How do you re-face a hearth that you still want to use?

[mfglickman]

I've found a number of blog posts and how-to's on re-facing a hearth using wooden furring strips and stone facing materials to cover an existing hearth.

We use the hearth in question, it is brick and I hate the brick, it has a low wooden mantel that looks silly (crown molding detail on a 1700's house) and then feather edge wood paneling above that again, looks silly and was poorly done to be 1700's style in a 1970's addition. We also have ants in the wood paneling and it's a b*tch to treat for them in there. But they love how warm it is in winter, I guess...

So I'd like to, someday, make this a fieldstone fireplace. Nice brown or gray or mixed stones (veneer, I assume) all the way up, tearing out the mantel and paneling, and maybe putting in a slate mantel or one of reclaimed wood (I have some in the barn) placed higher than the current one.

BUT I want to do it so that the R factor is still OK for my Fireview stove and will be OK for my future larger firebox, probably a Progress but maybe a Jotul or PE depending on what's what at that time.

Thoughts?

Here is the existing hearth (pardon the "dog pen" of bookcases made up to keep the post-surgery Newfoundland from injuring herself)....

 

[Dune]

Go to a masonry supply store.You can buy little corrugated metal strips that you can attach to the bricks. These will then create a bond between the brick and the mortar you set the new stone in. While you are there, ask about additives for the mortar mix to ensure a good chemical bond to the brick as well.

 

[jrendfrey]

when we did our hearth we attached our fieldstone with mortor mixed with elmers bonding agent stuff worked well.

 

[DAKSY]

Another option is to tapcon Dura Rock or Hardee Backer right to the brick face. Then you'll have a nice surface to adhere whatever stone veneer you want to use & not have to worry about ANY combustibles.

 

[Eatonpcat]

Another option is to tapcon Dura Rock or Hardee Backer right to the brick face. Then you'll have a nice surface to adhere whatever stone veneer you want to use & not have to worry about ANY combustibles.

I like this solution!

 

[mgh-pa]

Another option is to tapcon Dura Rock or Hardee Backer right to the brick face. Then you'll have a nice surface to adhere whatever stone veneer you want to use & not have to worry about ANY combustibles.

Yep, when we built our fireplace surround, all areas within the non-combustible range as outlined by the manufacturer were covered in Dura Rock. We covered the rest in wire mesh, then a good coat of morter (need the right mixture, and the right mortar), and went to town. A few pictures of the progress:

 

[Eatonpcat]

Very nice Mgh-pa...Love the room!

 

[jharkin]

I

We use the hearth in question, it is brick and I hate the brick, it has a low wooden mantel that looks silly (crown molding detail on a 1700's house) and then feather edge wood paneling above that again, looks silly and was poorly done to be 1700's style in a 1970's addition.

I cant add any advice on how to do it, but I SOOOO hear you on how bad old 70s/80s renovations tried to do the "colonial look" You are lucky its just an addition. Our place has had a lot of the detail ripped out and then poor attempts to recreate it with home center materials in the original parts of the house.

 

[Jags]

I agree with daksy - mechanically fasten cement board to the brick and mortar/stone to your liking.

 

[mfglickman]

Yep, when we built our fireplace surround, all areas within the non-combustible range as outlined by the manufacturer were covered in Dura Rock. We covered the rest in wire mesh, then a good coat of morter (need the right mixture, and the right mortar), and went to town. A few pictures of the progress:

Oooh I LOVE this! Can you come do mine?

I cant add any advice on how to do it, but I SOOOO hear you on how bad old 70s/80s renovations tried to do the "colonial look" You are lucky its just an addition. Our place has had a lot of the detail ripped out and then poor attempts to recreate it with home center materials in the original parts of the house.

I wonder what people will think of my "so 2012" attempts to restore this place, sometimes. But yeah, I look at the hearth in the addition and I think it looks like it's been squashed....the previous owners dreamed of grandeur of scale then reminded themselves that 8' ceilings do NOT lend themselves to that....lol.

 

[Eatonpcat]

mfglickman...That's a beautiful room you have there, If you pick the correct stone, that's gonna look awesome in my opinion!