ZC Fireplace Install Question

Hello all,

I am currently getting ready to culture stone my fireplace. Realize I am new to the masonry culture stone type work. I installed the new fireplace and drywalled the entire wall with 1/2 sheet rock butted up to the ZC Fireplace. Well I found out that when I stone I am going to have to put up durock board before i put the stone on because sheet rock will not hold the stone. With that said my question do I need to remove the drywall around the fireplace and put up durock or can I put durock straight over the drywall and screw it in place.

I am not sure how many of you have sheet rock/drwall surrounding your fireplace but I called the company and looked in the owner's manual and it shows that you can have gyproc surrounding the fireplace. I am just looking for reassurance that having drywall around the fireplace is okay and will not cause problems.

thanks

Will try and post that part of the manual, and will try and post a pic of fireplace wall.

My apologies the fireplace is a Flame Monaco XTD

Not the most tech savy guy in the world but I had to post the manual and the bottom of page 18 talks about the facing and, page 19 shows a diagram if anyone would like to take a look.

Here is a picture of my fireplace and the wall from a little ways back, but you can see that I have drywall run all the way around it and painted.

Thank you for the input guys. The guy from the cultured stone store told me that I could just put 1/2" durock over the drywall since the ZC fireplace allows gypsum board to be right next to the fireplace. Stated that the only thing I would have to differently is run a mortar joint on the outside of the stone where the 1/2" durock is over the drywall. I appreciate opinions and honestly I don't want to cut the drwall and mud if I don't have to, but will cutting the drywall out help anchor the durock better than being place over drywall and using longer screws to run it in the wall?

I asked about putting stone directly on the drywall and he did not recommend it, as it may cause problems with the mortar down the road. I asked about 1/4" durock and he said he would feel more comfortable using 1/2" durock instead. The studs are spaced 16" OC, but with a few extra studs every so often in the wall from the framing of the old ZC fireplace that was in the wall. So I am not sure I will hit every 8 inches with screws but it will be close. I think I will go ahead and try 1/2" durock on the wall with longer screws and culture stone on it and see how it goes. Will keep you guys informed. Again thanks for the input.