The following is a guest post but I must they are a tremendous idea. They not only look shape but are easy to install. It will give a whole new look to your fireplace and your room.
With less cost, weight, and installation time than solid cast stone, a new alternative allows homeowners to install their own customized stone fireplace surrounds
Since when did stone fireplace mantels become a one to two-hour do-it-yourself (DIY) project?
For self-described Home Depot D-I-Y guy Brian Faust of San Antonio, TX, it was when he discovered an innovative new lightweight product that had the look and feel of real stone – but wasn’t as heavy as solid cast stone. To be more exact, the product, from San Antonio-based Mission Stone, involves a layer of cast limestone cement over a lightweight Styrofoam core, giving the look and feel of solid cast stone without the weight, the price or installation requirements.
Taking as little as an hour to install with the help of a second person, a homeowner can now remodel his or her home to feature a customized stone showpiece.
“It took me less than 45 minutes to install the surround,” says Faust, who installed it with the help of a friend using Liquid Nails. “Everything just kind of pieced together.”
“The fireplace is now the focal point when you walk into the room,” says Faust.
Looks great, less filling
So how does a manufacturer like Mission Stone manage to duplicate the appearance of various stone surfaces without the ponderousness of solid cast stone? Simple, they use actual stone, but just on the surface of the product.
A ½-inch thick layer of limestone cement is hand cast around the foam core and subsequently hand-polished with a grinder to give it the look and feel of real cast stone. At that point the surface presents a white color, but various water-based stains can be applied to provide different color variations, including custom finishes.
Installation made easy
Homeowners wishing to install a lightweight fireplace surround need only equip themselves with a level, caulking gun, a sponge and perhaps some shims. Materials include a couple tubes of construction adhesive and caulk.
The legs and mantel are first “dry-fit” to the wall, and their positions are marked in pencil. The pieces are then removed so that the adhesive can be applied, after which they are pressed firmly back into place. Once the adhesive is dry, a ?” bead of caulk is applied where the mantel and legs meet the wall. Wiping everything down with a clean damp sponge finishes the job.
Light on the wallet
Although a solid cast stone fireplace surround might set you back $1200 or more, the average foam-core surround sells for $500. When shipping costs are factored in, the price differential expands. It can cost up to $800 to deliver a one-ton surround, whereas a foam-core surround takes only $250 to ship.
But even greater cost-savings accrue during the installation process. There is no special equipment needed and you don’t have to hire a professional mason which could push the installation tab way up. Here a simple installation kit can limit foam-core installations to around $130.
You also don’t have to worry if the floor near the fireplace can support the weight. Because foam-core products are so much lighter, they provide an excellent solution for homes with fireplaces on a second floor.
The product is not only catching on with the D-I-Y crowd, but also with contractors as well who are drawn to the look and ease of installation over cast stone.
For more information, contact Mission Stone LP; 519 Carolina Street; San Antonio, TX 78210; 1 (800) 771-1626; Fax 1 (210) 534-2554; info@missionstone.com or www.missionstone.com .