Facing the fireplace : a step by step guide

Content

Popular ways of finishing fireplaces

Depending on the style of the interior of the room, your desire and taste, as well as the expendedredstv, fireplace trim can be rigorous and concise, or just hit the luxury. It is worth considering that when choosing the facing material, one should be guided not only by its aesthetics, but also by the performance characteristics. It is necessary to choose a material resistant to wear, characterized by high thermal stability and mechanical strength.

Plastering and cladding with plasterboard

The simplest and most economical ways to finish the fireplace are plastering, as well as gypsum board finishing. Using these finishing materials, you can achieve different decoration effects. After processing the finish layer of plaster with a sponge or wavy trowel, it is easy to create an original surface relief. To enhance the effect, the solution can be tinted in a suitable shade with water-based paint. To harden the plaster, salt and fiberglass fibers are added to it.

To glaze the fireplace with plasterboard, it will be necessary to install a metal frame on which the lining itself will be fastened. The advantages of this finish include its low cost, in addition, this method of decorating the fireplace is much less laborious compared to the facing of stone or ceramic tiles. Using plasterboard, it is easy to give the structure any desired shape. The disadvantages of this cladding include the fragility of the structure, since this material does not differ in impact resistance.

Stone finish

As the most popular materials for facing fireplaces are different types of natural stone. This material provides ample opportunities for implementing various ideas. Such a fireplace finish looks solid and very aesthetic.

Natural stone is a heat-resistant material that is resistant to any mechanical influences and retains heat for a long time. When heated, this cladding does not emit any harmful substances, the air in the room always remains clean and fresh. The shortcomings of this type of decoration can be attributed to its rather high cost.

The following types of natural stone are very popular:

• granite, onyx or marble - this facing of the fireplace looks solid and noble, characterized by durability and durability. These varieties of stone are beautiful, as well as unique pattern, thanks to their use, you can create a unique interior. It should be noted that for their processing it is necessary to use special tools, in addition, you will need the skills to work with such material. As a lack of facing the fireplace with marble can be attributed its high cost;

• sandstone, limestone, rubble stone are easy to handle, in addition, will cost a little cheaper;
• soapstone or soapstone, widely used for facing furnaces and decoration of fireplaces, as it is characterized by a very high thermal conductivity( 2.5 higher than that of brick), quickly and evenly warms up, perfectly accumulates heat. This material is resistant to melting, it can be used for facing the fireplace fireplace - this kind of antique decoration looks luxurious. It is known that soapstone, when heated, has a beneficial effect on human health.

You can also use artificial stone for facing the fireplace. It should be noted that in its technical characteristics, in many cases, it is almost inferior to the natural counterpart. Artificial stone looks in the lining of the fireplace is very aesthetically pleasing, besides this decoration will cost much less. At home, such a stone can be made from a mixture of cement and sand with the addition of a color pigment.

Cladding with ceramic tiles

Various kinds of facing ceramic tiles are very popular for decoration of fireplaces:

• majolica covered with multi-colored painted glaze has long been used for decorative facing of fireplaces and stoves;
• for ceramic facing fireplaces have long used terracotta. This facing material is a strong unglazed tile of red-brown hues;
• clinker tile - a strong heat-resistant material with a low-porosity structure and a wide range of shades( from light sand to terracotta and chocolate brown), is widely used for facing ovens and fireplaces;
• ceramic granite tiles - this facing material is distinguished by its high strength due to a monolithic non-porous structure;
• tiles - these products with a shape in the form of a box, thanks to which the heat-saving properties of the material are greatly improved.

These materials differ in appearance and method of installation. When choosing a tile, you should pay attention to its characteristics of heat resistance, as well as porosity and resistance to mechanical stress.

It is worth considering that for tiling the fireplace it is recommended to use products with a thickness of at least 7-8 mm. For the decoration of the ledges, shelves and niches of the fireplace it is more convenient to use products of small size.

The result of the work will largely depend on the choice of a suitable glue mixture. It is necessary to use a heat-resistant adhesive for facing the fireplace. Such compositions have elasticity, which prevents the occurrence of deformations under the influence of heating at high temperatures.

How to decorate the fireplace with your own hands

When planning the work, it is necessary to take into account that the fireplace can be started after the masonry has completely dried, after waiting for its shrinkage.

Facing with natural stone: step-by-step instruction

First, preliminary preparation is required:

• moisten the surface of the fireplace with water from the atomizer and expand the joints of the masonry to a depth of 10 mm;
• should be further cleaned with a brush from the surface of the fireplace dust and various contaminants;
• small grooves and chips should be cemented with cement mortar. Uneven brickwork will be grinded by the Bulgarian with a special circle.

Prepared surface of the fireplace should be covered with a reinforcing mesh with 50x50 mm cells, fastened with nails with metal washers or self-tapping screws in the joints of the masonry. Prior to the beginning of the finishing works, a fireplace with a small amount of firewood should be used to warm its surface to about 30 ° C.

This method of cladding is not difficult to implement, but rather laborious. When carrying out the work, it will be necessary to start from the specifics of the specific material:

• , it is first necessary to fit a natural stone for laying. To do this, you need to draw a chalk on the floor in full-sized contour of the fireplace's facade, and then decompose the packing material, selecting tiles in shape, color and thickness;

• is further recommended to mark them by signing the center number sequence and the edges of the number of adjacent tiles to the faces - in this case it will be easy to stack them. It is not required to achieve an ideal docking of the stone, in any case, the overall picture will turn out to be fairly harmonious. Nevertheless, tiles, significantly different in thickness, it is better to postpone, otherwise the surface will need to be leveled by changing the thickness of the adhesive composition;
• it is recommended first to fix the thickest tiles on the surface of the fireplace - further according to their level it will be necessary to orientate when laying the rest of the tiled material. It is recommended to place small elements left after trimming in unobtrusive places;

• laying starts from the bottom of the fireplace, moving up. Having reached the corner from above, it will be necessary to lay the upper horizontal row, and then lay the stone in rows from top to bottom. To fix the elements of the lining, you should use s-shaped wire fastenings, reinforcing the construction - they are fixed on the reinforcing mesh, while the lower end acts as a support for the tile;
• after the end of stacking, you should wait for it to dry out - this will take at least two days. Next, you need to start grouting the joints. It is recommended to check the tile on a piece of tile first, if the trowelling mixture leaves difficult to remove traces.

This technology for facing fireplaces can also be used for laying artificial stone.

Ceramic tile finishing: step by step instruction

Preparation of the surface of the fireplace facade to tiling is carried out in the same way as for the stone laying described above.

The following work sequence will be required:

• after fixing the metal reinforcing mesh, the surface of the fireplace must be leveled with the adhesive composition for ceramic tiles;
• further follows, using the building level, to apply markup. Tracking the verticality of laying is convenient with a rope with a plumb fixed to the nail;
• after the marking can be started directly to the lining. Laying should begin from the bottom, aligning the elements of the tile in rows. Angle elements( if such are used) should be laid first. Adhesive mixture with a notched trowel should be applied to the wall, treating a small area of ​​the area - for gluing one or two elements of the finish;

• will then be required to install the tiles according to the marking, fixing it to the wall and, if necessary, tapping with the rubber kyanki. To align the joints, plastic tiles must be used;
• in the process of finishing work, it is necessary to periodically check that the lining is located in the same plane( for this you can use a metal rail).Eliminate the disadvantages of the cladding, as well as wipe the excess glue, it is necessary to harden the glue mixture;

• , after waiting for the drying of the masonry, after about 24 hours you can start grouting with a special mineral composition or using a mixture of clay with sand. Trowel mixture is conveniently applied with a narrow spatula or a construction float. Next, you need to align the seams with a damp sponge. After 20 minutes, clean the surface of the lining with a damp cloth.

It takes at least 24 hours to completely dry the masonry. If desired, the surface of unglazed tiles can be treated with a heat-resistant varnish - the varnished surface of the fireplace will be more conveniently cleaned of soot.

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