Q: I think I want a limestone fireplace surround in my house. What’s the process for having that done?

Because each home is unique, each fireplace is unique. We custom design each surround based on the style and look that you, the homeowner, want.

Before you come in, it’s a good idea to look around and think about what you might want. Don’t worry about if the design will fit in your space at this point, just try to collect images and ideas for inspiration. Some good places to look are at our past fireplace projects here, magazines, or online (Sites like Houzz or Pinterest are great places to start) – or just do a search for limestone fireplace and see what comes up.

 When you come in, it’s helpful if you can bring a few things:

•  Bring any pictures you have of the existing space. Drawings are great too. This helps us get an idea of the limitations we have to work within, and the style of the room.
• Bring pictures of any fireplaces you like. We can pull aspects from several different design inspirations or replicate one you love.
• Also, if you have dimensions, bring those too. Drawings and sketches are fine at this stage. Any dimensions you have are good, but here are some of the main ones: Firebox height and width, any sort of constraining dimensions (such as a wall or doorway). Ceiling height is also good if you can measure it.
• If you’re using a gas or electric fireplace insert and you have the specs on that, bring those in. If you have the model and brand names, we can look up the specs too.

Start the process early

For new constructions, it is important to get the process started early. Before sheetrock. This will allow us to work with your contractor to make sure that you will have the needed support in place.

Come in for an initial meeting

At our first meeting, we’ll have a conversation about your design goals. We’ll look through what you brought, and will show you around our showroom. Here, we have a variety of fireplace surrounds crafted from many different materials which will give you a better idea of what we are capable of doing. At the end of this meeting, once we have enough information, we’ll get to work on drafting a rough design for your fireplace. We have CAD drawing capabilities to give you a professional, scale drawing of what the finished piece will look like. This will also allow us to come up with a budget, based on which materials you like, and the complexity of your design. If necessary, we’ll come out and visit your jobsite to get a better idea.

Fireplace design and revisions

We’ll continue to meet with you and finalize the design until you’re happy with the look. We’ll show you where we’ll need to joint the stones, and can talk about marble or granite insets, hearths, and anything else that comes up. We may also come out to take some measurements of the space to verify that your design will work within your home.

Fabrication Begins

Once we’ve settled on a design and you’ve signed the contract, we’ll come out and do a final measure of your space. Then, we’ll get to work. We’ll need some time to cut, shape, and carve your fireplace. Depending on the material you choose, it may also take some time to source the limestone – we work with thick material which we often get custom cut from the quarry. We’ll be able to give you a more exact timeframe for your project once we know more details, but in general you can expect the process to take from 8 to 12 weeks.

Ready to get started? Call or visit us today! You can also fill out this form here and someone will contact you to talk about your project.