My alcove install. In pictures!!!

Wasn't that difficult. I had never done it before, but it was VERY time consuming. Like putting together a huge puzzle with no picture. Took three of us about 20-25 hrs to do all of it. total was only about 80 sqft. We did go with the drystack look, which the place we bought the stone from said was the more difficult/time consuming way to do it. It was all worth it in the end and everyone that has seen it in person is completely amazed by it.

I was thinking that some wall wash lights would have enhanced those walls.. I really like that effect and adds drama to the stone but it still looks awesome! How do they sell stone like that, square foot? How much did the stone run you? I love the permanent and timeless look of stone..

Ray

Looks great! Been there, done that with the stone...that stuff will melt your eyeballs after a while trying to find 'just the right piece'.

We have some lights in the ceiling from when the old fireplace was in and those seem to light things up pretty well. Now that it's done I would have added some up lighting in the tile floor just to be different but I didnt think of that in time. They sell the stone by a 8sqft box or by a 100sqft crate. Was about $700 in stone and another $140 in morter. The morter was some high adhesive type made just for this type of stone and without using lath.

EXACTLY That's why it's so time consuming. Trying to find the next perfect piece.

That sounds reasonable considering how good it looks! You'll be enjoying that for many years.. I bet you saved a small fortune doing it yourself..

Ray

:ahhh: Ho ly sh!t. What a transformation. Nice work cwill! When did you get that completed? How much burning have you been doing in it? Got a pic of it with a fire going in there? Low lights for good effect! :lol: Looks great!

We completed the install about the middle of October, but we still have been finishing up the details like repainting the room and ceiling (wow what a diffierence that made) still have to put some crown molding up and paint the trim but thats just ongoing small projects. We have been burning as much as needed. In fact it's going right now, supposed to snow later today. I haven't been able to get a good picture other than the low light one on the first page. The little stove has done great so far but we plan on replacing it with a Super 27 or Regency stove after this year, mainly for the longer burn times.

:lol: Sorry about the request for a fire. I got cruising through perfect picture threads and went to fast. Now that you mentioned it, that pic of the fire was real nice. Thanks. Since I got my boiler, I have been craving pictures of fires more. No glass door on the boiler. :lol:

Looks Good

Thanks geardoc, yours was the inspiration, I bookmarked your install and showed it to my wife, "look honey we could have something like this!" she loved it and i went with it.

Looks Fantastic

great job! nice looking

Masterful!!

Q: How did you affix the stone to the cement board? And did you affix directly to the cement board or did you add metal lathe and scratch coat first?

Wow! That is sweet!

Thanks The stone is attached directly to the cement board. The place that we got the stone from also sells a high strength mortar made just for this type of stone. Saved us a bunch of time and hassle but the cost was slightly more than the lath and traditional mortar combined.

Nicely done! Looks excellent...

Curious about this since we can't see above the ceiling...Did you use the existing prefab chimney pipe from the ceiling on up or did you install all new pipe?

All new chimney all the way to the cap. Nothing was reused from the old set-up. Had to redo the water heater vent as well, all new 3".

I vote that these pictures and thread should be a reference for any future questions regarding "shoehorning" an insert into an existing prefab. Nice work!

Wow does that look good!

Great job! You should be pleased!