Fireplace mantel

One feature in the house that we recently built was the fireplace surround. The first step in the process was to install the tile around the fireplace.

Tile Installation for Fireplace Surround

Before we began the finishing process of the surround, we built and insulated a chamber around direct-vent fireplace. The reason for this was that whenever it rained, the rain falling on the exterior metal termination for the fireplace was quite noisy. We wood framed the walls for the chamber (outside of the distance restrictions for the flue pipe), and put fiberglass insulation between the studs. After that, we overlaid it with concrete-board and finally the sides with sound-deadening board.

Insullation Wall around Flue Pipe

Concrete Board Around Flue Pipe

Then, with some siding, we established our upper arch. In the above photo, we have also installed blocks on the sides for the definition of the arch on the back panel. After we placed these arches, we were ready to sheetrock them.

Arch Ready for Mud

While let the mud dry, we built two “sides” for the main sitting box under the fireplace. These were to round out the fireplace surround.

Face Frames of Side Extensions After Staining

Finally, came the caulking and the painting!

Finally, comes the caulking and painting