Designer Plaster Fireplaces
in McLean, Virginia

Here's how we did it:

6 inch block on plaster Fireplace in Mclean, Virginia.

Fireplace was deepened by laying 6 inch block.

Home made brick ties

Home made brick ties were made with tie wire.

Studs are supported by the block joints.

Center was framed with metal studs. Studs are supported by the block joints.

Stones are painted with pink plaster weld.

Stones are painted with pink plaster weld.

The arch is formed using PVC (plastic) trim.

Wood strips are set to the wall thickness. The arch is formed using PVC (plastic) trim.

We don't use perlite basecoat plaster.

Wall is rodded off in between the strips. We don't use perlite basecoat plaster. The basecoat is gypsum plaster and sand. Sand mortar is a lot harder.

Template for the bull nose, also called a running mold

Template for the bull nose, also called a running mold. We ran the bull nose and the face of the mantle at the same time.

Bull nose and the face of the mantle are run using molding plaster and lime

Bull nose and the face of the mantle are run using molding plaster and lime.

We mixed the color with the lime in a garbage can

Color is "alabaster" from Sherwin-Williams. We mixed the color with the lime in a garbage can.

Color plaster fireplace in McLean, Virginia

Bull nose is run around the arch opening.

The hearth is formed and filled with hardwall (gypsum plaster) and sand

The hearth is formed and filled with hardwall (gypsum plaster) and sand.

Embedded color shows off the plaster

Embedded color shows off the plaster.