Faux Finish Cast Stone Fireplace? (Dallas, Sherman: house, schools, community college)

[AmberMarie]

I can't find anything with a google search, but I was looking for either "how-to's" or pictures of different faux finishes that people have done. The only picture I have found was of a brown one, and I was just looking for more options.

Anyone know of any resources they have to help us out or any personal tips or types of paint?

Right now (well, after the house is built), it's just a white cast stone fireplace.

[loves2read]

talk to your builder--that is what you are paying for--

[AmberMarie]

Look-- there are several different people I could ask-- but I'm asking y'all right now-- not my builder--

[cathyhd]

I have remodeled two homes and have wondered the same question. My conclusions through research are that faux finishing is a high art that takes education, practice, and lots of work and tips of the trade. Have you ever seen a home owner take a stab at it? Not good, though they may think it is.

My decorator and painter can do simple "antiquing" for a very reasonable fee. That's not as hard. They might charge $400 to antique a room (base coat and paint on/wipe off or "smoosh" a glaze coat. He charges about $500 to antique one wall of cabinets or do a tone-on-tone wood color change whereas someone else did a proposal pricing that at $1800 for same.)

But when you get to faux finishing for a stone like look with more than two colors (say for a fireplace mantel or a Tuscan look) -- or you want to take stain grade wood or resin and make it look like real wood, then it takes a pro. The quote I got recently from a true faux artist like that was $1700 for a very large fireplace surround. To faux my little bar area, $1100. But the look was drop dead amazing.

The reason you might not have gotten hardly any responses was that while you might get a lesson from your local hardware store chain, the look is usually pretty bad and screams out: This is my first attempt and it shows.

Course, you can always see if there is a course at a community college and practice on wood scraps or your wall. Or I found a faux school in Dallas using the key words: "faux lessons Dallas" and also some DVD's that some schools were selling.

One step might be to get a proposal from an expert faux finisher and see samples of their work. Then you have something to compare to when you determine if you think you can get there with a few lessons or not. Good luck with this.

[Ginaetc]

Amber, IF your builder is like mine, he will say sure! For an additional 800.00 we can do it!! no thanks... I suggest to go to your nearest paint store, Sherman Williams is a good one if there is one in your area. Those guys know how to do any faux finish, have the products and can tell you exactaly how to do it. I would contact the stone company for a scrap piece to practice on, you can even take that piece into the paint store and they should help you right there. The paint store in my area guided me all the way in faux painting my kitchen cabinets, this saved me thousands and they look just as good as a pro!! Good luck. I just bought a house today that will face that same white cast stone fireplace issue, I am NOT going to pay someone 800.00 to do the work! I also can not find any pics, I am just going to wing it!

[BarbnRich]

You will want to use lots of different sponges. Some that are natural, with uneven holes and tear them apart by hand. This will allow you more variety in your textures. I agree you should just go for it. You will be surprised how many different colors you will use. And if you hate it, keep going until you find a look you like. Home Depot has some good faux finish books (if you have one around your area, I don't really know).

[AmberMarie]

Thank you so much for the helpful responses We are moving in right now and I'm looking forward to tackling the fireplace in the next few months.

[eyewrist]

Originally Posted by AmberMarie

Thank you so much for the helpful responses We are moving in right now and I'm looking forward to tackling the fireplace in the next few months.

Mmmm, sounds like a good idea. I just bought a older home with a brick fireplace. Can you send a picture of what you a talking about...I wouldn't mind trying that myself!!!!!