Lightweight Fireplace Materials

Stone veneers

• Not all fireplaces that appear to be stone are actually built completely from natural stone. Instead, faux stones are used as a veneer over top of a fireplace. This gives the fireplace the appearance of natural stone but at a much more affordable price, and at a much lower weight. Stone veneer fireplaces, partly because of their decreased weight, are much quicker and easier to install than genuine stonework.

Concrete

• Concrete is a heavy material, but it is still lighter than most natural stone options used for creating a fireplace. The upside of concrete is that before the fireplace is assembled, the various components of sand, water and cement are separate, making it easier to transport than heavy natural rock. A cement fireplace will be heavy enough that you still need to worry about the structural strength of your home in the location you place it, but it is lighter than certain other options.

Factory Fireplaces

• Not all fireplaces are built out of stone. Some just have a stone surround or a decorative mantle placed around them while the fireplace itself is built out of a metal insert. Factory fireplaces that are made out of metal and have a metal chimney to vent the smoke to the roof are the lightest fireplaces you can install. The weight of these units is essentially negligible. The downside of these units is that the lightweight material also makes for a product that does not last as long as a stone counterpart.

Wood

• Wood obviously isn't used to make the firebox itself for a fireplace, but a masonry or metal firebox can be completed with a wood surround and mantel. Wood is much lighter than most rock-based options for fireplace surrounds. In addition, wood is easily carved and shaped into different forms, which allows you greater design freedom at a lower cost when picking out a fireplace for your home.