In this special episode of Ask This Old House, Tom Silva and Mark McCullough tell you everything you need to know about fireplaces; Tom builds a custom mantel for a homeowner; Richard Trethewey discusses fireplace inserts; Mark replaces the hearth of a fireplace with granite.

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Where to find it?
How to Install a Chimney Liner and Damper
Hale's Chimney Cleaning & Repair [https://www.haleschimney.com/]
Materials for this project were supplied by:
Lindemann Chimney Supply https://www.lindemannchimneysupply.com/
The insulating mortar that was installed in the firebox was Chamber-Tech 2000, manufactured by:
Ahrens Chimney Technique [https://www.ahrenfire.com/]

How To Install a Gas Fireplace Insert
Technical assistance and installation was provided by:
Energy Unlimited of New England, Inc. https://www.energyunltd.com/
John and Richard installed a 34 DVL by Fireplace Xtrordinair. It is manufactured by:
Travis Industries [https://www.fireplacex.com/]

How to Replace a Hearth with Slate Tile
Mark installed 2x8” Slide Grey slate tile, which is manufactured by Roma Tile. https://www.romatile.com/
To secure the tiles to the sub hearth, Mark used standard tiling materials, including thinset, tile spacers, a notched trowel, grout, and sponges. These can all be found at home centers and tile supply houses.

How to Reface a Fireplace with Granite
Refacing a fireplace surround is a two-person job. Use caution when handling heavy materials.
It’s challenging to match granite, so it makes more sense to order four new pieces rather than just one or two replacement pieces. A local stone fabricator can template the fireplace and cut and round each piece to the appropriate size. In this case, Mark used granite in the color Black Pearl, fabricated by International Stone, Inc.. [https://www.internationalstoneinc.com/]
To adhere the granite to the fireplace, Mark used a concrete construction adhesive manufactured by Quikrete. [https://www.quikrete.com/]
The other materials Mark used for this job, including the chisel, hammers, and buckets, can all be found at home centers.
Expert assistance with this segment was provided by MJM Masonry. [https://mjmmasonry.com/]

How to Brick Veneer a Fireplace
Mark installed General Shale French Quarter [https://generalshale.com/] thin brick as a veneer over the old fireplace. He ordered both flat and corner thin bricks to make sure the fireplace opening looked fully covered. He secured the veneer to the wall using Quikrete Type N mortar. [https://www.quikrete.com/]
To template the brick placement, Mark used a brick ruler, which can be found at masonry supply stores.
The materials Mark used to install the thin brick, including tuck pointers, trowels, and painter’s tape can all be found at home centers.
Expert assistance with this segment was provided by the Spaulding Brick Company. [https://spauldingbrick.com/]

How to Upgrade a Mantel, Hearth, and Surround
The custom-built mantle was manufactured and provided by:
Premier Mantles Incorporated [http://www.premiermantelco.com/]
Pre-manufactured mantle kits are available at many home centers.
The marble hearth and surround was provided by:
InterContinental Marble Corporation [http://www.icmfireplaces.com/newsite/...]
Additional support was provided by:
Insul-Mart, LLC [https://thefireplaceshowcase.com/]
Brosco Millwork Distributors [https://www.brosco.com/]

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About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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ASK This Old House | All About Fireplaces (S19 E7) FULL EPISODE
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