Choosing a Fireplace Surround
The right surround can add personality to your living room regardless of whether you are using it for warmth or for aesthetics. It can be difficult to choose a fireplace surround that is both safe and compliant with the code.
These custom-built surrounds are built from non-combustible materials and adheres to the National Fire Code. They look stunning in any style of home.
Simple Concrete Surround with Marble Slabs
A fireplace surround can be the focal point of rooms, and it can add warmth and charm. It can be constructed from various materials and designed to suit a variety of design styles. Before choosing a fireplace design, it's important that you think about the style and the budget of the room.
Marble fireplace surrounds are an elegant option that can be paired with a broad range of design styles. They can be combined with rustic woods or more modern metals to create a unique, contemporary design. Marble is relatively easy to maintain and is able to withstand high temperatures, making it an ideal choice for fireplace surrounds.
Stone is a popular material for fireplace surrounds and provides a timeless look that can be found in a variety of homes. It can be cut and polished to give it a modern appearance or left unfinished to give a more traditional look. Stacked stone veneers may also be used to add texture and depth to the interior of a room.
Granite is a very popular choice for modern surrounds around fireplaces. It's durable and can withstand heat well. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns which allows you to create various designs. Quartzite can also be made into a shape and molded to fit a modern surround.
If you're a handyman, making a fireplace surround made of concrete might be within your capabilities. It may seem like a daunting task but it's much simpler than you think if you work with professionals and prepare ahead.
It's also a good idea to seek out an expert when making a fireplace surround of marble because it requires special attention to avoid damage. A carpenter with experience can help you to avoid costly errors.
If you intend to use tile as an interior fireplace surround, be sure it's rated for high temperatures. You'll typically find this information on the package or inquire with an employee at a home improvement store.
Leaning Frame Surround
The fireplace surround can completely transform the look of a room. It's not just designed to look attractive, but also serves a practical function, which is to protect the wall behind the fireplace from damage caused by fire and to reflect heat away from the room. It's available in various materials and can be made to fit any style or decor.
The right material to use for an inclined frame surround is essential to achieve an intentional aesthetic. Concrete is a great option because it is durable and non-flammable. It also is attractive due to its natural texture and colour. It's typically poured into a mold, giving you the ability to create a unique design for your fireplace surround.
When you design your leaning frame, make sure to add in layers. This makes the frame appear more organized rather than randomly placed. If you are planning to display heavy objects like lamps or vases on leaning frames, you can place a piece of lining for drawers made of rubber beneath the base. This will prevent them from sliding off or damaging surfaces.
Consider adding a wooden board to the bottom of a concrete or marble surround. This will help keep it in its place. It will also help to reduce the weight of the object and prevent it from moving while you sip a refreshing cup of coffee or wine on your mantel.
After you've decided on the material, it is time to construct the piece. Begin by marking the new wall with the dimensions of your frame and use a saw to cut cleats on each of these marks. Make sure that the cleat on the top of the shelf is at a minimum a foot shorter.
Attach the brackets to the wall. Make sure the bolts are inserted through the backerboard and into the stud. The pre-drilling of the screw holes is recommended if required. Then, you can temporarily clamp the mantel to the backer board. Fix the mantel to studs with lag bolts (2-4 bolts per stud). Make sure the bolts are long enough to cover 2/3 of the mantel's thickness plus the thickness of the backer board.
Black Firebox Surround
Fireplace surrounds serve both a decorative and functional purpose. They protect walls against heat damage, reflect some of the heat into the room, and can make a fireplace the focal point of an area. The most commonly used materials used for fireplace surrounds are metal and wood. Metal surrounds may be required by building codes to safeguard nearby combustible surfaces or they can simply enhance the look of a fireplace to make it appear more complete.
The fireplace in this contemporary living space features an all-black firebox with white marble accents. The stone is a more expensive material that requires more maintenance than a wooden mantel but it is a striking and striking design element to the room. The black finish also blends in the dark shades of the furniture and the wood flooring to create a seamless appearance.
Concrete isn't just used for sidewalks and driveways. It's also a beautiful and versatile material that can be used to cover fireplaces. It can be poured in place and shaped into any shape, offering you almost limitless design possibilities. This concrete surround was cut to create a curved design. It has an elegant and contemporary look that contrasts the darker shades of the brick wall and floor.
Wood is another popular material used for fireplace surrounds. It is available in many colors and textures that can be incorporated into any decor. Wooden Fireplaces surrounds can come in any color to fit your hearth pad. They are less heavy and more affordable than masonry surrounds. Most wooden surrounds are designed to accommodate ornaments for the mantel, such as lamps and vase.
Some wood surrounds include an ornamental faceplate that is placed on mantel's top and houses the fireplace doors. The faceplate can be secured with decorative hinges or fasteners that can mimic the appearance of the look of wrought iron.
When choosing a mantel made of wood or a fireplace surround made of metal, it is important to think about the height of your chimney. Building codes stipulate minimum clearance distances to prevent the spread of fire into the home. This distance will vary depending on the type of fireplace and can also change from country to country or from state to state.
Simple Wood Surround
There are many options available for surrounds to give your fireplace a traditional style. Some surrounds are made of solid oak, while others combine stone legs with oak or pine mantels. You can also select oak or pine fire surrounds which are designed to be an affordable and simple option.
A lot of people choose to purchase a pre-made wood fireplace surround as this is an inexpensive way to get the look that they want without the expense of the services of a carpenter. Some pre-made surrounds made of pine are available with a variety of finishes and colors, allowing you to match them to your existing decor.
A hand-crafted wood fire surround made of high-quality oak is also a popular choice. This can be stained in the light oak color or left untreated to allow the natural golden brown of the wood to shine through. This fireplace surround can be used with gas or wood fireplaces. It is available in two different styles: flat or arched.
For those of you who have a bit more experience with DIY home improvement projects, there are a lot of tutorials online that can help you create your own fire surround from wood. One example is this comprehensive step-by-step guide by H2O Bungalow which teaches you how to create a rustic inspired wood surround out of pine.
The tutorial shows you how to build the horizontal pilasters, and then the vertical pilasters that support the mantel. Once these are completed then you can build the mantel itself. The tutorial will show you how to put up the crown molding, which will fill in any gaps between the wall's cladding and the surrounding wall.
It is essential to adhere to the local fire code when you install a wooden surround around a fireplace. You should keep the surround at least 6 inches away from the edge of the opening. It is also essential to use a non-flammable glue to secure the decorative molding and make sure that it stays in place when the surround is put in place.