May 5, 2015

The Cabin Fireplace- Part 6

 Here we go you guys, it's been a long time coming, but today we finally make that fireplace a legit fireplace.  Remember this?



Finally we had the gas man out and made it burn.


With everything installed and working, we could finally close off the fireplace.  We started by covering the framing with 1/2" Durock panels.

If you recall we intentionally choose to bump out the fireplace 6" from the built-ins to give this wall a little depth.  That decision ultimately meant a lot more work for us, as we had to wrap these corners with Durock and stone. Because we don't do easy.  Ever.
 

Speaking of we don't do easy- my Dad thought it would be a great idea to build this fireplace piece-by-piece with actual, limestone, stacked stone.  Not the easy, ready-to-go tile stone you can find at the Tile Shop that we used on our big, bad and beautiful fireplace in The Lodge, but individual, not fabricated, real deal stones.  "Wouldn't that look great?" he said.  "Shouldn't it be authentic?" he said. 

Sure it would Dad.



The process looked something like this.  We laid out dozens of pieces on the floor so that we could piece them together like a puzzle.  We cut a few, but mostly just used what we had.  It was slow going.


It didn't help that we had to carefully wrap those corners so that they looked perfect and seamless.


About four hours later, we made it about this far.


And finally, at the very end of the night we laid the last stone.


It was slow going, but there's no arguing the classic, sturdy look of the authentic stacked stone.  This fireplace looks like it's always been there.


We're nearly at the finish line!  Next up, the mantel and the hearth.  And then we're putting a fork in this project.  I promise. 


Pst- Want to follow along on the big cabin fireplace wall project from the beginning?  Or jump straight to the end?  Here you go:

Removing the Window
Part 1- Framing The Fireplace
Part 2- Building the Built-Ins
Part 3- Finishing the Built-Ins
Part 4- Installing the Built-Ins & Building Barn Wood TV Wall
Part 5- Triming Out the Built-Ins (to make them look "built in.")
Part 6- Creating a Stacked Stone Fireplace Surround 
Part 7- Building the Fireplace Mantel 
The Big Cabin Fireplace Wall Reveal