Custom Stone Fireplace Surrounds in Charleston, SC

A fireplace surround is the stone frame around the fireplace opening. It covers the wall around the firebox and often runs down to a stone hearth on the floor. It makes the fireplace the focal point of your living space and sets a cozy atmosphere.

We fabricate stone surrounds from real stone slabs and quartz in our own workshop and install them in your home. Our work covers the stone panels, the hearth and any stone shelf or legs in your design.

We do not sell or install fireboxes, gas inserts, gas lines or chimneys. A licensed fireplace or gas contractor handles those, and we cut the stone to fit their unit.

Looking for other work? Browse all our services.

The best stone depends on the look and feel you want, your fireplace type and how much heat reaches the surround.

Every firebox comes with a manual that sets the clearances and the materials allowed near the opening. Local building codes add their own rules for non-combustible materials and hearth size. We check both before we choose the stone and the layout.

Granite, marble and quartzite are natural stones that are non-combustible and heat-resistant. Quartz is an engineered stone with resin, and many brands limit its use near a fire, so we check the maker's written terms for your color. Below, we compare each option.

Marble gives a fireplace a classic, elegant look with soft veining.

Pros

• Timeless look. Natural veining gives marble elegance in traditional and transitional rooms.
• Handles warmth. Marble is a natural stone and copes with the heat of a typical living room fireplace.
• Home appeal. A marble surround adds a high-end look that buyers notice.

Cons

• Stains and scratches. Marble is porous and soft, so soot, wax and scratches show. A sealant helps prevent stains.
• Sealing. It needs a sealer, and how often depends on the stone and the product.
• Price. Marble costs more than many other stones.

If you want a classic centerpiece and accept some care, marble is a beautiful choice.

Granite combines durability and a wide color palette, with a variety of colors from black granite to gray granite and beige.

Pros

• Durable. Granite is hard and handles fireplace heat well.
• Easy to clean. A sealed granite surround wipes clean with mild soap and water.
• Many styles. Speckled and veined patterns suit rustic, modern and traditional rooms.
• Versatile. Granite works for surrounds, hearths and stone shelves.

Cons

• Weight. Granite is heavy, so the wall and hearth need solid support.
• Cost. Premium slabs and extra support add to the price.

Granite is a durable, low-upkeep pick for almost any home.

Quartzite is a hard natural stone with striking veining.

Pros

• Hard and durable. Quartzite resists scratches better than most stones and handles heat well.
• Natural beauty. Each slab has its own color and texture, from earthy tones to bright whites.
• Fits any decor. It suits rustic and modern rooms alike.

Cons

• Sealing. Quartzite still needs a sealer to prevent stains.
• Price. It often costs as much as high-end marble.

Quartzite gives you the look of marble with more strength.

Quartz brings a clean, contemporary look to a fireplace wall.

Pros

• Easy to clean. Quartz needs no sealing, and a wipe keeps it fresh.
• Many colors. Solid and veined designs match a modern room.
• Even pattern. Panels look consistent across a large wall.

Cons

• Heat limits. The resin can show discoloration near high heat, and many brands limit quartz next to the firebox opening. We check the maker's terms first.
• Not natural. Quartz will not give you the character of real stone.
• Price. It is not the cheapest option.

Quartz suits a modern room when the fireplace manual and the quartz maker allow it.

Planning a new stone fireplace surround in Charleston, SC? Here is how we take it from the first call to the finished wall.

• Consultation. Tell us about your fireplace, the room and the look you want. We help you compare stones and colors.
• Measurement. We measure the opening, the wall and the hearth, and check the firebox manual for clearances.
• Planning. You approve the panel layout, seams, edges, hearth size and any shelf before we cut.
• Fabrication. We cut and finish the stone in our own workshop.
• Delivery. We bring the panels to your home on the agreed day.
• Installation. Our installers set the panels and the hearth and check every seam.

Your estimate lists the stone, the panel and hearth sizes, edges, seams, delivery and installation. The firebox, gas work, venting and wall framing stay with other contractors, and we confirm the full scope in writing.

A good fit starts before we cut. Here is what we check and plan with you.

• Measurement. The opening, the firebox face, the wall and the hearth, plus the trim and outlets nearby.
• Clearances. The distances in your firebox manual and local building codes for stone near the opening.
• Seams. We place seams where they are least visible and match the veining across panels.
• Edges. Mitered corners for thick-looking legs, and eased or polished edges on the hearth.
• Prep. The wall is flat, solid and finished, and the firebox is set before we template.

Stone fireplaces are still a favorite design choice, from traditional and Tudor to transitional and modern rooms. Shopping for cast stone fireplace mantels? Cast stone is a precast blend of cement and aggregate, often made to look like limestone, a sedimentary rock, and it comes in set designs.

We fabricate surrounds and mantel shelves from natural stone slabs and quartz instead. Each piece is cut to your fireplace, and the natural beauty of the stone brings its own veining, color and texture.

Not sure which suits your room? Send us a photo of your fireplace, and we help you compare a slab surround with the look you have in mind.