Material options for a fireplace surround and hearth include brick, natural stone, and various manufactured stone products, each offering a different look and price point. Brick tends to suit traditional and historic homes particularly well, especially throughout St. Louis' brick housing stock, while natural stone offers a more varied, organic appearance that works across a range of home styles. We help homeowners think through which material fits both their home's existing character and their design goals for the finished space.

The installation process starts with the firebox and flue system, which needs to be built to code and sized appropriately for the space it's heating, whether that's a wood-burning fireplace, a gas insert, or another heating configuration. This structural and functional core of the fireplace needs to be right before any of the surrounding masonry work begins, since it determines the dimensions and requirements for everything built around it.

Once the functional core is in place, we build the surrounding masonry, including the surround, hearth, and any mantel support structure, according to the design plan. This is where material choice, pattern, and detail work come together to create the finished look of the fireplace.

What affects the outcome most is planning the design around how the fireplace will actually function in the room, not just how it will look. Hearth size and placement need to account for safety clearances and how the space around the fireplace will be used, and we walk through these practical considerations with every homeowner before finalizing a design.

For homeowners renovating an existing fireplace, we also handle updates to outdated surrounds, repairs to fireboxes showing wear, and modifications needed to convert or update a fireplace's heating configuration.

If you're considering adding a fireplace or renovating an existing one, contact us to discuss your space, material options, and what the project would involve. We'll walk through the practical and design considerations together and provide an estimate based on your specific plans.