Using Cement Board For Fireplace Surround
It can be used as part of a hour long fire wall which is a wall that can resist a fire for up to an hour.
Using cement board for fireplace surround. Before the tile can be placed cement board must be installed. I also like the stucco idea. An old fireplace can be an eyesore. The fireplace manual should specify how far around it you need fire resistent typically cement board or steel board typically it is only for the top.
Fireplace surround plywood or durock cement board. If you do this you have to countersink the holes in the board and use thunderbolts with tapered heads. However using fiber cement board like hardieboard is acceptable in locations including the mantel and fireplace surround. Once i figured out to add cement board to the fireplace surround i was a little worried about the edges of the cement board showing when it was installed.
You will need to paint the surface of the inside walls of the recess and one side of the cement board with a pva mix 3 water to 1 pva. Cement board on the fireplace surround. Fire ratings the hardiebacker board is made with a quarter inch thickness so that it can serve as fireplace facing. The cement board creates a sturdy surface for the tile installation.
I d use at least a foot of cement board to be safe if you can t find the spec. Achieving a paintable fireplace surround with cement board if paul says hardiebacker then i d trust him. After some research and looking online for inspiration i decided to use a piece of metal schluter for the edges on the inside of the fireplace.