Decorating a fireplace with decorative stone: spectacular examples and tips on decoration

The hearth is the “heart” of the house, and this truth has not changed over the years. In the era of advanced technology, complex life rhythm and constant stress, people begin to gravitate towards truly domestic and cozy things. This rule applies to the interior, and in particular, the fireplace in modern designs.

The fireplace fits easily into almost any interior, regardless of style, color range and variety of shapes and textures. He quickly fills the space with special warmth and becomes the main "highlight" of the room. In this case, the fireplace not only embodies the dream of home comfort, but also acts as a heating element and part of the heating in general.

If everything is clear with the functions of this piece of interior, then the appearance raises a lot of questionsbecause the variety of shapes, colors and textures is simply amazing. The result depends solely on the vision of the designer and the materials used to finish the fireplace. They can be both natural and artificial origin. By appearance it is difficult to determine how the material is produced and what its cost, which reduces the cost of installing and finishing the fireplace, and the beauty of the product will not suffer.

The advantages of finishing stone mass, but at the same time there are certain disadvantages that may affect the decision of the master.

• the high cost of the materials themselves, especially such beautiful stones as marble and granite;
• problems in terms of installation, because it is difficult to find a specialist who has experience in this matter and is well acquainted with the facing of surfaces with stone;
• marble and granite have a high weight, which also creates great difficulties with installation.

At the same time, the market of building materials is replete with decorative stone, which is an ordinary tile with a surface that imitates the natural texture of individual materials. Its cost is not so high and installation does not cause great difficulties, so these materials are chosen by those who prefer a budget, simple, but no less attractive option.Falshkamina often has the most diverse design. Such portals can impose all sorts of materials.

Ceramic tile is the most popular material for facing the fireplace. It differs in rather low cost, durability, long service life, simplicity of installation and attractive appearance. Specifically for the fireplace used those types of tiles, the surface of which is an imitation of natural materials.

The main advantage of using ceramics for finishing the fireplace is that it can be done at home and with your own hands. Tile easily fit, so do not have to spend extra money on the services of specialists in the field of repair.

When selecting a tile, it is important to consider that an unusual tile should be used.which is laid on the floor or walls in the bathroom - these are types with high thermal conductivity. The main materials for its manufacture are ceramics, porcelain tiles and clinker.

In some interiors you can find fireplaces lined with gypsum tiles that imitate natural stone.

The main reasons for choosing the tile as a material for finishing the fireplace are:

• A wide choice in terms of design, since the tiles are made from different shades, textures and shapes, which makes it possible to choose the most suitable option.
• High thermal conductivity, which is the main criterion for the use of material for finishing the fireplace.
• Ease of care.

• Not only experts are familiar with the tile, but also many men who at least once carried out repair work with their own hands. The lining process does not require special knowledge, so the installation takes place without any special difficulties, which is important when repairing it yourself.
• In addition to the fact that the tile must have a special thermal conductivity, glue for masonry must be used heat resistant. Experts recommend choosing small tiles, because this way the risk of cracking is reduced, and the material will last much longer, and the appearance will always be attractive.

If we talk about the cost of the tile, the price varies greatly depending on the manufacturer, composition and collections, which are constantly updated. The average price will be 700-800 rubles per 1 square. m

Installation is carried out in the same way as with ordinary tiles., but after completion of the work, it is desirable to coat the entire surface with heat-resistant varnish. This will greatly facilitate the cleaning process, eliminating soot and other unpleasant contaminants, since it is extremely difficult to remove them later.

No less popular material for finishing the fireplace is a regular brick. This is especially useful if the fireplace is made entirely of bricks, since such masonry can be left in its natural form. You just have to decorate the surface a little and put the seams in order to get a finished and attractive look.

Experts advise to carry out the finishing in several stages:

• The surface of the brick requires grinding, although some options can do without these manipulations.
• In the second stage, the chamfer is removed from the edges of the brick.

• Brickwork becomes more attractive when processing is sulphate or salt solution.This makes the surface bright and beautiful, and the final touch in the fight for the attractive appearance of the fireplace can be painting. There are special paints for bricks, with the help of which it easily takes on any shade.
• After painting it is advisable to take care of the appearance of the seams. To do this, it is necessary to process all these elements with a special grout and decorative grout.

Quite often, a brick is covered with tiles, mainly clinker, but this will require large expenditures and labors.

Facing bricks for such works are completely inappropriate, because it gives too “heavy” look, because the material itself is rather heavy and takes a lot of space. This is especially inappropriate in the conditions of a city apartment, where every meter counts. In addition, the cost of facing bricks is high, and it makes no sense to spend money on something that can overload the interior and thereby spoil it.

This material has long been used for interior surfaces, including fireplaces. The main advantage of this solution is an attractive appearance, since the decorative stone is produced in different shades and textures.This surface fits into the common space and becomes an integral part of the interior, attracting most of the attention.

Besides appearance, the decorative stone is a high durability and long service life. Natural stone is always a durable material, and if we talk about marble or granite, then its service life is simply unlimited. A shelf of this material against the background of a home fireplace looks very elegant.

The material is also easy to fit, because it does not require a perfect flatness in terms of web and seams. Natural origin does not give limitations in terms of appearance, because here there are plenty to choose from. It should be understood that the service life and the future look of the fireplace are completely dependent on the material that will be used for decoration.

The most budget option is the shell rock. At the same time, it has an attractive appearance, is sold in most modern shops and is easy to fit even by non-professionals. Among the shortcomings, it is possible to note the low strength, since it is easily exposed to damage, and its porous structure is easily amenable to soot and dirt.

Granite surpasses other types of natural stone in strength and durability. Such material will serve not one century and will please several generations of owners of a house or apartment. The color scheme allows you to harmoniously enter the fireplace, trimmed with granite in the interior design, while the surface looks attractive in both polished and natural form.

Granite is not afraid of aggressive detergents, it is resistant to mechanical damage, and cleaning does not require much effort, because any contamination can be easily washed. Granite countertop looks very beautiful and stylish - such a mantel will last for many years.

The main disadvantage of this material is a lot of weight and price, which not everyone will be happy.

It is also worth noting such natural stones as sandstone and limestone, the cost of which begins in the region of 1,700 rubles per 1 sq. Km. m. Compared with other materials, it is not so expensive. At the same time, sandstone and limestone have a wide palette of shades, as a result of which they can be used in different interiors. Just like the shell rock, these types of stone are not very durable and create a lot of problems when cleaning due to the porous structure.

A strong competitor to granite is marble, the price of which starts from 3,500 rubles per 1 sq. M. mThe main advantage of marble is its unique appearance, wide color range, special durability and ease of care. If we talk about the installation of marble, then definitely need a professional hand with extensive experience in this matter. Saving at work is clearly not worth it.

Shale has a relatively low cost, which by its natural properties is very similar to shell rock and limestone. It can hardly be entered into the interior, but with the right design decision it looks harmonious, interesting and rather unusual. It is also used for stoves.

Experts came up with several solutions to the problem of the porous structure of certain types of natural stone. One of such solutions is the processing of the structure after installation with a special transparent coating, which prevents the appearance of complex contaminants.

Another good way to finish the surface of the fireplace is plaster. It combines simplicity and budget price, thanks to which it is popular with craftsmen. Plastering the surface is a fairly easy process that anyone can handle.There is no need to strengthen the foundation, because such a lining does not give excessive weight to the structure.

The disadvantage can be called the fragility, but it is not so critical at low cost and the possibility of repair.

When decorating a corner fireplace, you need to pay close attention to the portal and chimney. These are the main components of this design. In the same style, you can decorate and a compartment for firewood.

Expensive and beautiful materials for lining is dark granite. This fireplace will be combined with many styles of interior.

In the modern house often put falshkamina. The installation process is much easier, and it looks pretty impressive.

To learn how to finish the fireplace with a decorative stone, see the next video.