Fireglass fireplace

The fireglass in the fireplace.

Fireplace Results

The fireplace surround is done. It took longer than expected because I couldn't seem to get just the right black color. The concrete itself was black then I acid stained it black again. That still wasn't as jet black as I wanted so I used a couple coats of a very strong dye. Once the dye dried I sealed it with an acrylic. Since no one will be eating off of it, hopefully, the sealing materials don't have to be food-grade.Before

After, a little taller and wider and filled in that weird gap near the wall.
One layer of tile will go around the fireplace and then a stainless steel insert and fireglass.

Fireplace Surround Progress

Here are the finishing steps and the current progress;

1. Strip the forms

2. Thick slurry coat to fill the large bug holes

3. Quick grind 50 grit through 200 grit (about 30 minutes)

4. Light slurry coat

5. Quick grind quick grind 200 grit through 400 grit (about 30 minutes)

6. Spot slurry as places that are still low

7. Finish grind at 400 grit (about 30 minutes)

8. Seal and wax

9. Lightly rub with steel wool to remove the shine

Really this project hasn't taken much time or money. The mold only took a few hours to build and get in place. The concrete was 6 bags of quikcrete at $4.50 each, 3 gallons of latex at $10 each, $10 worth of pigment, and about $10 for reinforcing steel. The concrete placement only took about 4 hours from buying the materials to setting up, placing, and clean up. The real cost was the dry grinding setup since most people are against wet grinding in their living rooms. Although if you are planning on two or more project, the speed and cleanliness of the dry setup is well worth the money.

Finishing the Concrete Fireplace

After curing under plastic and wet towels for four days the first slurry coat was applied to fill in the largest bug holes and honeycombing. A light grind will knock down any high places. A second slurry will fill in any places that still need it.

Since there isn't a good way to wet polish concrete inside, the fireplace will be dry polished. The dry polishing setup uses a low-speed grinder with hot-pressed pads and a dust shield. This method is much faster and cleaner than the wet method.

Starting on the front corner.