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Apply Cultured Stone to a Fireplace by Vicky Smith
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Apply Cultured Stone to a Fireplace |
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Business
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Most traditional fireplaces contain natural stone or brick, but this look may not work for every homeowner. Natural stone is generally expensive and hard to install; if the work and expense is not worth the look you achieve, you may want to consider culture stone. Cultured stone is composed of stone pieces, dyes and cement to take on the look of natural stone without the expense or weight. In general, installing these stones uses mortar and grout to hold the pieces in place. Instructions as follows: Firstly, clean the surface of your fireplace to remove soot, dust, dirt and other contaminants. Use product-specific cleaning products to clean the surround; if your fireplace is made of brick, you will clean differently than if it is made of marble. Allow the area to dry completely before applying any mortar. Secondly, lay out your cultured stone on newspaper or another template of your fireplace. This will allow you to arrange the stones into a style of your choosing, varying shape, color and texture to fit your design idea. Leave about ½ inch of space between each stone to allow for mortar installation. Thirdly, mix your mortar per product instructions; different brands of mortar will require different amounts of water. Mix well until there are no lumps in the mortar. If you are using mortar coloring to change the look of the mortar, keep track of how much color you use; if you have to make a second batch, you will need to use the same amount or the color will not match. Fourthly, apply a ½-inch-thick layer of mortar to a small section of your fireplace surface; work in small sections that will fit only two to three stones at a time, so that the mortar does not dry while you apply the cobblestones. Start at the top and work your way down, so that dripping mortar does not mar previous work. Fifthly, place your cultured stone pieces into your desired pattern within the mortar. Press evenly across the entire surface of the stone to ensure an even bond between stone and surface. Hold each stone in place for at least two minutes to allow the mortar to bond. If you get mortar on the front of any of the stone pieces, wipe it up immediately with a clean towel or rag; mortar may discolor the stones if allowed to dry. Sixthly, continue to apply stones, one small section at a time. If necessary, use a hammer or chisel to break or chip some stones for better fit or to add a new pattern to your fireplace. Seventhly, mix grout according to product instructions; like mortar, different products will require different levels of water. Grout will fill in any gaps or joints caused by installing the stone into the mortar. Pour the mixed grout into a grout bag, which is like a baker's icing bag. Eighthly, squeeze grout out of the grout bag and into the joints as necessary. Avoid getting grout on the cultured stones; if you do, use a dry bristle brush to brush off the grout before it dries completely. Ninthly, clean the joints of mortar and grout with a stencil brush to remove excess mortar or grout that dried unevenly. Smooth the joints until you achieve your desired look for your fireplace. In short, as an outstanding business E-platform of promoting stone industry, we have finally become the global top-ranking service provider of trade information, providing the most comprehensive, accurate, and efficient international stone business information for stone enterprises all over the world. If you want to consult us freely, you can also see quartzite tile or become a loyal follower of us by @ https://twitter.com/stonebtb.
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culture stone, fireplace,
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