I have a fireplace with a white painted wood mantle/surround. Further within the surround (immediately surrounding fireplace opening) is a painted brick surround that is 5 inches wide on sides and top. I plan to attach split-faced ivory travertine strips over the brick surface (see picture below).
My Plan: I have used the Peel-Away product to strip a chunk of the paint off the brick. A bunch still remains, which I'll remove some more with a steel brush. Since there is still bunch of paint over the brick, I will attach lath to the brick to help the mortar hold. The travertine comes in a 7"x21"x0.75" mesh and I'll take it apart, chisel/hammer cut, and wet-saw cut as needed to fit the surround area. I will be using Tapcon hexhead 3/16x1.25" screws, with washers, to secure the lath to the brick (lath screws I see not for masonry, tapcon+washer). I then plan to put scratch coat, cure 24-48 hours, then butter backs of the travertine and attach to scratch coat. The stone is heavy, and my preference is to overbuild, done once, done right.
Here are my questions:
1) Please critique any of the above: I've never done this sort of work before. If I'm doing it completely wrong, do share! Thanks.
2) What type of mortar, specifically, is the best to use for this sort of stone .75" thick travertine (if relevant, it will be dry-stacked, no grout, just mortar hung) - and if relevant that it will be held to extreme heat at fireplace opening.
3) How many and how far apart should I apply the Tapcon screws? The lath will be about 5" wide from ground to 3 ft up, and again for other side, and along top same dimension sideways.
4) Is that Tapcon install kit necessary to buy or just a convenience? I'd rather save on that if not necessary to buy. I have the Tapcon screws and bit.
Thanks in advance! Wife is coming home tonight with the stone and I want to get started.
My Plan: I have used the Peel-Away product to strip a chunk of the paint off the brick. A bunch still remains, which I'll remove some more with a steel brush. Since there is still bunch of paint over the brick, I will attach lath to the brick to help the mortar hold. The travertine comes in a 7"x21"x0.75" mesh and I'll take it apart, chisel/hammer cut, and wet-saw cut as needed to fit the surround area. I will be using Tapcon hexhead 3/16x1.25" screws, with washers, to secure the lath to the brick (lath screws I see not for masonry, tapcon+washer). I then plan to put scratch coat, cure 24-48 hours, then butter backs of the travertine and attach to scratch coat. The stone is heavy, and my preference is to overbuild, done once, done right.
Here are my questions:
1) Please critique any of the above: I've never done this sort of work before. If I'm doing it completely wrong, do share! Thanks.
2) What type of mortar, specifically, is the best to use for this sort of stone .75" thick travertine (if relevant, it will be dry-stacked, no grout, just mortar hung) - and if relevant that it will be held to extreme heat at fireplace opening.
3) How many and how far apart should I apply the Tapcon screws? The lath will be about 5" wide from ground to 3 ft up, and again for other side, and along top same dimension sideways.
4) Is that Tapcon install kit necessary to buy or just a convenience? I'd rather save on that if not necessary to buy. I have the Tapcon screws and bit.
Thanks in advance! Wife is coming home tonight with the stone and I want to get started.