Installing a manufactured stone fireplace
There are several companies out there that make manufactured stone.
Benefits of manufactured stone over real stone
1. It is that it is very light and you don’t need to reinforce your wall like you would if you were using real stone.
2. Depending on the manufacture, it looks great and most can’t tell it is not real stone. We went with this company www.eldoradostone.com/flashsite/main.html .
3. The selection of styles and colors is huge; you can find just the right stone to fit your style.
4. It was very affordable
I wanted a natural look so I went with a stacked stone (no mortar in-between the stones) and earthy colors.
First you need to put up your base wood. We used 5/8th OSB as our back board on a framed stud wall.
Then we built and installed our mantle out of some drift wood that we found that had been part of an old dock. It is secured to the wall with four lag bolts and heavy l brackets through the studs.
The next step is to attach a metal lath. I put that on upside down first so it all had to come off. I attached it with heavy duty staples using a slap hammer.
I laid out the stones for the fireplace. They say to lay them all out and not to think too much about it when you put them up or you will end up with a pattern. You want it to be random, like nature did it. SInce I was working by myself it was hard to quickly come up with the right size so I had the kids help me put it in groups of sizes. That worked really well and I still was able to keep a random look about it.
Next, you have to put on a scratch coat of mortar so the stones have something to stick to when you put them up.
When mixing the mortar it is important to wear a mask. You do not want to be breathing in the mortar dust.
Be sure to wear good rubber gloves. Nothing sucks the moisture out of your hands like mortar. Get the best fitting ones you can find. If they are loose and large you won’t like setting stone in them.
You might want to mix using heavy ones and get a box of 100 tight fitting latex gloves for setting the stones. They are cheap and you can change them often.
I mixed the mortar in a plastic tub and started pushing it in the cups of the metal lathe. You just need a thin coat, just barely cover the metal lath.
One of the things I wish I would have taken better care about was taking out the staples that were in when I put the lathe in wrong. I just pulled it out and many of the staples stayed in with their pointed bits sticking out. Never thought ahead to how they were going to feel when I was spreading the mortar on.
I got several painful pokes and scrapes on my right hand.
Now, this has to set for a day before we can put the stone on.
I mixed the mortar and started putting the stone up. You will spread a thin layer of mortar on the scratch coat and a thin layer on the back of the stone with a trowel.
Now, the instructions say to work from the top down. Personally, I thought that was not going to work because how was I going to have just the right stone once I reached the mantle or the hearth? I figured that if I had to fill a wide space it would be better at the top so you wouldn’t notice it. Well, let me share with you the main problem of starting at the bottom. You drop mortar on all your work, you gotta get it cleaned up quick as not to stain the stone. So that was a huge pain but once I started that I couldn’t change my mind.
So, I would say to follow their wise instructions and start from the top down. This stone actually cuts nicely on the table saw so you can cut pieces to match.
I did this project mostly by myself. While it was possible I would suggest doing it with a partner.
Clean up all your mortar promptly and cover anything you don’t want to get mortar on.
Eldorado stone has a great installation video right on their website that is very helpful. I would suggest you watch it a few times before starting.
While this is a great DIY project it is harder than it looks but still, very worth it.
It's quite the puzzle without a box top to work from. 
(July 2007) (
