Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. These seem very vulnerable to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a solid
fuel stove. I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment. The suppliers usually comment that if they are painted with a
sealant there will be no problems - but I not convinced.

Andrew

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

On Nov 21, 10:26 pm, "Andrew" wrote:
I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. These seem very vulnerable to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a solid
fuel stove. I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment.

it's difficult to imagine anything that will not look a bit "real"/
grubby in the proposed environment...

have you got the stove up and running yet?

Jim K

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:26:47 -0000, Andrew wrote:

The suppliers usually comment that if they are painted with a sealant
there will be no problems - but I not convinced.

Well I guess it depends on the style, I'm not all that bothered about
the staining on our recently discovered stone work.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allsorts-60/6370269929

Which reminds me I better tell the stonemason who is going to repoint
that stonework not to clean it up too much. B-)

Cut 'n polished blocks might start to look "grubby" but where do you
draw the line between "grubby" and "patina of use"?

--
Cheers
Dave.

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

Andrew wrote:
I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. These seem very vulnerable to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.


yes.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a solid
fuel stove. I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment. The suppliers usually comment that if they are painted with a
sealant there will be no problems - but I not convinced.


if they are polished smooth and sealed, and the sealer can take the
heat, then that's OK as they are then simply 'plastic;' with a bit of
stone underneath...


Andrew

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

On Nov 21, 10:26*pm, "Andrew" wrote:
I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. *Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. *These seem very vulnerable to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a solid
fuel stove. *I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment. *The suppliers usually comment that if they are painted with a
sealant there will be no problems - but I not convinced.

Andrew

Solid fuel stoves are filthy things anyway. A bit more filth is
niether here nor there.
Most sealants leave the stone looking fake and shiney.

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

"Jim K" wrote in message
...
On Nov 21, 10:26 pm, "Andrew" wrote:
I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. These seem very vulnerable
to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a
solid
fuel stove. I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment.

it's difficult to imagine anything that will not look a bit "real"/
grubby in the proposed environment...

have you got the stove up and running yet?

Jim K

No - I a trying to coordinate the procurement of the stove and the
surround.

Thanks for all the comments - which more or less confirmed my feelings.
The real problem with the stone surrounds seems to be the way in which they
are cut so as to provide a neat clean outline (almost certainly by machine
despite the pictures of craftsmen using hand tools in the brochures). If
they were a bit more "rough and rustic" any dirt would form part of the
character of the fireplace, but dirt on a smooth outline appears as an
obvious imperfection.

Andrew

Limestone fire surrounds for solid fuel stove
 

On Nov 22, 8:07 pm, "Andrew" wrote:
"Jim K" wrote in message

...



On Nov 21, 10:26 pm, "Andrew" wrote:
I need a new firesurround for an inset multifuel stove. Most of those
available are natural limestone or sandstone. These seem very vulnerable
to
damage by dirt and staining which is a normal part of the domestic
environment - and I wonder if their popularity is due to fashion taking
precedence over practicality.

Does anyone have any experience of these natural stone surrounds for a
solid
fuel stove. I fear they will quickly start to look grubby in this
environment.

it's difficult to imagine anything that will not look a bit "real"/
grubby in the proposed environment...

have you got the stove up and running yet?

Jim K

No - I a trying to coordinate the procurement of the stove and the
surround.

Thanks for all the comments - which more or less confirmed my feelings.
The real problem with the stone surrounds seems to be the way in which they
are cut so as to provide a neat clean outline (almost certainly by machine
despite the pictures of craftsmen using hand tools in the brochures). If
they were a bit more "rough and rustic" any dirt would form part of the
character of the fireplace, but dirt on a smooth outline appears as an
obvious imperfection.
"
Andrew

yup there's lots of posy aspirational "posh homes magazine" style
"craftsman made" bollox about to extract eyewatering amounts of
hubbies' money out - spose just usual supply & demand with no thought
to the practicalities - remember to leave 12" free each side for the
obligatory small ineffectual piles of logs for that "oh gosh how
rustic" finesse...;)

Jim K