INSTALLATION

Fireplace Installation Instructions

  • Please note that the following are merely guidelines, and that adjustments may need to be made, based on the installation location and conditions.
  • We recommend that our fireplaces be installed by a professional tradesperson, skilled in general carpentry, masonry, or tile setting.
  • Many homeowners can install our products themselves, using tools readily available at any home improvement center.
  • All mantles and surrounds are shipped with the galvanized ledger bracket necessary for installation.
  • You will need the following
    • Drill with screw attachment
    • 3½” drywall screws (approximately 12)
    • Level
    • Wood door shims
    • Measuring Tape
    • Square (for cutting ISPs)
    • Sanded grout or caulking (for grout joints)
    • ¼” spacers (for grout joints)
    • 60-grit silicon carbide sandpaper (2 sheets)
    • Bucket of clean water and sponge (or cleanup)
    • Polyurethane adhesive*
Procedures:
  1. Obtain Hearth Block Installation: (Hearth blocks are available in a standard size of 24” x 20”. The placement can be done in multiple different ways for a typical fireplace surround. Generally, 3-4 blocks are used. Sample layouts are illustrated in Figure #4, which gives two methods for cutting a 3-block hearth)
    1. Find the center point of your firebox, and mark it with a pencil. In turn, find a corresponding center point of center hearth block, and mark the edge facing firebox with a pencil.
    2. Dry-fit cut blocks, in the order you’ve decided on (using Method 1 or 2, from Figure #4). Blocks should lay flush with floor. If they do not lay flush, please make adjustments.
    3. Trace block assembly outline on the floor with pencil (being sure to allow for grout joints) and remove blocks.
    4. Apply polyurethane adhesive (see above recommendations) to the clean, dry, dust-free floor substrate within your trace lines, and ensure that the adhesive is no closer than 2” from edge of blocks. Apply liberally, and set blocks. Standardize grout joints immediately after setting blocks, to ensure adhesive does not set prematurely.
  2. Determine leg placement: (Please see Figure #1)
    1. Using inside leg dimensions (from order summary) to guide you, draw two parallel plumb lines on wall surface.
    2. These lines should be equidistant from the center of the fireplace.
 
  1. Determine ledger bracket height for surround pieces:
    1. The ledger is designed to fit into the factory notch in the back of the surround piece. Ledgers hold the shape in place until adhesive cures.
    2. Set corner surround piece on top leg, using a ¼” spacer to allow for grout joint, and determine ledger height (A) on wall. Using a level, mark horizontal ledger line on wall.
  2. Attach surround ledger bracket: (Please see Figure #1 and Figure #2)
    1. Using minimum 3½ screws, attach surround ledger to wall, ensuring that the screws are anchored securely and ledger is level.
    2. All screws should be driven securely into structural studs in as many places as is possible.
  3. Attach legs:
    1. Using polyurethane construction adhesive, glue legs in place along parallel pencil lines (as described in #2 above) and attach top with screw set at angle (B), (again, see note below).
IF YOUR FIREPLACE SURROUND INCLUDES A MANTLE, CONTINUE. FOLLOW STEPS #6-8. IF THE SURROUND DOES NOT HAVE A MANTLE, PLEASE PROCEED TO STEP #9
  1. Determine ledger bracket height for mantle: (Please see Figure #2)
    1. As with the ledger bracket fro surrounds, the mantle ledger is designed to fit into the factory notch in the back of the mantle. Ledgers hold the mantle in place until adhesive cures.
    2. Set mantle on top of surround, using a ¼” spacer to allow for grout joint, and determine mantle ledger height (C) on wall. Using a level, mark horizontal ledger line on wall.
  2. Attach mantle ledger brackets: (Please see Figure #2)
    1. Find center point of surround stretcher (See Figure #1), and mark wall with pencil for mantle center.
    2. Using 3½” (minimum) screws, attach surround ledger brackets to wall, ensuring that screws are anchored securely, and ledger is level.
    3. All screws should be driven securely into structural studs in as many places as possible.
  3. Install mantle: (Some fireplace surrounds do not come with a mantle)
    1. Determine midpoint of mantle and dry-fit by setting mantle pieces in place. Use ¼” spacers both underneath and in-between the pieces to ensure proper fit. Be sure to allow for uniform grout joints on insides and bottom of corner pieces. Bottom corner of mantle should overhang outside edge of surround leg by ½” to ¾”.
    2. Apply polyurethane adhesive to back to mantle pieces, and gently press into place over ledger.
  4. Install ISPs (optional): (Please see Figure#1). ISPs fill the space between the surround/mantle and firebox.
    1. Field cut ISP tile to fit the space on the left and the right of the firebox (edge of ISP should not be closer that 1” from edge of firebox opening, (this avoids interference with door/screen opening).
    2. Chamfer inside edge of ISP (this is the edge adjacent to firebox opening) to accommodate grout (or fire retardant caulk).
  5. Proper Adhesive Curing: To ensure that the Veristone product is installed properly, and maintains a strong bond to the substrate as possible, adhesives must cure completely. To ensure proper adhesion, use the following guidelines:
    1. After application, do not disturb product for a minimum of 24 hours.
    2. Do not allow product application area to come into contact with extreme temperatures. Area must be kept dry while adhesive cures.
    3. It is essential that NO fires be lit in fireplace until after adhesive is completely cured
    4. For best results, also caulk or grout joints after adhesive is completely cured.

* Note: It is very important that you protect any exposed areas from coming in contact with the polyurethane glue. Once the glue adheres to any surface it cannot be removed, and will stain. Please read all instructions and warnings on product label.