But what should you consider if you want to create a stone wall behind the fireplace? Does it have to be real stone, or are there imitations that are heat-resistant? Whether natural stone, brick or artificial material with a stone look, we explain what is important when choosing - including beautiful examples as inspiration.
What you should consider for the stone wall behind the fireplace
It's not just the choice of the right stone or stone imitation that is important. The material you want to use to attach the cladding should also be suitable for this location. For stone or clinker, for example, this means heat-resistant adhesive and also joint mortar. After all, you don't want your stones to fall off at some point.
This also applies to wallpaper with a stone look or plastic cladding that is attached with adhesive.
Which variants are available to you?
Real stone and imitations made of artificial material are of course available in different versions. So you have a large selection and can design the back wall according to your ideas and adapt it to your furnishing style. Unpolished natural stone and brick (imitated by clinker brick slips) are great for rustic furnishings or modern styles with a rustic flair, while cut stone slabs are more suitable for modern furnishing styles. Cost-effective alternatives are wallpaper and plastic panels that are glued to the wall.
Natural stone for a stone wall behind the oven
Extremely heat-resistant and a real gem that creates a warm ambience: This is probably the best way to describe natural stone, which is so versatile. Since the material is heat-resistant up to 100 degrees, it is also ideal if the distance to the wall is perhaps a little too small, as long as you have used the right mortar. VeryGranite is popular, although this is not the only option for covering the wall.
Stone slabs for a wall with clear lines
Some people prefer clear, straight lines in their furnishings, which is particularly typical of modern (including minimalist) furnishings. The panels are usually a mix of stone and other materials, have a layer of porcelain stoneware or natural stone underneath and are easily attached to the wall, although they are thicker than classic tiles.
Stone tiles for screwing
If you don't want to stick, you can also use stone tiles, which are usually screwed together using dowels. However, you still can't avoid using grout, because it not only ensures the beautiful finish, but also hides the screw points. This type of wall tile is made of polyurethane and a layer of stone, using marble dust to coat the surface.
Brick or clinker brick slips
From a purely visual perspective, both of them basically come to the same result, but the brick is a larger stone, while the brick strips are, so to speak, brick discs. Would you like another one behind the stove now?Brick wallbuilding, you would take up valuable space in the area. That's why the thinner clinker brick slips are recommended as alternative facing bricks, which are also comparably cheap.
Mask off walls before attaching the stones
If you would like to create your own stone wall behind the fireplace, you could benefit from the following tips:
- Think about how large the area should be. Mark the area and then tape it off with paper tape.
- When deciding on the size of the area, also consider the size of your slabs or tiles. After all, you don't want to cut unnecessarily, so try to find dimensions that allow you to leave the panels intact as often as possible.
- If you have chosen irregular edges of the paneling, it is best to let them extend beyond the tape (don't forget to remove the tape first).
- When you buy the mortar, find out how many bags you will need so that you don't suddenly find yourself empty. You can get advice on this when purchasing from a hardware store. For 3 square meters you should plan around 10 kg of mortar (2 bags).
- You will need a diamond wheel to cut the panels. Beginners will find it difficult to cut them straight and especially not to keep breaking them.
In general, even beginners can try it out and usually get the hang of it quickly. But if you don't want to waste material (and nerves), it might be worth investing in an expert.
Fireproof wallpaper with a stone look as a cheap alternative?
Wallpaper is certainly possible, but for safety reasons you should definitely pay attention to the distances between the wall and the fireplace. These differ depending on the type of stove:
- If the oven only has glass at the front, the minimum distance to the side walls and back walls is 20 centimeters.
- Fireplace stoves that also have glass windows on the sides should be at a distance of 65 centimeters from the wall.
- The stove pipe also radiates heat, although not at such high temperatures as the boiler room. You can reduce the heat a little more by choosing a double-walled tube. This also protects the wallpaper.
Also, it's best to chooseFleece as Material. This is difficult to ignite and is therefore best suited for wallpaper around a fireplace. You can find out about these and other questions from a chimney sweep, as he should be familiar with the laws in this regard.
What else you can cover the wall with,find out here.
Cover image: Simol1407/ Shutterstock
