A guide about stone veneer fireplace
It is impossible to imagine anything more inviting during the chilly winter months than the cozy glow of a fireplace. With beautifully designed fireplaces you can make these days classier and memorable. It’s why stone veneer is becoming a popular design feature in new homes. Homeowners are not restricted to stone surfaces only when they build or update hearth areas; stone veneer can be installed instead of natural stone for much less cost and maintenance. Thanks to high-tech products, homeowners can now easily create fire features within virtually any structure without confined spaces or large free-standing hearths.
In many parts of the Canada including Fredericton, wood fireplaces have been replaced by gas or electric fireplaces as the main source of heat for a home. In some cases, they may even be non-functional or used merely for visual appeal rather than to provide warmth and ambiance. The thing is, even if you don’t plan on ever building a fireplace in your new home design –or updating your existing one – installing a veneer over concrete or another substrate can still be a great idea that provides instant curb appeal and enhances any room’s decor. With today’s high energy costs, homeowners are more aware than ever of their environmental footprint; using stone veneers instead of natural stone is an easy way to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills by reusing materials that have already been quarried.
Stone Veneer Fireplace Requirements
During the veneering process, custom curved profiles are created by heating the surface of stones with a propane gas flame until they become soft and pliable enough to bend. While this unique approach to stone fabrication is ideal for creating gentle curves around glass doors or other architectural details in your home’s design, it is not suitable for every installation. For example, if you don’t want large overhangs protruding from above your fireplace opening or vents where they do not belong because of code restrictions or physical obstructions, you need to choose another type of stone or wood product instead of fabricating your own stone veneer.
Strength
Stone fireplace veneers are manufactured with high-strength adhesives that offer high shear and peel strengths to ensure they won’t crumble or detach from the substrate, even after years of direct heat exposure. Firing temperatures for stone veneers range up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on their thickness. Just remember that the thicker the material you choose, the more heat it will be able to withstand without breaking down or warping.
Appearance
The overall color and appearance of a stone veneer is determined by the chemical makeup of its natural stone materials as well as other factors such as coating additives, glues used in fabrication, firing temperatures and dyes. Each manufacturer will have a unique formula that not only creates amazing natural stone looks, but also differentiates between its product and other veneer materials. You can choose from a variety of colors or textures, including sandstone, slate, granite and limestone.
Do you have a plan to upgrade your fireplace with stone veneer this winter? Just give a call to Atlantic Brick and Stone for a free consultation about all the ways to upgrade your fireplaces. We also provide fireplace repairs, masonry repairs, and other building construction services.