A stone fireplace is a beautiful and functional choice for your home.
However, if you are trying to choose between the different types of natural stone for your particular fireplace, it can be tricky to make a decision.
There are a lot of important considerations. Of course you want it to look beautiful, but you also need a stone material that is suitably heat resistant, durable and requires little ongoing maintenance. Natural stone ticks all of these boxes – so how do you choose the right type of stone for you?
That is exactly what we are going to break down for you today.
What You Need to Consider for Your Fireplace
There are a few material characteristics that should be at the focus of your deliberation when it comes to stone fireplaces.
Heat Resistance
Is the stone able to withstand exposure to the high temperatures of a fireplace without cracking or deteriorating?
Durability
Is the stone strong enough to resist basic wear and tear, especially if your fireplace is going to be subject to heavy use?
Maintenance
Does the stone offer easy maintenance with minimal upkeep and is it easy to keep clean?
Benefits of Using Natural Stone for Fireplaces
Using stone cladding around your fireplace certainly ticks all of these boxes.
For starters, natural stone–having formed under intense pressure and heat in the Earth’s surface–is not only durable in the face of heat exposure but is able to absorb and store that heat. Stone slowly releases the absorbed heat which helps to maintain and sustain the warmth of the room.
Natural stone is also hardy and resistant to wear and tear, making it a sound investment. It is easy to clean, requiring nothing more than regular wiping with a clean, soft cloth and warm water.
And, importantly, natural stone is a highly valuable and popular material. With each stone slab being unique and one-of-a-kind, you will be adding character to your fireplace. In fact, using fire stone cladding can increase the resale value of your home quite significantly.
A Guide for Choosing Your Fireplace Stone Type
1. Budget
Let’s start off with this important piece of the puzzle. You might be surprised to know that different natural stone varieties come in at various price points. So, make sure you have an understanding of your budget before starting to weigh up different options.
2. Style
Your stone fireplace should complement your overall style. Whether your interior design aesthetic is rustic, modern or traditional, natural stone can suit it all. But it is important that you don’t start mixing and matching different styles or your fireplace will look out of place.
Ask yourself the following two questions if you’re stuck trying to choose the right style for your fireplace?
What colour, pattern and finish do you love?
Start off with the superficial. Just look at the colours and finishes of the rest of your home and think about the style that will complement or intentionally contrast in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Do you want the fireplace to blend in or stand out?
Now you need to decide what purpose you want your fireplace to fulfill. It can either become the focal feature point of the room or it can blend in with the rest of your room’s design.
3. Maintenance Appetite
As mentioned above, stone is relatively easy to maintain. But that doesn’t mean all varieties of stone are alike. Marble, for example, despite its beauty is more porous than other stones, so it will require more regular resealing to keep it looking and functioning as good as new.
4. Context
Context matters. Is your fireplace outside? Is it inside? Understanding the climate extremes and the likelihood of exposure to the elements will greatly impact what sort of stone is best suited for your particular home application.
Stone Fireplace Ideas
Granite
Granite stone is popular for a host of reasons. Apart from its singular and iconic granular aesthetic, it is highly practical too. Granite is durable, heat resistant and requires low maintenance.
Limestone
If you love the warmer and earthier look, limestone is a great option. Like granite, it is heat-resistant and only requires basic upkeep to keep looking great. But it has a unique aesthetic and natural-looking quality.
Marble
We just love marble! It looks luxurious. It is striking visually. And with a wide range of veining, colours and shades available, you can find the perfect stone to enhance your interior design. However, marble stone does require some more frequent sealing but for a stone this stunning it is well worth the investment.
Quartzite
Quartzite is known for its durability and hardiness. This heat-proof and stain-resistant natural stone is popular for many applications around the home, including fireplaces. Plus, quartzite slabs offer a sleek and modern look that will perfectly suit minimalist interior design styles.
Travertine
Travertine brings a refreshing and rustic charm to any space. Its unique aesthetic and texture makes it a wonderful addition to the home. However, like marble, it does require careful sealing and regular resealing due to its slightly more porous nature.
