Fireplaces · Ottawa
Fireplace refacing in Ottawa
Dated fireplace surrounds in Ottawa homes, refaced in stacked stone veneer with a new tile hearth. The wall behind is prepared to carry the weight of stone, so the veneer stays put through every heating season.
- Stone veneer
- Large-format tile hearth
What goes wrong
Why stone surrounds come loose
Stone surrounds come loose when they are set on the wrong backing. Veneer is heavy: set straight onto painted drywall, it holds only as well as the paint does, and each heating season of warming and cooling loosens that bond. Stones crack off at the edges and joints open up.
We start with the wall. The old surround comes off, the framing is checked, and the wall gets a backing that mortar can grip. The stone goes on from the bottom up, and the hearth is laid flat in front of the firebox.
You get a fireplace wall that reads as one piece of stone and stays that way.
How we build it
What holds stone veneer on a wall
Stone veneer stays on the wall when it is bedded in mortar on a backing the mortar can grip.
- Clearances
The maker’s clearances decide what material can go how close to the opening.
- Weight
Stone is heavy, so the wall is checked and backed before the first course.
- First course level
The bottom row sets the line for the whole wall, as on a set of steps.
- Hearth
Laid flat and square to the firebox, with a clean edge at the floor.
- Stone veneerSet from the bottom up with the joints staggered, the way a wall is laid.Set course by course
- Mortar bedEach stone is fully bedded, so no hollow spots are left behind it.Full bed, no voids
- Metal lathGives the mortar a rough, open surface to lock into.Fastened to the backing
- Backer boardA solid backing, non-combustible where the fireplace clearances call for it.Screwed to the framing
- Wall framingChecked before the weight of the stone goes on it.Checked straight
What we build
Fireplaces: the work we take on
Stone veneer surrounds
Stacked stone set around the firebox and up the wall, in place of a painted or tiled surround.
Tile hearths
A large-format tile hearth laid between the fireplace and the floor.
Removing old surrounds
Painted wood surrounds and dated trim taken off down to the wall.
Mantels and TV walls
Ask about a mantel shelf or a TV above the fireplace as part of the refacing.
Gas fireplace units
Ask how work on the gas unit and its venting is arranged for your project.
Real projects
Fireplaces we have built
Our own jobs, photographed on site by the Korvex crew.
Related projects
Often part of the same job
“Vlad and his crew installed my patio in 2 days. Did excellent work and vlad answered any and all questions I asked. I highly recommend Korvex Development for any job you may require.”
Joe Ayoub · Patio installed
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Josh Cohen-Collier · Leaning fence repaired
FAQ
What homeowners ask about fireplaces
Can stone veneer go straight over my drywall?
Painted drywall alone is a weak base for stone, because the veneer then holds only as well as the paint does. Korvex gives the wall a surface the mortar can grip, such as metal lath or a suitable backer board, and checks the framing behind it before the weight of the stone goes on.
Can you reface a gas fireplace?
Yes. Korvex refaces the surround and hearth around a gas unit, keeping to the clearances the unit’s maker sets. Work on the unit itself and its venting is a separate licensed trade in Ontario, and we explain how that is arranged on your project before the refacing starts.
Real stone or veneer?
Stone veneer is much lighter than full-thickness stone and is made for walls like a fireplace surround, where the floor and framing were never designed to carry a masonry wall. Ask Korvex about the stone options, colours and textures for your fireplace at the estimate.
Do I need a permit for fireplace work?
Installing a fireplace, a fireplace insert or chimney liner, or a woodstove needs a building permit in Ottawa. Refacing the surround of an existing fireplace is on neither City list, so Korvex checks what applies to your wall at the estimate.
How long does fireplace refacing take?
Fireplace refacing time depends on the size of the wall, the stone you choose, whether a hearth is added and any work on the gas unit that has to fit in between. Korvex gives you a schedule with the written quote, once the stone is chosen.
How much does it cost to reface a fireplace?
Refacing is priced on the size of the wall, the stone and tile you choose, and what the wall needs behind them, such as new backer board or lath. Korvex Developments gives you a written price after seeing the fireplace and the wall around it.
Book a free fireplace estimate
Tell us what you want built and send a few photos. We come out, look at what sits under the job, and give you the scope and the price in writing.