How to Build a Stone-Veneer Fireplace Surround

By: JENNIFER STIMPSON, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. Stone veneer. Get about 20 percent more than you need to cover your fireplace, to accommodate fit and breakage.

2. Builder's felt. It acts as a moisture barrier between the mortar and your walls to prevent water damage.

3. Metal lath to install over the felt. It keeps the mortar in place, creating a base for the stone veneer.

4. 3/8- or ½-inch staples.

5. 15/8 -inch galvanized roofing nails.

6. Veneer mortar. It contains special additives to create a strong bond between the stone veneer and the surface to which it's attached.

7. Plastic sheeting. Tape it to your walls, floor, and hearth to protect them while you work.

8. Painter's tape.

9. Old drop cloth (optional).

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Stud finder
- Staple gun
- Hammer
- Finishing trowel
- Tiling trowel with 3/8-inch notch
- Grinder fitted with a diamond masonry blade
- Brick trowel
- Brick hammer
- Grout sponge or spray bottle
- Grout bag
- Masonry striking tool
- Whisk broom
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Product selections for this project
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this old house technical editor mark powers installing a stone veneer fireplace surround

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
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5 hours a day for three days
About $10 per square foot

Difficulty: Moderate Choosing and cutting the stones takes attention to detail.

There's something so homey about a stone fireplace, bringing to mind cozy nights spent with loved ones in front of a blazing hearth. For those who think that using real stone is the only way to get this look, think again: Today's cast-stone veneer looks a lot like the real thing, with styles ranging from stacked stone to river rock. And if its nicer price tag makes it an option that's hard to pass up, the DIY-friendly installation will seal the deal. As senior technical editor Mark Powers shows us, it takes just a few days to build a base for the stones and mortar them to your fireplace for a timeless look that will warm up your holiday gatherings for years.