The Best Fireplace Surrounds for Missouri and Northern Arkansas

WilgusIQ offers hand-crafted fireplace surrounds in the finest natural and sintered stone, as well as porcelain slabs. Why should these materials be on your short list for a custom fireplace? Click on the links below or scroll down to find the answers.

1. What are the pros and cons of a natural stone fireplace surround?

2. What are the pros and cons of a sintered stone fireplace surround?

3. What are the pros and cons of a porcelain slab fireplace surround?

What are the pros and cons of a natural stone fireplace surround?

Let’s talk about the number one reason to go with natural stone: it’s gorgeous. With natural stone, you have the advantage of choosing your own unique stone slab and converting it into a living work of art that adds value to your home.

Each stone comes with its own pros and cons. Let’s examine four popular choices — granite, marble, quartzite, and soapstone — and see how they measure up as fireplace surrounds.

Granite Granite is durable and readily available in a wide variety of colors and styles. It is also a porous stone, which means you will have to consider the question of sealing. Regularly sealing granite provides protection from stains and smoke, adds luster to the stone, and makes it easier to clean. But if you prefer a more rustic or natural patina, you may choose to seal rarely or not at all. Browse our online collection of granite colors or visit our showroom to see our live inventory.

Marble Nothing quite matches the look of marble for elegance, and it can be surprisingly affordable. Remember, though, that marble is a “soft” stone and can scratch more easily than granite or quartzite. And if you are sharing a romantic glass of wine in front of the fireplace, you certainly wouldn’t want it to spill on a marble mantel or hearth since marble etches. For more information on how to protect marble, see our About Marble page. If you want the marble look without the maintenance issues, consider the information about quartzite, sintered stone, and porcelain slab below.

Quartzite Quartzite stone continues to gain in popularity as more people discover its beautiful, marble-like luster and outstanding durability. Because quartzite is less well-known, your choices in both in colors and fabricators may be more limited than for granite or marble. (Note: WilgusIQ offers a beautiful line of quartzite and is experienced in its fabrication and installation.) Quartzite is even harder than granite and is usually less porous, meaning that it will not need to be sealed as often. For more information about this elegant stone, check out our About Quartzite page.

Soapstone Heat-resistant and low-maintenance, soapstone deserves serious attention as a fireplace surround. Its dramatic veining is reminiscent of marble. Because it’s non-porous, soapstone is highly stain-resistant and never needs to be sealed, though you will want to apply mineral oil periodically to keep the color consistent. When considering a fireplace surround, keep in mind that soapstone is soft and can scratch easily.

What are the pros and cons of a sintered stone fireplace surround?

Sintered stone is a blend of minerals fused together without glues or resins into exceptionally thin but strong slabs, as thin as 6mm. These large-format slabs are ideal for floor-to-ceiling applications and unique designs.

Sintered stone is exceptionally heat-resistant, non-porous and easy to clean. Because the color is applied during the manufacturing process, this engineered material comes in a limitless variety of designs, including natural stone, metal, concrete and wood. The material cost is comparable to stone, but not all fabricators are equipped to work with sintered stone and may want to charge a premium. WilgusIQ is an experienced fabricator and installer and we are happy to provide you with a free quote for sintered stone or the material of your choice.

Learn more about the properties of this amazing material on our About Sintered Stone page, or view color samples at Sintered Stone.

What are the pros and cons of a porcelain slab fireplace surround?

Many people are surprised to learn that porcelain can be as hard or even harder than granite, even though it comes in slabs as thin as 6mm. These large-format slabs are ideal for floor-to-ceiling applications and unique designs.

Porcelain is exceptionally heat-resistant, non-porous and easy to clean. Because the color is painted or printed on, porcelain comes in a limitless variety of designs, including natural stone, metal, concrete and wood. Material costs for porcelain are actually less than stone, but not all fabricators are equipped to work with it. WilgusIQ is an experienced fabricator and installer and we are happy to provide you with a free quote for porcelain or the material of your choice.

Learn more about the properties of porcelain on our About Porcelain page, or view a collection of color samples on our Porcelain page.