How do I update a dated 1970s stone fireplace?

You don't need to demo the existing stone. The fastest update is to install new culture...#

You don't need to demo the existing stone. The fastest update is to install new cultured stone directly over the dated stone — same prep as installing over brick. Total project time: 1–2 days. Cost: roughly $400–$1,200 in materials for a typical surround, depending on size.

1970s stone fireplaces have a few signature problems: orange-brown fieldstone or river rock, oversized scale that dominates the room, dated grout colors (often a yellow-tan), and overscaled hearths. The good news: you don't need to demo any of it.

The over-install approach. Existing rough-faced stone is actually an excellent substrate for new cultured stone. The texture provides bite for the scratch coat. The masonry behind it is structural. You're essentially using the dated stone as your wall.

Step-by-step:

1. Clean the existing stone — wire brush off soot and dust, vacuum out joints. If there's any soft or crumbling stone, knock it out and re-mortar before proceeding.

2. Apply a 3/8" scratch coat of Type-S mortar over the entire surface. Work mortar into the existing joints. Score horizontally. Cure 24 hours.

3. Set new cultured stone over the scratch coat — corners first, then flats. Choose a smaller-scale profile than the existing stone for a modern look (Sienna Mesa or Ashen Shale work well).

4. Decide grouted or dry-stack. Dry-stack feels more contemporary; grouted feels more traditional. For 1970s updates, dry-stack is usually the modernizing choice.

5. Update the hearth too — most 1970s hearths are oversized and made of contrasting stone. You can re-clad the hearth top with cultured stone caps OR rip out the hearth and replace with a sleeker hardwood or stone slab.

Color choice matters. The biggest 1970s tell is the orange-brown color palette. Pick a cool gray (Ashen Shale), warm tan (Sienna Mesa), or muted multi-tone — anything other than orange-brown. Your sample kit will let you compare against your room before committing.