There is nothing quite like having a nice fireplace in the home. It’s a centerpiece of the room and it helps to keep us warm when the weather is cold outside. What can you do if you want to change the look of your brick fireplace? Can you put stone over it?
You can put stone over a brick fireplace if you prepare the brick properly in advance. Doing so allows the stone to stay in place and keeps problems from occurring because of the temperature differences.
Anytime you are working on a fireplace, you need to consider your safety and the safety of your family. It isn’t necessarily what will happen while you are doing the job but rather, while you are enjoying the fires in the future.
Stone, like brick, is more than capable of standing up to the temperature of a fire that would be in a standard fireplace. Even over the course of time, you will not have difficulty when they are installed properly.
The problem is, not all stone is created equally and there are some decisions that have to be made. This would include choosing a stone that is appropriate for the fireplace and one that will both look beautiful and stand up to the heat.
Can You Put Stone Over Brick Fireplace? (How To)
It is also important to consider that in most cases, you are not going to be taking rocks out of the field and putting them over brick to redo the fireplace. This wouldn’t work well because it would leave too much of a gap on the back of the stone.
There are a number of different options available, including a stone veneer or cladding. This is, by far, one of the better options available because it allows you to have the stone look and durability that you desire quickly and easily.
In some cases, stone cladding is going to be a sheet, such as a 12″ x 12″ sheet that is installed on the face of the brick. At other times, however, it is smaller pieces of stone that fit into the area. Which is better?
Although you can use either, it is typically better on a smaller job, such as this, to use the small, individual pieces and put them in place. It gives you the opportunity to be a little creative and at the same time, it provides you with a solid look when all is said and done.
As you will see, preparation is also vitally important when doing this type of job. If you were to rush into it without considering everything that needs to be done in advance, it would be a shortsighted endeavor.
Let’s consider some of the different things that could be problematic when putting stone over a brick fireplace. This will help you to avoid the problem. We will also look at the different tools that may be necessary and how to get the job done right.
Should You Put Stone Over Brick Fireplace?
You might think that this is going to be an easy job because either brick or stone can be used on a fireplace. There are actually a number of different problems that can occur and knowing these problems in advance can help you to avoid them.
Dirty Bricks – One thing that needs to be considered is the mortar that is used to attach the stone façade to the brick. If the bricks are dirty, then the mortar is not going to hold properly and it could eventually detach.
Since you are dealing with an indoor fireplace, you can’t bring a pressure washer inside to clean it. It is still important to make sure that the area is clean, so this typically means using elbow grease along with a scrub brush, soap, and water.
Essentially, you want to remove as much of the old grease and grime from the brick as possible. This may have built up over the years, so give it the attention it deserves. After you wash the brick, give it a few days to dry thoroughly.
Temperature Fluctuations – If you tend to use your fireplace on a regular basis, then the temperature fluctuations need to be considered. These fluctuations can be extreme, especially above the firebox and near the opening.
It is important to check the specifications of the mortar you use to ensure that it can be used for high temperatures. If you are just using an inexpensive mortar, you may find that it doesn’t provide the results that you need.
Imperfections in Mortar Lines – Putting stone over a brick fireplace is one thing but the brick is not often going to be perfect. One of the ways that imperfections may be seen is in the mortar lines. If they are thicker and indented, it may not work out as well when you put on the scratch coat.
The easiest way to get beyond this is to put a primary skim coat that brings things out to level. You don’t necessarily have to cover the brick, but you should cover the mortar lines and make sure that they are in line with everything else. You can then move on to the scratch coat.
Damaged Brick – Inspecting the fireplace is very important during this process. If there are any bricks that have gotten damaged, they need to be fixed or replaced at this time.
Loose bricks can be a big problem, causing the mortar to crack and eventually fail. Taking the time to fix the bricks in advance will go a long way in helping the job to be successful.
Painted Bricks – One other issue that needs to be considered is if the bricks are painted. If that is the case, then you can’t simply put the stone on top because it won’t adhere properly. You can scuff the surface with sandpaper and add a scratch coat.
Once the scratch coat is in place, you can begin installing the stone. Essentially, a scratch coat gives you an imperfect surface so that the mortar will adhere properly when you do install the stone.
What Tools Do You Need To Put Stone Over Brick Fireplace?
Some tools may be needed when you install stone over a brick fireplace. This isn’t an extensive list, but it’s good to have these items with you when you get started.
Rags
Buckets
Sponges
Scrub Brush
Bristle Brush
Tape Measures
Straight Edge
Levels
T-Square
Wet Saw
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 17, 2022.
Angle Grinder
Notched Trowel
Rubber Mallet
Hammer
Safety Glasses
Face Shield
Gloves
Earplugs or Earmuffs
What Preparations Do You Need To Put Stone Over Brick Fireplace?
Preparing your brick fireplace for stone requires a number of different steps. Each of these steps should be done so the job will last a long time.
Repair – If any of the bricks are damaged or loose, they should be repaired or replaced. Any damaged or loose bricks under the scratch coat could eventually cause the bond to weaken and the stone may crack and come loose.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 17, 2022.
Clean – It can be difficult to clean a brick fireplace but you can do it with a scrub brush, bristle brush, soap, and water. It’s going to take a lot of work on your part but the cleaner you can get the brick, the better the scratch coat will adhere.
Painted Brick – If the brick is painted, you may need to add a metal grate before you put on the scratch coat. More than likely, the mortar will not stick to the painted brick properly. Attach the metal grate and then do the scratch coat.
Scratch Coat – The scratch coat is essentially a coat of mortar that is scratched with a notched trowel. The purpose is to allow the stone to stick to it. Otherwise, the brick surface may be too smooth for proper adhesion.
Dry – Before you begin installing the stone, make sure that everything is dry. You should also ensure that each step begins with a dry and clean surface.
How To Put Stone Over Brick Fireplace
Now is the time when we actually begin installing the stone over the brick fireplace. You are on the last leg of having a beautiful new fireplace in your home.
1. Corners – The best place to start when putting stone over a brick fireplace is in the corners. Butter the back of the stone and put it in place. Tap it into position with the butt end of a hammer handle or use a rubber mallet.
Continue to work your way up the corners on both sides first. This will give you a target and you can fill in the middle with the stone veneers.
2. Cutting Veneers – It is going to be necessary to cut the veneers at some point or another. The best way to do this is with a wet saw but you can also use an angle grinder if you have to do it in place. If you’re creating dust, wear a disposable respirator, such as an N95.
3. Filling Gaps – If there are any large gaps between the stone pieces, you can simply cut some of the smaller pieces of stone and fit them in place. If you take a look at a stone wall, you will notice that it isn’t perfect and it is actually the imperfections that give it character.
4. Grout – The final step in the process is to grout between the gaps. This will help to bring everything together. If you are happy with the look without the grout, it is not necessary to add it.
You can put stone over a brick fireplace as long as you prepare the brick properly in advance. Cleaning the brick is important, as is repairing any damage. After applying a scratch coat of mortar, you can begin installing the stone pieces.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 17, 2022.