A fireplace can act as a beautiful focal point to your living space. When done well, it can really tie a room together, adding warmth for the body and the soul.
And stone can be the perfect way to take your room to a whole new level. Stone fireplace surrounds can encase your room’s central feature in an air of luxury and beauty, mixing the crackle of flame with timeless style.
Let’s delve into a few of the most popular choices for stone fireplace surrounds: marble, granite, quartzite, and quartz.
The Allure of Marble Fireplace Surrounds
Marble is the most luxurious option, and for good reason. It has a lot of visual appeal because of its dynamic veining.
But it’s also going to bear the brunt of a lot of wear-and-tear. While marble may be elegant, it’s also prone to etching – so a loose log or dropped poker has the potential of doing real damage to the stone.
Marble is still an excellent option, though. Here are a few reasons why:
- Heat Resistance: Marble handles heat well – it’s even a conductor, meaning it can absorb a lot of heat with no damage. It’s a safe and reliable option around your fireplace.
- Visual Appeal: Marble’s distinctive colors and patterns offer great design options, from pristine whites to dramatic swirling grays.
- Increased Home Value: Marble is a premium material that can notably increase the value of your home.
The Quality of Granite Fireplace Surrounds
Granite is the most common stone to be used for fireplaces, and for good reason. The stone is an excellent balance between durability and affordability, all the while not sacrificing much on appearance.
Like with marble, however, staining can be a problem. Ash stains easily and can be a challenge to remove. You’ll have to use an enzymatic cleaner and aerate the tight space adequately while you clean your fireplace.
But here are a few reasons to consider granite:
- Scratch and Stain Resistance: Granite holds up remarkably well to everyday wear, resisting scratches or stains that might mar other materials.
- Great Durability: Granite is one of the hardest natural stones, making it a long-lasting choice.
- Wide Color Range: Granite offers a diverse spectrum of colors and patterns to suit any style.
The Resilience of Quartzite Fireplace Surrounds
What makes quartzite stand out is its exceptional toughness. Here are some other reasons to consider quartzite for your surround:
- Hardness: Quartzite is even harder than granite, providing superior resistance to scratches and chips.
- Non-Porous: Quartzite repels liquids, reducing the likelihood of staining.
- Visual Similarity to Marble: Quartzite often shares the elegant veining of marble, offering a similar look for a fraction of the cost. This can be really useful if appearance is important without sacrificing durability.
The Durability of Quartz
Quartz is becoming more and more popular these days, and it’s not hard to see why:
Extreme Durability: Quartz is an engineered stone. It’s resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks, which makes it ideal for high-use areas like fireplace surrounds.
Low Maintenance: Unlike natural stone, quartz is non-porous and doesn’t need sealing. This makes it easy to clean and maintain, requiring only a wipe down with a damp cloth.
Appearance: Quartz comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, mimicking the look of natural stone like marble or granite while offering more consistent patterns and colors.
Cost-Effective: When it comes to finances, quartz is an excellent mid-tier option. If your budget is flexible, it won’t be too much of a hassle to find something within your price range.
Quartz is made up of crushed quartzite minerals held together by a resin-like glue. But while quartz isn’t completely heat-proof, it can withstand the ambient heat from a fireplace surround just fine and is a great option to consider.
Stone Fireplace Surrounds
All the above stones are qualified to upgrade your fireplace surround – their unique patterns and fire resistance make them an excellent option.
One final note – soot. Every fireplace gets it, and while quartz resists stains just fine, black ash can still cake on the surface over time.
To remove soot and grime from your stone fireplace surround, mix baking soda and water into a muddy paste. Simply apply the paste, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then gently scrub and rinse the stone surface.That’s it. If you have any questions about turning your fireplace into a stone masterpiece, let us know, we’d love to help.
TO LEARN MORE:
To learn more about natural stone, or the Stone Central team, visit our website at StoneCentralSC.com