The faux stone fireplace has come a very long way from the hideously fake stone look of the 60s and 70s . . . . . . .
Design above by Francois and Co.
Thanks to significant advances in product development and finishing techniques,
many of today's faux stone hearths are barely discern-
ible from the "real deal." In fact,
the
best examples are virtually im-
possible to distinguish from their natural stone counterparts!
Amazingly, a
natural stone look can
be achieved with a variety of differ-
ent materials today, including nu-
merous blends or
mixtures of cast
and manufactured stone, concrete, gypsum and plaster. The versatility
of these
products, particularly in
the hands of a skilled artisan, is
truly mind boggling.
The custom and semi-custom designs pictured on this page reflect the wide range of different
looks that are possible with a faux stone fireplace. The beautiful example above with a smooth
pearl marble finish is made
from glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG), a natural mineral mixed with
water and glass fiber that can be finished to resemble limestone, marble and alabaster.
The elaborate mantel at right is made from decorative
plaster and finished
to resemble highly polished marble
with carved and gilded accents.
Unlike gypsum or plaster, which can only be used indoors, most cast stone mixtures can be used both indoors and out, such as shown in the example from TechStone pictured at right, below.
The casting blends and finishing techniques employed to create many of today's
cast stone hearths are so advanced that they can closely repli-
cate the colors and textures of natural stone.
Similarly, the fine hand carved detailing found in natural stone products can now be reproduced
in
quality cast stone blends, as shown in the examples below.
One cast stone type enjoying a resurgence in popularity is Scagliola, a mixture of crushed marble, limestone and travertine. Principally developed by Italian monks in the 17th century, it is virtually indistinguishable from hand carved quarry stone. The fireplaces directly below, from Francois and Co. (except bottom row, right), are outstanding present day exam- ples of that centuries' old art form.
See More striking mantels and surrounds from Francois and Co.
If you're aiming for a less formal and a more casual look, such as the example pictured below, please click here.
Regardless of the overall look and feel you're aiming for, you will find a wide range of quality products and skilled artisans to give you a very realistic natural stone appearance at a fraction of the cost. Not only will you save on the cost of the fireplace, itself, but due to the lighter weight of faux stone products, labor costs will be considerably lower because you won't need any additional footings or structural reinforcement to support your new custom or semi-custom faux stone fireplace.
If you're looking for the best there is in a present day custom faux stone fireplace, you need look no further than the quality products and highly skilled faux stone artisans behind the outstanding examples shown here. For more information about any of these amazing products and skilled artisans, please contact us.
Please check back often or subscribe to our RSS feed, for we fre- quently add new images as we discover exceptional new talent to bring to you. Also, if you know of a skilled designer or artisan that you believe should be featured here, please let us know.
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