The Challenge
This heritage home in Mosman needed a new fireplace surround in keeping with the period of the house. The architect specified honed light travertine, cut into a traditional mantel profile with a hearth slab, side jambs and a shelf. The challenge here was craftsmanship: the surround needed accurate mitered corners, the hearth had to sit perfectly level on an uneven timber floor, and the stone had to be sealed appropriately for a fireplace that would actually be used (meaning heat resistance and no volatile sealers).
Our Approach
We visited the site to template the existing chimney breast exactly, including the irregularities of the old brickwork. The surround was designed as a "floating" mantel that would hide the rough brick edges while leaving the firebox opening exposed. We cut the travertine slabs in our workshop using a CNC bridge saw for straight, accurate profiles. The mitered corners on the mantel shelf were hand-finished to ensure tight joints. For the heat issue, we used a breathable, heat-compatible sealer rather than a film-forming product, and we left a 5 mm air gap between the stone and the brickwork behind the side jambs to allow heat dissipation.
Installation
The old render around the fireplace had already been removed by the builder. We installed a cement backer board first, then fixed the hearth slab, followed by the side jambs and the mantel shelf on top. We used a high-strength adhesive rated for stone, plus mechanical fixings into the wall behind, because a fireplace surround is a vertical installation and cannot rely on adhesive alone. The joints were filled with colour-matched travertine filler and then honed flush so the surround reads as one continuous piece.
The Result
The surround matches the home's period features. The honed travertine has a matte finish. The mitered corners are tight. Through winter use, no discolouration or cracking from heat.