Joe Fischer gets the credit, from "Fischer's Landscape" in Cromwell, CT. We wanted to put some sort of decorative brick (half the weight and thickness of full-size bricks), behind the wood stove,and over the 5/8 fire-retardant Dry Wall, and so we shopped around. We had an idea of what we wanted, and interviewed about a half-dozen Masonry workers.
Joe's background is with a lot of forms of Masonry that is built outside, and he admitted that this particular application would be a first for him, but his references were impeccable (as you might expect they'd be), and his experience with mortar and bricks was a plus. It would mean that he would have to create templates for the arch and layout, and research the most durable and logical application products possible.
He started yesterday morning, and by the end of the day yesterday, had all the bricks in place on a 3/8" (?) backer board that he adhered to the Dry Wall (not sure if he glued it, or nailed it). Today, he came bright and early, and using a mortar in between the bricks that had the color that my wife wanted (isn't that always the case?), put in the decorative final touches.
We had a couple of wrought iron hinges that I think we bought in St. Augustine, Florida, in the Spanish Quarter, that we asked if he could embed between the bricks, and he did. They allow us to hang thinks (like the poker and wrought iron key you may see on the left side of the bricks), for additional adornment.
The cost ended up being $200.00 less than we had thought, and we really like the way it came out! I imagine that it will last us for many years, and Joe is to be commended for his creativity, attention to detail, and craftsmanship!!
As for the little helper.........that's my grandson Stephen (named after me) who normally would never get that close to the stove, (we have one of those kid fences) except that we haven't fired it up for two days, while Joe has been doing his work. That little fella (Stephen) gets such a kick outa handing me the individual kindling pieces when I fire up the stove.........he really LOVES to watch the fire, and help his "Pepére" get it ready.
I've attached another pic here, of the brick wall after the dark mortar has been applied. The brick work is not tapered or angled, by the way.......that's just my lousy picture taking & cropping skills.
-Soupy1957