Fireplace Renovation

Old slate removed and rebuilt with a manufactured stone ledger, porcelain hearth tile and a new hardwood shelf.

Published September 6, 2026 · Portland metro, Oregon

This fireplace was finished floor-to-ceiling in dated slate tile, with a projecting hearth in the same material. We removed the old slate, rebuilt the face and chimney breast in a manufactured stone ledger, tiled the hearth in porcelain, and built in a new hardwood shelf between the upper and lower stone sections.

The brass-trimmed firebox screen and mesh curtain stayed in place throughout — the goal was a full material change around them, not a new insert.

Finished Portland fireplace with manufactured stone ledger, hardwood shelf and porcelain hearth tile — The finished fireplace — stone ledger, hardwood shelf and porcelain hearth tile.

Before

The fireplace was wrapped in dark slate tile from the hearth to the ceiling, with the brass-toned firebox trim and mesh screen already in place. The heavy, dark finish was the starting point for the renovation.

Removing the old finish

We stripped the slate off the face and chimney breast down to the painted brick, then coated the brick in a bonding primer to prep it for the new stone. The room was masked off and the floor protected while the old material came off.

Slate removed from a Portland fireplace, exposing the painted brick underneath — Slate off, down to the original painted brick.

Fireplace brick coated in a blue bonding primer ahead of new stone — A bonding coat over the brick, ready for the stone ledger.

Laying out the tile and stone

Porcelain tile was dry-laid across the lower hearth to check the pattern and cuts before setting anything in mortar, while the stone ledger started climbing the lower face on a laser level line to keep the courses straight.

Porcelain tile dry-laid on the lower hearth before setting — Porcelain tile dry-laid on the hearth to check the layout.

Manufactured stone ledger starting on the lower fireplace face on a laser level line — The stone ledger starting on a laser level line.

Setting the stone

The manufactured stone ledger went up the full face and the chimney breast above, with the new hardwood shelf wrapped and protected while the stonework continued around it.

Manufactured stone ledger covering the full fireplace face and chimney breast — Stone ledger covering the face and chimney breast, shelf protected above.

Stone ledger installed with a temporary wood frame protecting the firebox opening — A temporary wood frame kept the firebox opening protected during tile work.

Tiling the hearth

With the stone done, the porcelain tile went down across the projecting hearth, supported on temporary legs until the build could carry its own weight.

Porcelain tile being installed on the projecting hearth, supported on temporary legs — Porcelain tile going down on the projecting hearth.

Portland fireplace nearly complete with stone ledger, hardwood shelf and porcelain hearth — Stone, shelf and hearth all in, with only final detailing left.

Finished result

The finished fireplace pairs the light stone ledger with a warm hardwood shelf and a porcelain hearth that reads as a single, solid slab. The shelf was cut tight to the stone with a mitered corner and plugged fasteners for a clean finished face.

Finished porcelain hearth tile projecting over the hardwood floor — The finished hearth, projecting cleanly over the hardwood floor.

Hardwood shelf running across the stone ledger fireplace face — The hardwood shelf breaking the stone into upper and lower sections.

Side detail of the hardwood shelf mitered into the stone ledger — A mitered corner keeps the shelf tight to the stone.

Hardwood shelf corner with plugged fasteners on the finished fireplace — Plugged fasteners keep the corner clean once the shelf was set.

Planning a fireplace update in the Portland or Salem metro? Request a free written estimate from a licensed Oregon contractor.