Fireplace Hearth

I am a relatively new subscriber and would not have read past comments. Does anyone have a method for removing asphalt driveway sealer from a white metal garage door? The last time I hired the driveway sealed, the contractor got quite a bit on the garage door.

I would like the answer to this question, also!

Tim ,I read your column and found it full of good advice. I would add a couple of things if I may. 1) It is important to use a MODIFIED thin set as it allows for the expansion and contraction of the hearth due to heat. 2) Most natural stone companies have off cuts that they can't use that may often be purchased at a substantial discount (Often cheaper than tile). These make a rich looking hearth and come in a variety of colors to suit any need. 3) As a stone/tile installer with 20 years experience I would advise the use of an edging strip (like Schluder)with tile instead of grout which may crack and pop out or buckle the hardwood due to expansion. Allow a 1mm ~ 1/16 inch gap to the hard wood and fill with clear dap 230 to avoid dirt build up. 4)If your fireplace burns real wood be sure to check the local fire code for minimum dimensions of the hearth.
As always good blog keep it up! Tim

Ann and DI try mineral spirits to remove the sealer from the garage door. Log your time and recover the costs from the contractor who I feel was not diligent in their job. As every good tradesperson knows prep is 85% of the job!

Hi,

I have some leftover slate pieces from a bathroom project. I would like to use random size pieces to create a surround on my fireplace. I lined them up in a random patter to see how it would look and love the look. It almost looks like stackstone. I am thinking of putting the pices close together but am thinking of leaving them grout free so it does look like stackstone. Is there any problem with doing this?

Thanks,
Debby

I live in Michigan and needed some brick work done for my stone fireplace. Well, like every easy project, this one turned out to get a little more complicated than I originally had imagined. The whole plan looked great on paper, but eventually I knew the building stone I had gotten wasn’t going to be enough. I got some recommendations from a buddy of mine, but I wanted to go with a company that has been around for a while and has a reputation that they stand behind. Another friend of mine suggested Lincoln Brick and Stone. I checked out their website (http://www.lincolnbrick.com), made a couple of phone calls, and they really put my mind at ease. The project, on its way to being a complete masonry nightmare, wound up ending without incident. I would say “fun”, but since when is installing a new stone fireplace fun? Just to celebrate the hard fought victory over my stone fireplace, I had them throw in some custom engraving to seal the deal. I was generally very pleased with the work done by Lincoln Brick and Stone and would recommend them in a heartbeat for anyone who wants to have a stone fireplace, but might be a little reluctant to choose a company to use.

I'm looking for a stone hearth for my fireplace.