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Manufactured Stone Fireplace Installation and Care

A fireplace is often the hub of the home in winter: a place to sit and relax or socialize, and get warm. But it is more than just a useful adjunct to a home’s heating system, and is also often a focal point in terms of décor.

Whether you already have a fireplace in your home, or are Manufactured Stone Fireplaceconsidering installing a new one, type and style will be important considerations. There are many options both traditional and contemporary; with manufactured stone taking its rightful place alongside other more banal finishes including brick and paint.

If you are building a fireplace from scratch, manufactured stone can easily be incorporated in the design of the unit. If you are renovating or changing an existing fireplace, faux stone may be used as a finish to completely revamp the unit and give it a new and exciting lease of life.

Benefits of Using Manufactured Stone for a Fireplace

If you like the idea of a fireplace made of stone, you’ll be happy to learn that good quality manufactured stone is both easier to work with (because it isn’t so heavy) and less expensive than quarried stone. You may also be surprised to discover that faux stone is generally more durable than natural stone, certainly stronger and more hardwearing than softer stone types including sandstone and certain types of limestone.

When using natural stone you are generally limited by what is available in the area in which you live – unless of course your budget can withstand the high costs of bringing quarried stone in from other regions. Manufactured stone mimics a myriad of natural stone types and you will find a multitude of colors and styles to meet personal and décor needs.

Quality faux stone is stain-resistant and easy to clean, whereas unpolished natural stone tends to be porous and is vulnerable to staining. This minimizes maintenance and makes a fireplace built with manufactured stone particularly easy to care for.

Basics of Installing a Manufactured Stone Fireplace

Manufactured stone (also called cultured stone) is available in different forms including:

  • Solid block units, which are laid the same way as concrete bricks and blocks
  • Veneer that is available in various sizes and depths that can be mixed and matched for an authentic finish, with the option of mortar joints
  • Interlocking panels that are perfect for DIY applications

All types are manufactured in a factory and molded into authentic shapes and finishes, usually from concrete, although Native Custom Stone manufactures a veneer interior panel range from discarded rubber tires.

While you will need to lay a concrete plinth if you are using solid faux stone blocks, veneer and panels from Native Custom Stone don’t need any form of foundation, even if you choose to add mortar joints to the veneer.

Caring for a Manufactured Stone Fireplace

The faux stone façade of a manufactured stone fireplace is easy to clean and take care of. However, like everything else in your home, if it does get grubby, clean it as soon as possible as dirt of any sort will generally become ingrained if it is left for any length of time. For example, if a fire smokes badly for some reason, you might find that the smoke discolors the surface around the firebox or alongside the hearth. Or house dust might accumulate on an uneven surface on a very windy day. A quick, immediate cleanup will help avoid extra elbow grease at a later stage.

So from time to time when you vacuum your home, also vacuum the fireplace façade. Use the brush attachment to loosen dust, gently manipulating it out of crevices and cracks. Then use a damp cloth (with a little household cleaner if the surface is in any way discolored) to wipe off any remaining dirt.

Generally you won’t need to clean your fireplace more than once a month, although if it is in constant use during the winter months, you might need to increase this to once a week.

How to Care for a Cultured Stone Fireplace

The associates at Native Custom Stone have already taught us how to install a cultured stone fireplace using their stone panels, but now we need to talk about the proper way to care for a cultured stone fireplace to keep it looking great for years to come.

It doesn’t take much to care for your cultured stone fireplace, all you will need is:

    • A Vacuum Cleaner with Brush Attachment
    • A Vacuum Hose Extension
    • Broom 
    • Water 
    • Cleaning Rag
  • Cultured Stone Fireplace | Manufactured Stone | Native Custom StoneStep 1 – Vacuum the entire surface of your fireplace. Make sure to get mantles and remove all décor to ensure a thorough cleaning. Use your vacuum’s brush attachment to gently loosen the dust and debris, you don’t want to use the exposed hose and accidentally scratch your stone. Use the extender for high or hard to reach places.
  • Step 2 – Use a rag moistened with water, or manufactured stone cleaner if your prefer, to get rid of stubborn spots of debris. Make sure that you allow the cleaner to dry completely before lighting a new fire, as some of the chemicals can be flammable.
  • Step 3 – Use your broom to sweep up any mess made that the vacuuming may have missed or knocked to the floor. For extra cleaning power use your wet rag to get in the grout along the base of your fireplace, and to wipe up stubborn dust that may be on the floor.

Native Custom Stone recommends that you do this once a month to maintain a beautiful fireplace. These same methods can be used on interior and exterior fireplaces, though your exterior fireplace may need a little extra elbow grease and hose down to get it clean.

If you haven’t already chosen to install a cultured stone fireplace, find your closest Native Custom Stone vendor to choose the perfect cultured stone for a beautiful new fireplace.

 

6 Great Reasons to Install Faux Stone Veneer on Your Fireplace

Fireplaces not only provide heat and bring comfort to any home, they also provide a naturally gathering place and dominate any room that they are in, therefore designing your fireplace with faux stone veneer is a wonderful option for a variety of great reasons. Some of these reasons are very basic, but no less important when considering stone products for enhancing your fireplace.

 

1) Aesthetic Appeal: put simple, faux stone veneer products look good and this is a major factor in remodeling or designing your fireplace. Veneer can be added on to pre-existing fireplaces to enhance it with added features and design, making your fireplace not only a source of warmth but a work of art.

2) Variety: Everyone has their own sense of style and preferences, and another great thing about faux stone veneer products is that they come in a wide variety of colors and designs to suit you as an individual and blend in with your style and home, as well as the workmanship that has already been done on your fireplace.

3) Inflammable and Heat Resistant: faux stone veneer is a safe material option to install in and around your fireplace, so you won’t have to worry about any wall damage happening unknown to you.

4) Durability: It’s made to last and when you pair this material with good quality cement, you won’t have to worry about deterioration because faux stone veneer is a hard material that can withstand shock. You don’t have to worry about being careful around these products.

5) Cleaning is Easy: Everyday a house needs tidying and cleaning up, and the last thing you want to do is worry about the appearance of your fireplace. Some materials are incredibly hard to clean and look dirty faster than others. Faux stone veneer is not one of these materials. Cleaning is easy, and is often as simple as wiping down the surface of the veneer. It is also resistant to stains, maintaining a new and beautiful look throughout the years.

6) Cost: Faux stone veneer is cheaper than natural stone, while still giving you the effects of natural stone, making it a great way to go for those on a budget.

And there you have it: 6 great reasons why you should consider using faux stone veneer to remodel, design, or enhance your fireplace. If you are interested in learning more about this project and taking a look at the many designs available to you, give Native Custom Stone a call today!

Choosing the Right Manufactured Stone Fireplace Veneer

Manufactured stone fireplace resources are out there – you just have to choose the one, or two, that you like the best and then put them to the test. For an interior fireplace a quality stone veneer is one of the best products on the market because it looks and feels like traditional stone but it is far less expensive and easier to install. The question is, how can you use it to fit your fireplace needs?

Manufactured Stone FireplaceThere are many ways to choose the right manufactured stone fireplace veneer. You could start with color. A variety of colors are available, including colors that can create the perfect stone hearth in a traditional form or the most modern. You can also choose materials with specific details, such as those that are tumbled or those that look as if they are weathered. Some love that old, aged look along their fireplace walls. You can also select a pattern that suits your needs. Consider the geometric affects of what you select and how well the colors and pattern play off other hard elements in the room.

To gather a few more fireplace ideas for manufactured stone veneers, do consider the various ways you can use it. For example, you can place it to cover the entire wall surrounding your fireplace. On the other hand, you can use it just to create a hearth, where your fires burn within their own firebox. Check the specifications on this material to know the heat level it can manage.

Overall, there are many ways to create beautiful manufactured stone veneer fireplaces. The creativity is up to you. The only limitations you have are for your overall needs in budget and with the space. Take a good, long look at your options. You may just find that a combination of options can work well to create exactly what you are looking for in a stone fireplace.

Interior Manufactured Stone Benefits

Interior manufactured stone is not only for fireplaces any more.  Though that is a popular choice for the use of interior manufactured stone, interior decorators are using them in other ways that look fantastic.  The kitchen has become the second favorite location to use this lightweight material that is available in any style or color found in nature at a fraction of the cost.  When thinking about remodeling the living room or kitchen area, seriously consider interior manufactured stone to stay within the budget.

Interior manufactured stone for fireplaces:

1)      Comes with a great warranty.

2)      Able to be installed after the home is built.

3)      Lightweight

4)      Can be installed on practically any surface.

5)      Available in any style/color found in nature.

6)      If chipped this product is the same color inside as the exterior so there’s no contrast in color.

7)      Requires very little maintenance to keep it looking new.

Interior manufactured stone for backsplashes:

1)      Much more stylish than the common ceramic tile.

2)      More durable than any laminate material.

3)      Numerous colors/styles to match any existing countertop.

4)      Doesn’t need a great deal of upkeep.

5)      So lightweight that on smaller jobs a homeowner may very well be able to install the new backsplash themselves.

Interior manufactured stone for walls:

1)      Lightweight materials allow this to be used as an attractive accent against another wall of any color.

2)      Can be used to create a column in either a rustic, traditional or contemporary style.

3)      Able to be removed and changed to suit the changing theme of a home.

4)      Bookshelves can be installed between two faux columns and durable enough to hold objects to accentuate the room.

5)      Takes up very little floor space to prevent a room from appearing cramped after installation.

There’s simply no way to go wrong in design or function of manufactured stone when either building a new home or simply in the mood to change the theme of an existing residence.  Though the job can often be done by the homeowner, there’s a company close by with years of experience ready to make the job quick and easy.  No matter what color is desired, there’s a perfect match for the job.  Interior manufactured stone is a durable, lightweight, affordable alternative to the real thing that stands the test of time and fits practically any budget.