Steps to Build a Stone Fireplace

Wall Preparation

• To install the fireplace you need to prepare the wall where you want the fireplace to go. You have to place a large piece of builders felt on the wall around your fireplace and staple it to the wall from the bottom up and attach a metal lath to the wall over the felt. The cup-like protrusions on the lath must face towards you. The protrusions attach to the mortar and hold it in place. You should bend the lath around the corners of the existing fireplace. Once you have placed the metal lath, nail it in place. You'll need to cover the lath with mortar and fill in all of the cup-like protrusions. About 20 minutes after you spread the mortar, use a notched tiling trowel to etch the mortar, which creates a textured surface that you will attach the stones to.

Stone Preparation

• Before you begin placing your stones around your fireplace, you need to have a good idea of how you want it to look. Lay the stones on the ground in the pattern you think will look best. Once you have measured the corner pieces, score them by using a grinder. You should score the back sides of the corner pieces to about half the thickness of the stone. Remove any excess material from the corner pieces by using a brick hammer to create a more natural look. Once you have all of your stones the size that you need, spray the first stone that you want to place to create your fireplace with water. At the same time, spray the area of the wall with water where you will install the stone.

Stone Installation

• Now you need to coat the corner pieces of the stone with mortar mixed to the consistency of pudding. Apply 1/2 to 3/4 inch of mortar to the backside of the stone. With the trowel, make a furrow in the mortar on both the middle of the stone and the wall where you will install it, and install the stone into place on the wall, pushing to ensure the stone locks into place. Mortar will spread around the stones as you install them. Install all of the corner pieces in the same way. You should allow for a 1/2-inch distance between each stone. Once you have the outside pieces of the fireplace installed, begin installing stone from the top left, making a horizontal row of stones.

Finishing Work

• Once you install all of the stones, you need to install grout around each of them. Use a grout bag half filled with grout, and squeeze it into the joints. Once the grout cures to a point that you cannot indent it by pushing on it with your finger, use a striking tool to form the grout into the finish you want. You should wait at least 48 hours for the grout to cure before you use your fireplace for the first time.