heavy and takes up a lot of space. This is especially inappropriate in a city apartment, where every meter counts. In addition, the cost of facing bricks is high, and it makes no sense to spend money on something that can overload the interior and thereby spoil it.

Decorative rock

This material has long been used for interior surfaces, including for fireplaces. The main advantage of this solution is its attractive appearance, since decorative stone is available in different shades and textures. Such a surface fits into the general space and becomes an integral part of the interior, attracting the bulk of attention to itself.

In addition to appearance, decorative stone is a high strength and a long service life. Natural stone is always a durable material, and if we talk about marble or granite, its service life is simply unlimited. A shelf made of this material against the background of a home fireplace looks very elegant.

The material is also easy to fit, because it does not require perfect evenness in terms of canvas and seams. Natural origin does not give restrictions in terms of appearance, since here there is plenty to choose from. You must understand that the service life and future appearance of the fireplace are completely dependent on the material that will be used for decoration.

The most budgetary option is a shell rock. At the same time, it has an attractive appearance, is sold in most modern stores and is easy to fit even by non-professionals. Of the disadvantages, low strength can be noted, since it is easily damaged, and its porous structure is easily susceptible to soot and dirt contamination.

Granite surpasses other types of natural stone in strength and durability.Such material will last more than one century and will delight several generations of owners of a house or apartment. The color scheme allows you to harmoniously fit the fireplace, finished with granite in the interior design, while the surface looks attractive both in polished and natural form.

Granite is not afraid of aggressive detergents, it is resistant to mechanical damage, and cleaning does not require much effort, because any dirt is easily washed. The granite countertop looks very beautiful and stylish - such a mantelpiece will last for many years.

The main disadvantage of this material is its high weight and price, which not everyone will be happy with.

It is also worth noting such natural stones as sandstone and limestone, the cost of which starts around 1700 rubles per 1 sq. Km. m. Compared to other materials, it is not so expensive. At the same time, sandstone and limestone have a wide palette of shades, as a result of which they can be used in different interiors. Just like a shell rock, these types of stone do not differ in strength and create a lot of problems when cleaning due to the porous structure.

A strong competitor of granite is marble, the price of which starts at 3,500 rubles per 1 sq. Km. m. The main advantage of marble is its unique appearance, wide color gamut, special strength and ease of care. If we talk about the installation of marble, then it definitely requires the hand of a professional with extensive experience in this matter. Saving on work is clearly not worth it.

Relatively low cost has shale, which in its natural properties is very similar to shell rock and limestone. It can hardly be entered into the interior, but with the right design decision it looks harmonious, interesting and rather unusual. It is also used for stoves.

Experts have come up with several options for solving the problem with the porous structure of some types of natural stone. One of these solutions is the treatment of the structure after installation with a special transparent coating, which prevents the appearance of complex contaminants.

What else can you finish?

Another good way to finish the surface of the fireplace is plaster. It combines simplicity and budget price, which is why it is popular with masters. Surface plastering is a fairly easy process that anyone can handle. In this case, there is no need to strengthen the foundation, because such a cladding does not provide excessive weight for the structure.

An important advantage of plastering is the ability to change the appearance at any time by painting.

The disadvantage can be called fragility, but this is not so critical at a low cost and the possibility of repair.

Beautiful examples

Decorating a corner fireplace, you need to pay close attention to the portal and the chimney. These are the main components of this design. In the same style, you can decorate the fire compartment.