A fireplace surround is a made-to-measure job by definition, because it is fitted to an opening that already exists and is rarely square. K2 cuts to a template taken from the actual opening rather than to a nominal size, which is the only way the mitres close cleanly at the corners.
Material choice depends entirely on whether there is real fire involved. For a gas or electric appliance, almost any stone is fine — the surround never gets hot enough to matter, and marble, onyx and travertine are all reasonable. For a solid-fuel fire, the hearth and anything within the radiant zone need to be genuinely heat-tolerant: granite, slate and limestone are the safe choices. Marble can be used in the outer surround but should not form the hearth in front of an open fire, because thermal shock will craze it over time.
Travertine deserves a mention here. Its warmth and open texture suit a fireplace better than a high-polish marble does, and because it is a softer, more forgiving stone, the small chips that a fireplace inevitably collects read as character rather than damage.
The hearth is the part that gets specified last and matters most. Building regulations in most jurisdictions set a minimum projection in front of the opening and a minimum thickness for a constructional hearth. Confirm what applies before ordering, because a hearth cut to the wrong projection is scrap.
Specification at a glance
- Cut to a template of the actual opening
- Granite, slate and limestone for solid fuel
- Marble, onyx and travertine for gas and electric
- Hearth, surround, mantel shelf and slips
- Mitred or square-butted corners
- Honed and brushed finishes suit better than high polish
Work out what you need
Take a template of the opening or ask K2 to measure, and the surround will be cut to fit it rather than to a standard size.