Latest Home Improvement, Renovation & Remodeling Trends

There are few decorative elements that set off a home as well as a stone fireplace. It brings an outside, rugged feel to a room that can help to break up the monotony of sterile painted walls. However, few homeowners take advantage of the many uses of stone throughout their home such as for floors, in the kitchen or even in the bathroom.

Stone, whether smooth, textured or rough, is the very essence of timelessness . It’s rainbow of colors and textures suits any architectural style and can be a backdrop to showcase fireplaces, stairs, windows, wood beams and many types of flooring. It can come rough-hewn from a cliff or smooth from the bottom of a stream. In addition, it can fixed with mortar to face a wall or stacked in layers.

Using whole pieces of rock can put a strain on walls and floor supports because of the weight. The excessive weight is also a factor in higher shipping costs.. By cutting the rocks and applying them with mastic or other glues this drag can be reduced considerably. These are called stone veneers and come in three main categories:

• Real,
• Cultured and
• Brick face.

Real stones: These are selected for their color and shape and then cut. Unlike some manufactured stones, natural stone will not fade or discolor with time and is not affected by scrapes and bumps on the surface.

Manufactured Stone Veneers: These are replicas of natural stones. These are usually made of Portland cement cast in molds and tinted with iron oxide pigments. The veneers weigh approximately 1/4 the weight of full-thickness stone and come in a wide variety of styles, colors and textures.

Brick Facing: This material comes in thin “brick-like” slabs so that facing a wall gives the impression that the whole wall is solid brick. The spaces are finished with mortar. The nice feature about this idea, is that you have as many different styles and colors as a there are paint chips.Mortarless Brick: Vertical strips of strapping are affixed to the wall. A metal strip, or header, is then screwed onto the base of the wall and the bricks are stacked in an interlocking fashion. Then, on each brick, a hole is drilled on the upper tab and the brick is fastened to the strapping by a screw. On the corners another metal strip is placed vertically which holds the corner pieces. So, when you reach the top of the wall the whole face appears to have been bricked – but with no mortar.

As with other household appliances, fireplaces and wood stoves have to be used under safety guidelines and precautions. They should be professionally installed, properly maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. This includes all chimney systems.

1. Where do you need the heat?

Place the stove where you need it. If you just stick it in the basement - if that basement is not being used for living space - most of the heat will just be absorbed into the ceiling and much of it will not transfer up into the areas you want.

2. Pick the right size:

Bigger is not necessarily better because a large, under-fueled firebox will not throw the heat you want. In essence, the unit still uses more fuel for less heat coverage. If you fill it up, a larger load may overheat the area where it is installed. In both cases you use more fuel.

3. Small Load:

Firing up a stove full of fuel can produce stress on a cold firebox and chimney. Use kindling and small wood scraps and refrain from using solvents and liquid fuels to start combustion.

4. Periodic Inspections:

Regular inspections by a certified mason or fire station official is recommended. In fact many homes cannot be sold without first certifying the fireplace or wood stove.