If you want to install fireplace you always have a challenge with mantel regarding interior design – how it will look like. No doubt, here are a lot of good fabulous mantels at the market, but what if budget is limited and you want something special and modern?
As usually, use your basic handyman skills and do it yourself!
The frame comes first. In this case we use the standard technique for wall framing utilizing 2×4 wood studs, though aluminum could be used too and are even better. Actually, to ask installer about limitations of particular fireplace model in terms of mantel materials would be a good idea.
The trick you should consider making the frame, that if you are going to put something heavy, let say, 45-inch HDTV over the fireplace, this part should be really strong and reliable. In this project there is a piece of plywood that also gives your convenience of putting screws in any place, not just in the studs, so you will be not limited when positioning your home theater equipment.
Also, you should think about wiring and how you are going to connect your components together, otherwise the wires outside will not improve the look of the project. Make sure you have conduit or space at least 2-3 inches wide, that gives you possibility to pass standard power plug through it easy.
After frame is done just cover it with standard drywall and think about finish of your choice. This project took so-called “stone veneer” of NeoWall brand as a finish, it looks as well as natural stone siding.
by Digart, on 11.18.09 @ 10:51 pm
Actually, NeoWall “stone veneer” is not veneer. This is the tile material, about 1.5″ thick and with dimensions of 8″x4″ and 16″x4″. Heavy and looks like it’s made from cement. For this particular project it was bought at Costco, I believe they still have it in inventory. Though, it’s not in the online store.
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by Sherry, on 01.21.10 @ 2:05 pm
Just a quick question. I just bought some of this neowall from Costco and was wondering what you used to put up? do you know where I can purchase touch up paint for this stone? Any help is appreciated as we are going to start this project this weekend (hopefully)
Thanks
by Digart, on 01.21.10 @ 7:58 pm
Sherry,
This Neowall is just kind of tile, I used almost the same technic like for tiling of the walls. Though, I found the white adhesive (ready made, OmniGrip brand, in pales) is not good enough, because the Neowall pieces are too heavy to be bonded sufficiently and I used grey polymer-fortified mortar. It’s called “FlexBond Fortified Thin-set Mortar” and comes in big bags, like cement. It holds Neowall tiles very well.
About painting, I didn’t paint it, but you can probably use any latex interior paint. I would recommend use spray equipment because the surface is extremely uneven due to the purpose to mimic natural stone.
Also, I would appreciate if you later can post pictures of your project.
by Ty, on 01.28.10 @ 4:12 pm
What colour NeoWall stone veneer was used for this particular project? I’ve seen two different colours carried at our Costco.
by Digart, on 01.28.10 @ 4:41 pm
I believe, it was called “San-Francisco Finish”, according to the box label. Some “ivory”, with grey ashes-look-like corners. I guess, if you even mix different colors it will be nice anyway.
I would appreciate, if you post your project pictures after you have done it.
Thanks,
by Jstip, on 01.29.10 @ 2:00 pm
Can you use this Neo Wall A if you are doing corners? i.e. going around a column or something like that? Does it come with corner pieces or is it meant to just be used on a single flat wall? The product looks nice and I’m wondering if anyone knows if it can be used for doing projects with corners involved. Thanks for your help in advance!
by Digart, on 01.29.10 @ 9:32 pm
The NeoWall manufacturers don’t think about corners and don’t provide corner elements. Consider that as just very thick 1.5″ tile. I made the sides first and after overlapped them with front pieces, assuming the side is not exposed so much as a front. Though, the gap is not very big, just may be 1/16″, because the back of piece is quite flat as well as a side cut. But this will require to match pieces at the corner by thickness. Therefore, to maintain vertical outline, you will need to keep using the pieces with same thickness from line to line.
I guess, it can be overlapped by brick-style layout, but I didn’t go that way. Or, at another thought, corner piece can be made by glueing two others together with following finishing by grinder with diamond blade to disguise corner joint.
Basically speaking, you have the options.
Thanks for your comment and good luck with your project.
by Jstip, on 01.30.10 @ 8:57 am
Thanks for the reply Digart. Do you have any pictures of the corners on your project? I’m a visual kind of guy and if I could see what your corners look like that would help me out even more. Thanks!
by Digart, on 02.02.10 @ 1:32 pm
Jstip,
I added the picture to the gallery how the front overlaps the side. Hope it helps. In my case, the side part was not really big, just around 8″, so I just didn’t wonder about who will observe the fireplace from the sides.
by Nam Ta, on 02.03.10 @ 12:25 pm
Wow, it looks very nice. Congrats ! Here, in Montreal (Canada), we have only two choices of stones: Cape Town Chic and Munich Gray. Your ‘San-Francisco Finish’ looks better.
I’ve tried in vain to search for a website of NeoWall so I could buy ‘San-Francisco Finish’. Do you know where I could order ‘San-Francisco Finish’ ?
Thank you.
by Digart, on 02.03.10 @ 1:02 pm
Well, it was only the choice in Costco I had, when I bought it. May be, it’s a trial for them.
Though, it’s not the item they sell online.
by Nick C, on 02.04.10 @ 3:27 pm
What do you use to cut this thing? I bet you are going to ended up with a different length than what comes with the box. Thanks!
by Digart, on 02.04.10 @ 4:31 pm
Nick, in my case, it came from box only in two variations, 8″ and 16″ in length, 4″ width. When necessary, I cut them with tile table saw, you know, it is with water tray beneath, but it will be not big work, if you calculate initial dimensions to accommodate those proportions.
by Gilles Charbonneau, on 02.24.10 @ 10:23 am
Sir,I,ve just purchase the same Neo wall stone from Costco and can you tell me if using the Lepage PL Premium Polyurethane Adhesive #67-1068-6 at Canadian Tire would do the job for a solid instalation.Thanks a lot and an answer from you would be very appreciate
by Digart, on 02.24.10 @ 4:14 pm
For sure Gilles, it will work perfectly. Though it’s not the cheapest option, I can tell. Cheers and success to your project.
by Ultraframe Conservatory installers Lancashire, on 03.18.10 @ 8:43 am
getting the mantle right over the fire can make a room and sometimes the house. Its hard to find a decent look but still being functional. I like this one
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by Bambus, on 04.06.10 @ 10:14 am
Hello,
I too will be putting up this exact stone on my fireplace this weekend. Great looking stone. Im planning to put up a frame ( to give it some thickness) then plywood or that Tilebacker board and secure the stones with PL9000 Construction Adhesive. As for the corners I was thinking of grinding the back of the stone at the ending, therefore the raised portion will come together and be just like a proper corner piece ( we’ll see how that goes though) If that is too much of a pain in the S, your way is great and will be the way to go. Thank You for the detailed description and pics. I will be referencing them for sure.
by Geoff, on 06.17.10 @ 12:53 pm
I was looking at this stone at Costco, and the only option is the San Francisco Finish. I would prefer a little more gray to the stone, but that is the only finish they sell. Do you know if this “tile” can be sealed like standard tile, and if it would make the color “pop” like some real stone tiles do when sealed?
by ken, on 07.26.10 @ 3:51 pm
When applying to an existing wall with outlet already in place, any suggestions how to extend outlet through neowall to make work? Also, how would you hang something from this wall such as a mirror?
by Digart, on 07.26.10 @ 4:37 pm
Hi Ken,
I would suggest either to bring outlet box forward in line with neowall surface or, if thicknes is matching, use extension to make the box deeper, but this second option is limited by fact that only very few depths of extension exist. Otherwise, there is no options complying the code other then cut the rectangular porthole in neowall.
For hanging I fortified the drywall behind neowall with 2×4 bars and plywood piece. In any case, it depends on load, picture will not require, probably, any additional strength effort. Try to find studs location before put neowall, and stick screws to them.
by Digart, on 07.26.10 @ 4:42 pm
Here is new player on the field. Called “DecoBrik”, apparently named under the charm of Scandinavian accent taken from IKEA. Looks little bit different than NeoWall, but, in concept it is the same. Has been seen in Costco, price is comparable.
by gas fireplaces, on 08.16.10 @ 8:52 am
The globe circular fireplace that I saw looked as though the top portion of the globe was suspended in midair, where the bottom portion had an elegant metallic brazier effect. This circular fireplace was called a globe fireplace because on each half was affixed metallic landmasses representing the continents of the earth.
by Digart, on 08.19.10 @ 1:39 pm
Can you provide picture, please? Would be nice to see the concept.
However, ball-shape fireplaces are existing, like this from Vauni :
And just slightly above $6,000.