How to Choose Fireplace Cladding
A fireplace is often one of the strongest architectural elements within a room, and the materials used around it play an important role in the overall design.
However, fireplace cladding should never be selected on appearance alone.
The type of fireplace, heat output, required clearances, construction of the surrounding wall and appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions all need to be considered before specifying the finished surface.
A material that is suitable around an electric fireplace may not be appropriate around a wood-burning appliance. Likewise, a non-combustible material does not automatically make an installation compliant if the structure behind it contains combustible materials or has been incorrectly constructed.
Understanding these requirements early in the design process allows the fireplace and surrounding finishes to be designed as one integrated architectural element.
What Should Be Considered Before Choosing Fireplace Cladding?
Before selecting a material, establish:
whether the fireplace is wood-burning, gas or electric
whether the appliance is freestanding, inbuilt or built into a framed enclosure
the manufacturer’s required clearances to combustible materials
the temperature limitations of the proposed cladding and fixing system
the construction required behind the finished surface
ventilation or convection requirements around the appliance
movement and expansion caused by repeated heating and cooling
ongoing cleaning and maintenance requirements.
The appliance installation instructions should always be the starting point.
1. Natural Stone
Stûv Wood Fireplace enclosed in Natural Stone
Natural stone can create a substantial architectural fireplace and works particularly well in both contemporary and traditional New Zealand homes.
Schist, basalt, limestone and travertine can all be used to create very different finishes.
From a technical perspective, it is important to consider more than the stone itself. The substrate, adhesive or fixing system, stone thickness, weight and anticipated heat exposure all need to be appropriate for the installation.
Large or heavy stone installations may require specific structural support rather than relying solely on adhesive fixing.
Porous stone may also absorb soot and staining, particularly around open wood fires, and sealing may be recommended depending on the material.
Best suited to: Wood, gas and electric fireplaces, subject to the specific appliance and construction requirements.
Design consideration: Natural variation, joint detailing and the way the stone terminates around the fireplace opening can significantly affect the finished appearance.
2. Brick
Brick Hearth and Surround with Powder coated Steel Mantel
Brick remains one of the most durable and practical materials for fireplace construction and cladding.
Traditional brick, bagged brickwork, painted brick and contemporary dark brick can create very different architectural styles.
Although masonry itself is non-combustible, the overall fireplace construction still needs to comply with the appliance manufacturer’s requirements. Particular attention should be given to the construction behind the brickwork and its relationship with adjacent combustible walls, floors and framing.
For wood fires, hearth dimensions and clearances also need to be considered as part of the complete installation.
Best suited to: Wood fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces and selected gas fireplace applications.
Design consideration: Brick dimensions and coursing should be established before finalising the fireplace opening so that awkward cuts and poorly proportioned details can be avoided.
3. Rendered & Painted Finishes
Plast around Electric Fireplace
Rendered fireplace surrounds can create a clean, monolithic appearance, but the correct substrate and finishing system are critical.
Repeated heating and cooling can cause movement within the fireplace structure. If incompatible substrates, compounds or finishes are used, cracking and discolouration may occur.
The complete system—not simply the final paint or plaster finish—needs to be suitable for the temperatures anticipated around the appliance.
Different fireplace manufacturers also specify different construction and ventilation requirements, particularly for built-in gas and wood fires.
Best suited to: Contemporary gas, wood and electric fireplace designs where the complete construction system has been correctly specified.
Design consideration: Shadow lines, control joints and changes in material can sometimes be incorporated into the design to manage movement while creating a deliberate architectural detail.
4. Steel & Metal Panels
Stûv Steel Premade Cladding Solution for Stûv Wood Fireplaces
Steel is an excellent material for creating precise, contemporary fireplace surrounds.
Blackened steel, powder-coated steel and other metal finishes can be used to create anything from a minimal fireplace fascia to a complete floor-to-ceiling feature.
However, steel conducts heat. The design must therefore consider the appliance requirements, supporting construction, fixing method and the potential for thermal expansion.
Large steel panels may also require careful detailing to prevent distortion.
Best suited to: Contemporary wood, gas and selected outdoor fireplace designs.
Design consideration: Steel can be particularly effective for resolving difficult junctions between the fireplace, surrounding wall and other materials.
5. Large-format Tiles & Porcelain Panels
Gas Fireplace enclosed in Dekton Hearth & Surround
Large-format porcelain and sintered surfaces such as Dekton are increasingly used around contemporary fireplaces.
They can provide a refined appearance with fewer joints than conventional tiles and are available in finishes that replicate natural stone, concrete and other materials.
However, the performance of the finished installation depends on the complete system.
Panel dimensions, substrate, adhesives, joint design, edge detailing and heat exposure all need to be considered. Large-format materials also require experienced fabrication and installation.
Best suited to: Contemporary gas, wood and electric fireplace surrounds where the product and installation system are suitable for the application.
Design consideration: Establish panel sizes and joint locations early. Thoughtful planning can avoid unnecessary joins and create a much cleaner finished fireplace.
6. Timber and Combustible Materials
Timber Panelling & Tile around an Electric Fireplace
Timber can create warmth and contrast around a fireplace, but it is a combustible material and needs particularly careful consideration.
The required clearances depend on the fireplace and its tested installation requirements.
Timber should not simply be installed near a fireplace based on a general assumption about what constitutes a safe distance.
This also applies to timber mantels, cabinetry, shelving, wall battens and television joinery surrounding the appliance.
Electric fireplaces generally provide greater flexibility for incorporating combustible finishes, but the manufacturer’s installation requirements must still be followed.
Best suited to: Electric fireplaces and carefully designed applications around other fireplace types where required clearances can be maintained.
7. Concrete & Precast Panels
Precast Concrete around a Stûv Wood Fireplace
Concrete can create a strong, monolithic fireplace feature and works particularly well in contemporary architecture and outdoor living spaces.
Cast-in-place concrete, concrete block and precast panels all have different structural and installation requirements.
The weight of the material, supporting structure, reinforcement, movement and relationship with the fireplace and flue system need to be considered during the design process.
Concrete is also porous and may require sealing where exposure to soot and staining is likely.
Best suited to: Wood fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces and contemporary architectural installations.
Non-Combustible Does Not Automatically Mean Compliant
Cracked board and heat damage can develop quickly.
A non-combustible material is not necessarily suitable for prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Substrates, fixings, jointing compounds and finishes must all be considered as part of the complete fireplace construction system.
Heat can also transfer through non-combustible cladding to the structure behind it. The complete wall or enclosure construction, clearances to combustible materials, ventilation requirements and fireplace manufacturer’s installation instructions must therefore all be considered.
A common misconception is that using a non-combustible or fire-rated material around a fireplace automatically makes the installation safe and compliant.
It does not.
There is an important difference between a material’s fire performance and its resistance to prolonged heat exposure. A product may achieve a high fire rating but still not be suitable for use close to a high-heat fireplace.
Fire-rated materials and systems are generally tested to assess how they perform when exposed to fire for a specified period. Heat resistance, however, relates to how a material performs when subjected to the elevated temperatures and repeated heating and cooling cycles that can occur around a fireplace.
This means that simply specifying a product as “fire rated” or “non-combustible” is not enough. The maximum service temperature of the material, as well as the performance of the complete system—including the substrate, adhesives, fixings, jointing compounds and finishes—needs to be considered.
Heat can also transfer through non-combustible cladding to the structure behind it. The complete wall or enclosure construction, clearances to combustible materials, ventilation requirements and fireplace manufacturer’s installation instructions must therefore all be considered.
This is particularly important where fireplaces are incorporated into timber-framed walls, cabinetry, television walls and other custom architectural features.
Before specifying a fireplace cladding material, ask two separate questions: is it non-combustible or fire rated, and is it suitable for the temperatures it will be exposed to?
Fireplace Cladding Should Be Considered Early
The most successful fireplace designs consider the appliance and surrounding materials together.
Selecting the fireplace first and leaving the cladding decisions until construction is underway can result in compromised proportions, unnecessary joints, clearance problems and expensive changes on site.
Early planning allows the fireplace opening, hearth, mantel, television, cabinetry and surrounding finishes to be properly coordinated.
Final Thoughts
Choosing fireplace cladding involves considerably more than selecting a material that complements the interior.
The fireplace type, manufacturer’s installation requirements, clearances, wall construction, heat exposure, fixing systems and finishing details all influence what can be safely and successfully installed.
When these elements are considered together, the result is a fireplace that not only looks integrated with the architecture but is also practical, durable and correctly detailed.
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Written by Angela Hiddleston
Independent Fireplace Designer
Bachelor of Building Science (Architecture)
Graduate Diploma Interior Design (Distinction)
20+ years' fireplace industry experience