Laying Stone for a Fireplace

In many modern houses, microwave ovens cook without heat and vacuum cleaners traverse rooms on their own.

One part of the house, however, is mostly the same as it was centuries ago: the fireplace. A firebox surrounded by stone, it remains the focus of the room, the place where people gather to talk, snuggle and enjoy life.

When it comes to building a basic fireplace, the materials and tools are practically primitive: stone --- natural or man-made --- and basic hand tools.

The Real Deal

You can opt for man-made stones, but Mother Nature still rules. Virtually all stone substitutes are designed to resemble real stones mined in quarries or gathered from fields or river beds.

With natural stones, the best choice for your fireplace is the one you like. Avoid softer stones, like sandstone, because they are less sturdy. There's also a risk that a stone taken from a river might contain water. Sufficiently heated, the stone could explode.

Apart from that, go with your designer instincts. "In any room, the fireplace is going to be the most dominant architectural feature," said Lew French, a master stonemason and author of "Stone by Design: The Artistry of Lew French." "The scale, the proportion, the choice of materials really have to be complementary to the size of the room," French said.

Popular stones for fireplaces include marble, granite, quartz, slate and limestone. Granite is the hardest, followed by marble. Travertine, which is derived from limestone, is more porous. Unless it is sealed, it can be stained. Even fieldstone --- stone picked up from fields --- can work beautifully.

Not surprisingly, many fireplaces are built with stones found in the surrounding area. Granite is commonly used in New England, and many fireplaces in Chicago are made of limestone. You may save on the cost of stones and transportation if you buy from a nearby quarry.

Tips for Placing Stone Around a Fireplace

Here are five things to remember before placing stones, real or manufactured, around a fireplace:

Don't skimp. Ordering 5 percent to 10 percent more than you absolutely need will give you the flexibility to select the right stone at all times. This is particularly true if the stone you select is not always in stock.

Know what your fireplace will look like before you begin. Use plastic sheeting or a dropcloth to make a template of the area where the stone will be applied. Then, starting with the border nearest the fireplace, lay out all the stones you will use. Remember that corner pieces for the top of the opening are installed vertically.

Stones are affixed to a metal lath applied around the fireplace opening. Before you start, be sure the surface is clean. Dust and dirt can weaken the bond.

Apply mortar to the stone only and not to the wall surface. Use a gentle, wiggling motion and hold the stone in place for 15 seconds. Once contact with the wall is made, don't move the stone around.

Be careful. At some point, you may need to cut or trim a stone to make it fit correctly. Don't do it without safety glasses, gloves and a dust mask.

Man-Made Option

Perhaps the biggest choice you have to make is whether to use real stone or a man-made type --- variously called manufactured stone, engineered stone, faux stone, cultured stone or stone veneer. Regardless of what you call them, these artificial stones are made of the same basic ingredient: Portland cement. A mixture of the cement, elements of natural stone and long-lasting pigments are placed into molds to yield the desired shapes.

Advocates of manufactured stone claim many advantages. Although natural stone from a nearby quarry --- if there is one --- is cheaper than the manufactured variety, other costs associated with real stone generally make it the more expensive choice. Man-made stone weighs about one-sixth as much as real stone, so it costs less to transport it and it's easier to cut and put in place. That reduces labor costs if you hire someone for this project and reduces back pains if you do the job yourself.

Another reason for choosing manufactured stones is that they are available in a large number of textures and colors.

Many people prefer artificial stones because they may be used on interior walls without having to reinforce the foundation or footing, as is necessary with heavier natural stone. Fewer tools are required, as well. You need only a few standard masonry tools and a circular saw with a masonry blade.

Manufactured stones may be put around a fireplace in a single day, while real stones require at least a few days to cure. Stone manufacturers say their artificial products will last for generations and warrant them for up to 50 years, essentially a lifetime for most homeowners.

Back to Nature

Natural stone advocates argue that no artificial product, no matter how well-designed, can substitute for the real thing. They also warn that an accidental chip could reveal an undesirable color.

"Stone work to me is not just another TV in your home," said French, a stonemason for 35 years. "What's the difference between a Picasso and a copy of Picasso? What's the difference between an expensive, original anything versus something that's a manufactured product?"

French said manufactured stone sticks out like a sore thumb. "There's a consistency there," he said, "that's not really true in nature." Some, he said, look much better than others, and so much has been done to improve the look of manufactured stone that people who lack his expertise may have trouble guessing what is real and what isn't.

One manufacturer, Boulder Creek Stone Products, asserts that its products "bring order to nature's chaos" and are "consistent in quality but as unique and subtle as the genuine article."

In a Nov. 24, 2008, news release, Canada-based Stone Selex claimed its manufactured stone "so perfectly emulates the look and feel of natural stone it can fool even experienced masons."

Paying the Freight

Prices vary widely for both real and manufactured stone.

A pallet of stones from a local quarry, enough for two or three fireplaces, can cost about $300 plus transportation. That makes the cost of stone for one fireplace anywhere from about $140 to $200.

Ordering natural stone from greater distances costs more, perhaps $10 a square foot. with an average fireplace requiring 80 to 100 square feet. That could push the cost for natural stone to $1,000.

Many types, colors and patterns of manufactured stone sell for $6 to $8 a square foot, making the material cost for a fireplace around $650 plus transportation. A few, however, are priced as high as $25 a square foot, making the cost for a fireplace $2,000 or more.