Tag: Stone Fireplace

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Faux Stone Panels Advantages Makeover Ideas

How To Make Your Life Easier When Remodeling A Fireplace

Even with the many innovative products sold on the construction and DIY market we still see a lot of people using the so-called real stone. Although appealing, the real stone they refer to is not on the market. What we see is almost always concrete, a mix of cement, pebbles, gypsum and painted over.
The only things they have in common with real stone is the fact that they absorb water and stains and, are hard to cut and install and create a lot of dust in a home when they are cut.

Fireplace Created With Synthetic Stone Parts
Fireplace Created With Synthetic Stone Parts

As you can imagine by the above statement we prefer to talk about other products, those that don’t take shortcuts when created in the factory. The products that are designed to last and that are geared toward the “weekend warrior” rather than the expensive installer.

Stone veneer can be almost any material. Cast stone is also referred to as stone veneer but it’s really just a cast material that is thinner than other products. It is not necessarily cut down to a smaller thickness, in most cases it is cast in those dimensions.

So, the reason why products like these should be friendly to installers is that many homeowners who want to create or remodel a stone wall or a fireplace do not want to learn to be a mason, nor want to create a lot of dust in their house in the process.

Another reason why they don’t want to use materials that absorb water is that they will create outdoor facades so the material has to be resistant to stains, water and freezing temperatures. These qualities are simply not available to “concrete blocks” therefore they look into synthetic materials.

accessories
Accessories

Using stone and brick made of dense resins allows you to have a variety of accessories to make the projects easy to complete. You can find things like:

Inside or Outside corners

Ledge trim

Outlet trim

And more.

Imitation stone veneer
Imitation stone veneer

When creating your own walls a homeowner doesn’t want to buy a wet saw and learn to be cut dusty materials to create corners. Polyurethane accessories are ready to install and if you had to cut them to size you could do so by simply using a jig saw.

Making the shift from heavy products to light ones is actually risk proof. You can order a panel or two or a small sample to see what you will be dealing with. Most companies will take that product back if you are not satisfied.

The remodeling projects are becoming easier and easier to complete. Stay up-to-date with the available options!

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Faux Stone Panels Advantages Makeover Ideas

Fireplace Remodeling Without The Hassle

The fireplace is one of the hardest areas to remodel. Finding a product that speeds up the process is essential to getting a great professional project. Using imitation stone can give you the best look at the best price. You save on installation and labor costs and you can make your home look great.

Perfect Fake Stone Fireplace
Perfect Fake Stone Fireplace

Every stone project requires a long time to complete. The best way to avoid a long construction period is by utilizing faux stone walls to create that great stone look in a tenth of the time.

If the fireplace looks blank and boring and it is in dire need of remodeling, then don’t fear a long construction process.

With the following information you will learn how to avoid expensive contractors and tedious masonry labor.

  • First we have to start with the surface. If your fireplace already has brick or stone facing on, it’s no problem. All you have to do to cover it is by using some sheets of plywood that can be screwed onto using masonry screws. This way homeowners can avoid taking off the actual stone facing without an expensive and messy tear down process.
  • Once a flat surface has been created around the perimeter of the fireplace then it is time to take the dimensions. Write down as many dimensions with the tape measure as you can in order to get the most accurate estimate of how many panels you will need to use.
  • Most projects will require cuts to panels. Find a place outside that is easy to clean so when the dust from cutting the panels falls on the project area it can be easily dispersed or swept up. Cutting them on grass is great since it only takes a quick shower from a hose to wash away the dust without any trouble. It is important to remember to cut as you go so that you don’t make any mistakes.

    Mitered Faux Stone Panels
    Mitered Faux Stone Panels
  • Here comes the fun part of applying the actual panels to the project site. When you are putting them on the surface hold the panel in its place for about a minute or two with your full weight to secure the panel onto the substrate. Drive some screws into it.

    Adhering Panels
    Adhering Panels

Once you are done use your touch up kit to paint any spots that may require it. Now you have a new fireplace.

Remodeling the fireplace makes a big difference and adds value to the house.

Creating a unique fireplace means making the best possible product without taking a long time. Finishing that long project in less than a day is worth it because it makes the renovation process a lot easier.

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Faux Stone Panels Advantages

Using Faux Stone For All Parts Of Your Fireplace.

Designing a faux stone fireplace can require a tremendous amount of manual work, intensive material research and the advice of decorating professionals. Many of us tend to focus on the final aspect of building a stone fireplace, the part where everyone sits down and enjoys the warmth and the focal point of the home.

Stone Fireplace
Stone Fireplace

Getting to this point though, can be a bit of a challenge.

Whether you are remodeling an old fireplace or want to transform your old brick face into a nice, fresh and rich faux stone look you need to consider a few important things:

  1. Not every faux stone can be installed on all surfaces
  2. Often you need to purchase the different materials from a long list of suppliers
  3. If you decide to save money and install the faux stone on your own there are a few things to know
  4. Consider that some foe stone materials are very heavy and some are lightweight

The main areas of the fireplace are the stone façade and the mantle.

When using materials other than light-weight faux stone resin you will need to take extra steps just to prepare the surface before you can begin installing the stone. These steps are not necessary when employing Faux Stone Depot’s sheets

You can not only choose the important parts from the same source but the installation steps of them can be an easy project to anyone.

Faux Stone Depot Stone Sheets For The Facade
Faux Stone Depot Stone Sheets For The Facade

The façade can use different type of faux stone in convenient sheets of stacked stone or ledge stone and even river rock, which can be cut to size and quickly glued and screwed in place.

The other part of a faux stone fireplace which plays a major role in the design is the faux stone mantle.

Firepalce Stone Surround
Firepalce Stone Surround

Some stone mantle are made of a solid and very heavy piece of cast material or just real stone which are very hard to cut to size and hang. With Faux Stone Depot you are able to choose a light-weight hollow profile that can be cut to size and easily installed. You can find it in coral and travertinve, with different styles and sized to fit any design. These can also be used as a surround.

Take your time to research and pick the best alternative for your faux stone project.

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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!