Mastic glue on a fireplace is a mistake. Install CBU (concrete board) and thinset, burning a notched 1/4" scratch coat first, and then a second notched coat to bed the stone. Stone of any kind is heavy. It needs the CBU properly anchored into the wall for support. Fireplaces create temperature variables on the wall. The CBU insulates the stone from the wood/sheetrock wall behind it, and ensures the bond between the stone and CBU/concrete board remains secure, to keep stone from popping off the wall. I've seen the mastic used on the HGTV type DIY shows, and unless you're applying very thin/light tiles to a sheetrock wall, the long term results may not be good.
Can you put ledger stone panels right on a painted drywall wall if you're only stoning 8 feet up? Or do I need to install something like cement board? What would be the cheapest, yet efficient material to use if I have to put something on the drywall wall?
@@nowiknowhy installing heavy stone directly on painted drywall like this isn't a great idea. Cement board is cheap, easy to install, and much better insurance IMO.
I searched for truly helpful videos on this topic for a while and everything had way too much fluff or it was over complicating it. This video is the best explanation I've ever seen. Thank you
Nice work . I'm the contractor myself and I install the stone exactly same way as you. Some people believe that plywood must be installed first even on small area . I install plywood only if is project higher then 8 foot
+delija67717 Thanks! Yeah its really not hard and doesn't have to be over complicated. Its designed for simple installation that homeowners can handle.
Thanks, I'm ready to tackle mine. If you did it over again, would you leave it 2-3 ft short of the ceiling? Big chunky mantle would have looked perfect with all the stone.
Don't use Mastic! It is not heat rated. It will smell when it gets hot and can fall off! You use thinset around a fireplace. Read your fireplace install manual before doing anything around your fireplace. Make sure you are following the clearances and using the right materials on and around it!
tim seldal I want to install ledger stone over brick around my wood fireplace; not gas One question please 1- the mastic is not fire rated as you mentioned Can I first apply grout scratch coat first then the ledger stone or it won’t stick
Dude that looks slamming!!! Comments crack me up and all the dislikes! I bet the dislikes are the folks that don’t have the creative touch like you!! Great job!!
My wife and I are looking at doing the same thing to ours but was worried they might fall from the weight . we didn't think about just doing a couple of rows and letting it set up . Thanks for the video
Ive done two fireplaces with faux stone. One was 26' high. It is really simple. Just make sure you get the right mortar/thinset and you have the right sub-wall prep behind it to have a strong hold.
Well explained and easy to understand and follow. Thanks for giving this amateur some confidence to move ahead on his own, and to hopefully save some money. Thanks! And it looks great btw!
The granite is usually 3 small pieces and generally just stuck to the sheetrock. It can be popped off. It'll likely leave some sheet rock damage, but that can be patched and covered with the new stone.
The stone on the wall has been up for about 4 years now? How is it holding up, with the mastic glue? Just wondering, as I am now attempting this same fireplace remodel in my home. Thanks for sharing this video.
We sold the house last year, but we stay in touch with the new homeowners. It's still perfect. I've had several people tell me mastic was a bad choice, and maybe if I did it again, it causes issues. But for this project, it has had zero problems.
I'm curious, after stoning, and if the fire box needs to be replaced,,how do you do that? Cut the stone, replace the box, and figure out how to stain the new stone to match the old stone? I'm asking bc the,house I'm thinking about,buying has a stone fire place surrounding the wood burning fire box, I know I'm going to have to replace it, and the chimney is not out back.
I would like to thank you for this awesome video , I been searching video and every single video I have seen have seen it said u need to put hardibacker board and make seem so complicated , but your video keep easy and afford by using a grinder not a tile table saw that I can't afford to buy one , so thank you again good video
+Francisco Torres Thanks very much for the kind words. That's exactly what I hoped to accomplish with this video. To show that it is simple and doesn't have to be expensive. Thanks for watching!
Install looks great. I wouldn’t use mastic to hold this type of heavy stone. I work for a tile and stone company and we sell Mapei installation products, the same brand as the Type 1 mastic you used. We receive a ton of training using installation products and I would recommend Ultraflex LFT or the Kerabond/Keralastic system from Mapei. I’d hate for a piece of that stone to fall on someone. The fireplace looks great.
Thanks for that info! I get those questions all the time. I'm no expert, so I can only speak from my experience. Construction adhesive works well also.
We just bought a house in AZ that’s just like yours except it’s not on an angle, and we like the tile around the firebox. We really want to do something to give it more definition, and I think this look would be great! If you did this project now, would you change anything?
I'm thinking of doing the same for my fireplace but I'm not a fan of the flat wall. I'm thinking of framing the fireplace section to come out 8 inches or so all the way up to the ceiling and have a hearth as well. I think the 3-D look would be sharp.
Every other video I watched suggests you put backer board behind the tile as the sheetrock won't hold the weight. So tell me please, 4 years later, did the sheetrock hold up? Or should I go with the backer board?
Its still holding strong after the years. I've tried to tell people in the comment section that I understand what manufacturers recommend, and that they should follow those instructions. I'm just showing what I did at my home, and it worked in my case, and several others that I built over the years.
Hi! I'm starting my own ledgestone project in the living room. The stone will go straight over drywall. I've read so much about whether it can go over drywall or whether it should be backer/concrete board, and whether mastic or thinset mortar should be used. There are SO many different answers!! Your way seems so simple!!! Can you tell me if you've ever had any problems since your install a couple years ago?? Any buckling? Mold? Were you afraid of the liquid in the Mastic absorbing/molding into the drywall? I'd really appreciate your advice!!
I have had zero issues. I have also done quite a few other fireplaces like this and have had no problems. I would say this though, construction adhesive like liquid nails is much faster, less messy, and will likely hold tighter.
Great video i just bought some ms int. Stone ledger panels from Home Depot, i just noticed your panels seem smaller than tyhe 24"×6" they were offering. Is that why you were able to use mastic instead of the large tile thinset?
Well not necessarily. I have used the 24x6 before with mastic. I have used panels with construction adhesive also. It really depends on what shape the wall is in and how thick the stone is. Ultimately, the stones can bear straight down on each other to an extent. The adhesive doesn't have to support the full weight, it just has to be strong enough and have a good enough bond to keep it from falling forward.
great video. I'm getting ready to install a kozy heat z42. I'm wanting to end up with stone like you did. Should my sheetrock/backer board be flush with the front of fireplace? Also is there something needed around the fireplace at the front to make an airtight seal? like caulking between stone and fireplace front faceplate?
+Tom Black All fireplaces from electric to gas to wood burning will have a thorough installation manual included. Each one is going to call for slightly different setups but most of the setups are all the same. Each unit will be ready to accept any acceptable finish wall you choose as long as it meets the clearances to combustibles. Sealing is only necessary as it relates to venting if its a vented set. As far as setting it flush or not, that will be determined by thickness of your material and your own preferences.
i am not familiar with the adhesive you used but tile adhesive is fine on bare sheetrock but probably will not bond to a painted surface. i did my wall with similar natural stone and i put wonderboard on the wall and used thinset instead of mastic
This turned out awesome! I've been wanting to do this to my fireplace, but it has tile on it right now... the same tile as our laundry room and bathroom floor. Do you think I could use that adhesive you used on top of that tile to stick the stone to it (like you used) without removing it?
Well, I don't have experience with that, but I do know that with tile on the floor, putting tile over it is fairly common. It requires a later of self leveling mud and a primer. That wouldn't work on a vertical surface because the mud is so runny. As much as you hate to hear it, I would demo the tile first and create a good surface to adhere the stone to.
I liked this video, really appreciated putting the time to do this demo. How use this stones to make columns light post? also, what is it called to buy from Lawes? ... please respond .. thanks
+sidowsidow If you're going to be putting these stones on a light post, it would have to be a fairly wide light post. These panels are about 12 inches across. Also, there would have to be a suitable material to attach the stone to. I would recommend construction adhesive. Ask the associate at Lowes and let them know if it will be inside or outside.
+joss dindo peralta Thanks so much. You can find it at Lowes or Home Depot. The container might have a different name on it, but ask someone in that department for mastic and they will know what you're looking for.
I'm about to start this project on my wall (100sq) can the stone go directly on a painted wall in my living room. Been getting different opinions. Some people have been telling me hardie backer. Thank you
I reall;y like you video. I was thinking about tearing out the old fake rock around fireplace and installing gas and then building out a area using 2/4's and Sheetrock, then stoning over Sheetrock, like you did. Do you know if 2/4's will work or is that a fire hazard? Thanks
+David Shadden Good question. On wood burning inserts there is an area of clearance to combustibles so that you have to use metal studs, but on most gas inserts now you are ok to frame with wood. Federal law requires safety glass on vented gas logs. That might have something to do with it. That being said, the manual that comes with your gas logs and firebox will reference clearance to combustibles in 3 ways. Framing, finishing material, and mantels. Check your installation manual to make the determination on what materials to use.
I have just bought the same tiles. They are really dusty. Should I wash them before installation and should I use normal water? Also what sealer do you recommend to keep the natural colour?
Yes you can wash them. Just make sure you let them dry a few days. If you go to Lowes or Home Depot, they make a few different sealers. You can choose glossy or matte. I would seal them first, then put them on the wall.
I'm looking for the exact colors you put up. We want grays but can only find mostly browns at Lowe's unless we are willing to go with faux stone. Don't happen to know exactly what you got do you? Either way.. great video.
+Chintan Patel If you look on Lowes web site, there will be 2 types of natural ledger stone. Some Lowe's stores only carry one or the other and sometimes both or neither, lol. You should be able to get your store to order it for you or place your order online.
Very nice. What do you think the total weight of the stone is? I have an 11' feature wall that I would like to do something like this but it would be on four sides.
I believe the best way to determine that would be to look online. No matter where youre getting your stone, it will give you a package weight and a square footage measurement per package. From that you can extrapolate the total weight you would be putting on the walls.
So you installed this tile directly on painted drywall? The manufacturer recommended installing on cement board with polymer-modified thinset mortar. Can you explain why you chose to install this way and if you’ve have any issues henceforth?
Sure, no problem. I have done a few projects that would go against manufacturer recommendations. Yes, cement board and thinset are ideal, but in this case, the stone I am using is not the thickest and heaviest of stone panels I have used. Also, the drywall is 5/8" thick and in terrific condition. There was only the initial layer of paint from the builder, so there wasn't several layers of paint. And I wasn't going really high and wide with the stone. All that added up for me to suggest I had a pretty high likelihood of success. I do recommend you use thinset or construction adhesive instead of mastic, but I haven't had any issues with it at all.
We’re trying to install an accent wall in our powder room (low moisture), and can’t decide if we should put cement board up or just adhere the tile directly to the dry wall. There is a new patch of drywall we had to install to cover a hole, also there are a few coats of paint on that wall but we can sand it off. The area is about 3x6 feet and spans from the top of the vanity to our 9 foot ceilings. We bought thinset mortar for this job. We’re new at tiling and aren’t sure what we should do! Any advice would help.
So, first thing, consider all these kitchens you see. They put backsplash directly on drywall. Its only 18" high normally, but still. If you're doing tile, there is zero issues with that idea, and kitchens are wet areas. If you're using stone ledger panels and it's essentially a backsplash, 3 x 6, I would have zero concerns about the drywall as long as it is sound and secure. My only concern would be stone as a backsplash, as it is porous and absorbent. If you use stone, be sure to seal it and make it water resistant.
@@OurHouseChannel Sorry for the ambiguity. The ledgestone isn't going on a backsplash in a kitchen. It's actually going on an accent wall that has old/new drywall patches with a few coats of paint. The total height of this wall is 9 feet tall to the ceiling, but we're only installing from the vanity up, so total 6 ft tall worth of tile by 3 ft wide. I'm wondering if installing the heavy ledgestone on patched painted drywall at that height would be safe, or if I should rip down that whole wall of drywall and install cement board?
I noticed you went right over the wall/drywall above your fireplace. Is this ok as I'm wanting to do mine too and want the easiest way lol Im going to be using Sonerox Natural Stone.
The short answer is yes. However, there are a few things that might make you choose a different stone that had the premade corners. You would need to do some figuring and have some skill to cut the stone just so to create a corner. Also, the cut ends would show and look too clean compared to the body of the stone. There are so many ledger stones and suppliers out there, it just wouldn't be worth the time and effort. Check Amazon. They have a lot of choices.
Excellent video and very kind of you to answer so many questions. Here's one more, can I use mastic or construction adhesive to attach these panels to plywood?
How many boxes did you buy? Why did you sort the colors? What is the name of the mix used instead of mortar? We purchased 12 cases, going up next weekend.We were told, we needed a wet saw to cut the tiles, backer board, and mortar. You method seems much easier, less mess. Forwarding your link to hubby,
+Alicia Jones The stones I bought had 4 square feet per case. I sorted the colors because in any real stone product, there are variations and you wouldn't want to start paying tiles only to find out the next box you opened was darker or lighter. You'd end up with something other than a true blend of color. I used mastic. It is premised and normally used for backsplash. A wet saw is ideal, but a 4" diamond blade grinder works well too. Always use safety glasses. As for the backerboard, the manufacturer says to use it. But when installing backsplash, none is needed. It really depends on how sound the wall is. Mine was fairly new construction with lots of studs behind and well attached. When in doubt, overbuild.
We have a new build as well. We have the exact same fireplace, we just removed the logs and have the black stone instead. Anyways, we bought MS International stack stone panels 6”x24” from Home Depot. Looks like you used the same product. We plan to follow your method, we really do not want to mess with mixing mortar. Mastic is the way to go! Thanks for your help & video
Alicia Jones , How did it turnout? I bought the same type of stone at Hd. Did you apply directly to drywall? Or did you pull the drywall and installed cement board?
If, after a few rows you find that the panels are getting out of level, how do you correct it? Do you have to try to cut angles into the next row to get it back to level?
+brad dameron Great question but complicated to answer completely. It depends on a lot of factors. It could be as simple as, there happens to be a little point on one stone that needs to be ground off. Of maybe there was a slight hump in the floor that affected the first course. It could also be that the pieces all have a slight change in dimension from the factory. In general though, if you're a bit high on one end, you can grind a side down to level out. If you're a touch low, you can shim a bit with some tiny pieces of stone. Those little tiny gaps won't be noticeable in the wall as a whole.
Great video and very helpful! Would the same process work for faux stone? I am afraid of putting too much weight with real stone on the wall, plus we want a TV hanging on the wall. I love the look though.
+Maya Glazer Sometimes the synthetic stone can weigh the same or more than these thin veneer stones. If you have any doubts, its best to Google the manufacturers recommendations.
Thank you very much for this video. Well explained! I have a question. Does drywall is tough enough for theses stone panels? I've heard that we are not supposed to because of the weight of the stones. Is it true? I'm a bit confused.
+David Ladouceur Dupuis Synthetic stone is thick and sticks out much further from the wall usually, so I wouldn't use it strictly on drywall. But these are real stone and very thin in comparison. So most of the weight bears straight down. I've had zero issues. I have no problem saying applying these ledger panels directly to drywall is very much ok.
+Supria Arukil The stone was from Lowe's and I believe it runs about $4 a square foot. At least it was when I bought it. The mastic is about $20 a gallon. I think I spent a total of about $200 - $250. Its been a while so my memory is a bit fuzzy. Thanks for watching!
