Marble / engineered stone fire surround - where to buy

[RC944]

took down nasty brick built fireplace but left liner in situ and would like to have use of the fireplace in the winter months...

hoping to get a stone / marble one fabricated to size but wondering if anyone has any experience of firms that offer such build to spec ie you send picture and measurements, they make it and send to you, you install and enjoy

http://www.fireplace2u.co.uk/Marble_Fireplaces_Mad...

im especially wary about buying before seeing but have no real options close to me other than firms that offer bespoke and will look to charge me 4 times what i might pay with the cheaper firm like the above....

i realise it might be a gamble but a risk im happy to take (within reason)

Edited by RC944 on Tuesday 22 May 11:03

Edited by RC944 on Tuesday 22 May 11:12

[RC944]

so it appears to be that with solid fuel i need to have a black granite back plate and hearth to allow for expansion gaps...

[K50 DEL]

I've recently done exactly the same thing in my lounge.

When I moved in I had a tiny fireplace surrounded by white painted stone, ripped that out, enlarged the opening a little, built a fake chimney breast to allow the TV to be inset and had a bespoke fire surround and marble base made by

http://www.windsmerestone.com/

I think the total cost was around 1k and it looks great

[russ_a]

There is a chap on eBay that makes Limestone fireplaces, seems to have quite a good feedback.

http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPa...

You will indeed have to buy a hearth with expansion gaps. Alternatively, you can simply tile the hearth. We brought a granite hearth and still had to tile the back as the hearth wasn't deep enough.

We have a cast iron surround and it gets so hot that we can't have anything on the mantlepiece as it would melt! Does make a nice radiator though.

[dickymint]

Wifey runs the new fabrication dept. for Mandarin Stone. Give Her a bell at the Monmouth HQ and She'll sort you out ooh errr ask for Samantha and mention PistonHeads

http://www.mandarinstone.com/showroom

They have a Showroom in Marlow near you?

PS. They supply most of the stone you'll see in other places.

[RC944]

dickymint said:

Wifey runs the new fabrication dept. for Mandarin Stone. Give Her a bell at the Monmouth HQ and She'll sort you out ooh errr ask for Samantha and mention PistonHeads

http://www.mandarinstone.com/showroom

They have a Showroom in Marlow near you?

PS. They supply most of the stone you'll see in other places.

good call...ive had good experiences in the past buying some antalya honed floor tiles in the past so will drop them a line

[RC944]

russ_a said:

There is a chap on eBay that makes Limestone fireplaces, seems to have quite a good feedback.

http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPa...

You will indeed have to buy a hearth with expansion gaps. Alternatively, you can simply tile the hearth. We brought a granite hearth and still had to tile the back as the hearth wasn't deep enough.

We have a cast iron surround and it gets so hot that we can't have anything on the mantlepiece as it would melt! Does make a nice radiator though.

had a look.. he is clearly a real craftsman and the fireplaces he makes look amazing... not sure can justify the outlay given that we will knock down half the house in a few years so need something that will be fit for a few winters only.... dont mind reconstituted stone or engineered stone for the stop gap fireplace!

[furtive]

K50 DEL said:

I've recently done exactly the same thing in my lounge.

When I moved in I had a tiny fireplace surrounded by white painted stone, ripped that out, enlarged the opening a little, built a fake chimney breast to allow the TV to be inset

Don't you have to stand up to watch telly now to avoid getting a crook in your neck?

[z4chris99]

furtive said:

Don't you have to stand up to watch telly now to avoid getting a crook in your neck?

tv above the fire is a big no no

[furtive]

I'm thinking of removing my gas fire completely and sticking the telly where the fire currently is. Would make my lounge work better and give me some space for another 2 seater sofa

[K50 DEL]

furtive said:

K50 DEL said:

I've recently done exactly the same thing in my lounge.

When I moved in I had a tiny fireplace surrounded by white painted stone, ripped that out, enlarged the opening a little, built a fake chimney breast to allow the TV to be inset

Don't you have to stand up to watch telly now to avoid getting a crook in your neck?

Can see why you'd think that but nope, it actually works perfectly, especially if you recline the sofa, it's right in your natural eyeline.

As far as a TV above the fire goes, I read loads of different opinions on the 'net before I did it and all I can say is that it's been there for 8 months now and has been absolutely fine, the wall behind the TV doesn't get hot when I have a fire and there's no extraneous heat hitting the front of the screen either.

[z4chris99]

K50 DEL said:

Can see why you'd think that but nope, it actually works perfectly, especially if you recline the sofa, it's right in your natural eyeline.

As far as a TV above the fire goes, I read loads of different opinions on the 'net before I did it and all I can say is that it's been there for 8 months now and has been absolutely fine, the wall behind the TV doesn't get hot when I have a fire and there's no extraneous heat hitting the front of the screen either.

I'm not talking about the heat

Mirrors and paintings go above fires, TVs go elsewhere

[Simpo Two]

Calder Masonry have a range of designs but can also make stuff to order: www.caldermasonry.co.uk

[RC944]

dickymint said:

Wifey runs the new fabrication dept. for Mandarin Stone. Give Her a bell at the Monmouth HQ and She'll sort you out ooh errr ask for Samantha and mention PistonHeads

http://www.mandarinstone.com/showroom

They have a Showroom in Marlow near you?

PS. They supply most of the stone you'll see in other places.

i spoke with Sam briefly yesterday and waiting to hear back now... fingers cross and thanks for the tip