Question - My wife and I are building a house that has a see-through fireplace. Its flue goes through the interior of the house. Not wanting the metal flue to show, I had a wooden chimney made of two-by-fours and pressed hardboard. I am interested in finishing the fake chimney with a product that looks like brick but has much less weight.
I read an article a few weeks ago that talked about Z-Brick. Our original intention was to use Z-Brick, but we have been told that it is no longer manufactured because it contained asbestos. Is brick too heavy? - S.F.
Answer - Z-Brick has never contained asbestos and is still being manufactured.
I talked to the customer service department at ChemRex Inc. in Mattawan, Mich., the manufacturer of Z-Brick, which assured me that you could obtain the products you need. You can order Z-Brick through Ace and True Value hardware stores and some brick dealers.
Z-Brick comes boxed with 20 bricks that cover approximately 31/2 square feet. A box weighs 9 pounds and retails from $6.50 to $12, depending on the color and pattern of brick. The brick should be set using Z-Ment adhesive, which also serves as the grouting. A one gallon can of Z-Ment covers 16 to 18 square feet, retails for around $15.80 and is for vertical services only.
The bricks can be easily cut with a tungsten-carbide blade. Always wear eye and ear protection when working with power tools. Wear rubber gloves and protective clothing when working with the adhesive/grout. For more information or for a dealer in your area, call toll free, 1-800-828-0253.
I also found a real brick product called Modern Methods, manufactured in Owensboro, Ky. This is half-inch-thick real brick and is sold mainly through brick dealers. There are 40 bricks per box; a box weighs approximately 28 pounds. The average retail price is $19.99, again depending on style and color. Because it's real brick, it is installed using a sand and mortar mix. Modern Methods also makes a Panel Brick that measures 161/2 by 48 inches. You simply screw the pre-bricked panel in place and then grout the holes. It retails for $1.50 to $3 a square foot. For more information, call 502-685-5128.