Categories
Faux Stone Panels Advantages

How To Remodel A Fireplace With Faux Stone Panels

How many homeowners do you think have a fireplace? How many of these, do you think, are completed and will never again need a makeover? Probably none.

Soon or later, either because of tear and wear or because of outdated designs, every fireplace will need a makeover.
Let’s say you have a fireplace like this one which was designed and built in the 70’s.

Old Fireplace
A fireplace in need of a makeover.

There is no doubt that when it was built, this fireplace made the family enjoy the time spent around it and appreciate its appeal, for a long time. Forty years later the design naturally becomes outdated and it needs a fresh look.

So, what are the best ways to do this? The options are few and pretty clear-cut, at least to us.

Most people know about cultured or cast stone, those types of stones that are either real or made form heavy composite materials like concrete, gypsum and gravel. Until now these were pretty much the only materials available.
Luckily today we have a really nice alternative, faux stone that come in very convenient panels. In some quality stores you can find brick, stacked stone, Ledgestone and even river rock at really good prices. You can install them without hiring a mason and without having to learn how to be one.

Here’s how you do it:

1- Start by framing the firebox opening with some faux stone trim

Frame the opening with a trim
Frame the opening with a trim

2- Cut your panels to go from the left wall to the installed trim. All you need to do is cut the panels straight with a simple circular or table saw. No special blades are necessary.

Cut and fit the faux stone panel
Cut and fit the faux stone panel

3- Repeat the above process for every row of panels needed, until you reach the ceiling.

You will inevitably have some cut-off pieces but you can use them below the hearth as in  this example.

Project Completed
The completed faux stone fireplace

4- In some cases you might need to use some caulking to fill gaps or exposed edges where the panels are cut. For this, you can simply using a Touch up kit, which has all the colors of the stones. You can use it to paint right over the caulk.

Project completed!