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Trimming the Chimney with Fieldstone

The structure for the fireplace is now being trimmed out with real stone. Bob talks with John Nadler of Plymouth Quarries about the stone being used. In this case, real stone is cut thin so it can be applied like a manufactured veneer. The stone is a New England fieldstone from Connecticut. The stone can be cut with a hammer, a four-inch grinder, or a wet saw. Because the stone is so thin, it can be cut quite easily. It costs approximately $12-15 a square foot. In contrast to traditional stone which weighs about 50 pound to the square foot, this is a lightweight stone product weighing less than 15 pounds to the square foot. The installation can go from the top down as it does not require any structural footings underneath. Bob talks with Joseph McDonough of McDonough Masonry. McDonough built the original chimney when the house was built over 25 years ago. A grout bag is used to squeeze the mortar into the joints between the stones. After two to three hours, once the mortar is set, McDonough uses a pointed stick to scratch out the joints. He then brushes the joints to clear any fine leftover particles. More information