First of all, let me thank everyone for their comments regarding “blue glue in hot tub” discussion. Very informative!!
Okay, here’s the next topic. We are planning an extensive remodel and additions to our house. Our living room has a fireplace 8’x16′ tall veneered with a very drab and dull gray stone. Hearth is flush with floor. We thought about removing the stone and replacing it with stacked stone in a more pleasing color, but contractor quoted $3400 just to remove the stone. Any ideas as to what we can do to the wall of grey? Could we “box-in” from ceiling down to about 6′ from floor with drywall? Possibly place flat screen TV or large painting on drywall? Leave grey stone, lay dry stack in front of it? Could we remove veneered stone ourselves?
Thanks for your help!
ringtail (the wife)
Replies
Have you tried knocking one with a hammer yet? Hit from the side with a sledge, hit it good.
I've always thought the box out around the chimney looks good. There was good article in the mag not too many issues ago, maybe last June or so (???). You can also use the box-out to hide the equipment for supporting the flat screen.
Thanks for the advice. We are not adverse to trying to remove the stone ourselves. Is definately on the list of poss.
Yes, I do like the idea of the flat screen TV. I remember the article-I think had to do with brick, but should work well in this situation.
Personally I think placing a TV over a fireplace places the TV too high, and ends up with competing focal points. But that's just personal preference.
Most fireplace stone used in the last 20 yrs. or so is artificial, should knock right off.
Give it a try , all you have to save is $3400.
3lb. sledge, a long heavy chisel, safety glasses and dust mask.
If you own a roto hammer better yet.
i just did a remodel of our FP using the dry stack fake stone, it came out pretty well and comes off pretty easy, i just used a wide flat chisel and it popped off, between the wall and the stone where the motar was. Used slate tile for the hearth, and tigerwood for the floor, came out really well.
Frank
We were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail....
Waylon...
"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."
Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae.
(Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.)
Cicero, De Officiis
" once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen..."
Before & after pics?
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
so far only have pics of the FP, we are gonna paint the walls a more neutral color, i had some before pics, but someone deleted them off the camera before loading them, i wont mention the wifes name. just finished grouting the slate tiles, love the look of the tiles , i am not as happy with the FP stone, but everyone else loves it so maybe i am just too picky... do love the tigerwood though beautiful stuff.FrankWe were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail....
Waylon...
"I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."
Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae.
(Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.)
Cicero, De Officiis
" once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen..."
I think the stone looks good. Give us the hearth and tigerwood pics when you get a chance. Shame you lost your before pics. I'm sure it would make for a dramatic change.
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
"but contractor quoted $3400 just to remove the stone."
Did something like this last winter. That quote may seem high, but I spent more time and money protecting the floor around the FP and setting up to control dust than I did doing demo and hauling it off.
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In case you want to replace with another stone, a starting point for cultured (fake) stone is $13 a sq foot, and $19 a sq ft for real stone. Those are installed prices.
Now Frenchy will chime in and say he did his for 1.50 a sq ft but you gotta consider the source. ;-)
I wonder what the existing stone would look like if it were cleaned? It can get pretty dingy over the years...
I would think you will want to do a pretty good job of protecting adjacent surfaces and controlling dust. If it's just "veneered" my guess it will pop off pretty easily but your prep and dust control will need to be thought out pretty good.
BjR