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Solus Handcast Concrete Fireplace Surrounds
Installation Guidelines
CAUTION: FRAGILE!
Concrete is very strong but brittle.
Extreme care must be taken when handling
pieces as edges and corners will chip easily
if they collide with other hard objects such as
metal, stone, or most importantly, each other.
Chips in concrete are not easily repaired!
This installation manual is only a set of guidelines. In no way does it attempt to cover every situation and variable that may exist on a particular installation site.
Solus Decor Inc is in no way responsible or liable for any installation of Solus products, for improper use or interpretation of this guide, nor for any outcomes
resulting from the use of the tools and methods described herein. This manual is not a substitute for the experience of a qualified installer (tile setters and
masons may have worked with similar materials) and it is our strong recommendation that one be employed for the installation of any of our products.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Solus Handcast Concrete Indoor Fireplace
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Page 1: Installation Guidelines
Solus Handcast Concrete Fireplace Surrounds Installation Guidelines CAUTION: FRAGILE! Concrete is very strong but brittle. Extreme care must be taken when handling pieces as edges and corners will chip easily if they collide with other hard objects such as metal, stone, or most importantly, each other. - Page 2 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - GENERAL PRECAUTIONS GENERAL PRECAUTIONS Solus Fireplaces are cast in high-performance concrete. While this material exhibits exceptional strength, it has a fine finished surface which can be damaged if these and the other guidelines in this manual are not followed: Do not leave concrete wet - If concrete should become wet for any reason (including wet cutting...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - CONTENTS CONTENTS 1. YOUR FIREPLACE SURROUND This installation guide is designed to cover Tools and Materials ............all of our fireplace models in a wide variety of Basics ................situations. Your fireplace will include one or more of the following components: hearth, 2. -
Page 4: Your Fireplace Surround
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - YOUR FIREPLACE 1. YOUR FIREPLACE Your fireplace will be comprised of some or all of the following components. For the purposes of this manual, we will refer to the components of the fireplace as follows: 1. -
Page 5: Basics
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - BASICS A Note About Adhesives You may need In this guide, we recommend the use of PL Premium Thinset Adhesive mortar with acrylic additive: Construction Adhesive which is an extremely We recommend Mapei Kerabond/Keralastic system strong, flexible glue suitable for this application. -
Page 6: Preparatory Work
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - PREP 2. PREPARATORY WORK With all applications you should adhere to the following simple rules: Every fireplace or modern gas insert has different requirements for flammable material minimum clearances. Furthermore, every region Your substrate must be sound and should be solidly attached to your has different building codes with regards to home’s structure: concrete board, brick, concrete, and block are good flammability issues. - Page 7 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - PREP MIN. 16” 2 X 4 WOOD OR STEEL STUD Figure 2 - Wall Preparation Diagram PERIMETER OF CONCRETE BOARD 3/4”...
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Page 8: Pre-Install
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - PREP Pre-install Mark out (in pencil or painter’s tape) the perimeter of your future fireplace surround on the wall in its correct location. Ensure that the substrate in this area is sound and ready. CAUTION: Damage most commonly occurs during unpacking. -
Page 9: Cutting Concrete
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - CUTTING 3. CUTTING CONCRETE GROUT CHAMFER It may be necessary to cut components of your fireplace. When you cut concrete, you will expose the interior of the concrete: the sand and aggregate. It will appear much more gray and non-uniform. You must plan your cuts so that they are hidden in the grout joints. - Page 10 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - HEARTH ADHESIVE OR THINSET MORTAR CONCRETE BOARD ADHESIVE Figure 4A - Slab or Sitting Hearths set above or into typical flooring 1/2” OR LESS THINSET MORTAR set over FRAMED SUPPORT BOLTED ANTIFRACTURE MEMBRANE THROUGH STUD WALL 3/4"...
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Page 11: Hearth
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - HEARTH 3. HEARTH Slab or Sitting Hearth These hearths may be set onto finished flooring or subfloor. Your slab hearth is cast to size and should need no cutting. Measure out hearth and mark out its location on the floor. Check floor level and note if leveling or shimming is necessary. - Page 12 Figure 6 - Using a notched trowel. Angle the trowel at a 45 degree angle to ensure For more information, please refer to “Solus Handcast Concrete Tile - that a full ridge is made with the notches. Installation Notes.”...
- Page 13 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - HEARTH DRYWALL Floating Hearths Floating hearths are mounted on the wall above the floor and must support much of the weight of the fireplace surround. The concrete itself will not at- tach structurally to the wall so a framed supporting box must be construct- OUTLINE ed.
- Page 14 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - SURROUND HEADER METAL TIES LEGS CAN BE CUT TO LENGTH FROM BOTTOMS Figure 8 - Typical Three-Piece Surrounds SURROUNDS...
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Page 15: Surround
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - SURROUND 4. SURROUND Three-Piece Surrounds Three-piece surrounds are designed at fixed widths. The one-piece header provides for an easy installation and seamless look. Installing Legs CAREFULLY lift legs into position on the hearth (When concrete is placed on concrete, the risk of chipping is at its highest). - Page 16 Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - SURROUND Dry fitting and Installing Header Your one—piece header, or assembled three-piece header may be installed in the following fashion: Carefully lift and place the header on top of the legs, lowering gently. Using an intermediary stage, like a couple of saw horses, can be helpful here.
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Page 17: Five-Piece Surrounds
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - SURROUND Five-piece Surrounds Five-piece surrounds are distinguished by their three-piece header. This allows for maximum dimensional versatility. If you have chosen a surround with a three-piece header, it is likely that you will GROUT JOINTS need to cut the centre section to length. -
Page 18: Mantel
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - MANTEL 6. MANTEL Special Consideration for Mantels Mantels tend to be front-heavy and therefore require adequate adhesion and support. In addition to the usual adhesive bond, you must provide an adhesive bond perpendicular to the tipping angle. This can be achieved by fashioning a lintel out of dimensional lumber that will fit inside the mantel. -
Page 19: Trim Panels
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - TRIM PANELS 7. TRIM PANELS Optional trim panels are available to provide maximum fitting flexibility to your fireplace surround. They consist of 3/4” panels of standard dimensions that may be trimmed to suit your application. Sizing and Cutting Trim Kit Panels Determine the desired final opening size for your fireplace. -
Page 20: Grouting & Finishing
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - GROUTING & FINISHING 8. GROUTING & FINISHING After adhesive is completely dry (follow manufacturer’s guidelines), remove props, screws and shims. If shims are too difficult to remove by hand, it is better to cut them out carefully with a utility knife or Japanese saw than to TAPE TO THE OUTSIDE OF CHAMFER hammer them out. - Page 21 It will also clean any dust or residue from the fireplace. Follow the directions on the sealer bottle. When the sealer is dry, step back, admire your work, and enjoy your new Solus Handcast Concrete Fireplace Surround. Repairs In the event that your fireplace surround gets chipped during installation, we have provided you with a patch kit.
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Page 22: Measure-Up Guide
Solus Fireplace Installation Guide - MEASURE - UP GUIDE Measure-up Guidelines To measure-up for a Solus fireplace surround, you need to locate and dimension your fireplace’s ACTUAL OPENING. The actual opening refers to the exact area that you wish to leave exposed once the surround and any trim panels have been installed. NOTE: This does not necessarily correlate to the dimensions that appear on your fireplace insert manufacturer’s spec sheet.
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