Stucco has 3 diffrent layers, if you secure anything to the stucco, it would have to be with a cement drill and anchor. If you wanted to ever remove it, then you would need to be sure to get the exact same color of stucco, which can be alittle hard its like matching bricks. You might just want to do what I do. I buy 10ft sections of bull wire, from a tractor supply store, it can be cut with strong wire cutters, to whatever lenght you want. I have 5 ft height. I put it in front of the stucco, and secure it with steel drive post into the ground. Its not going anywhere. Once the vines start to grow, its perfect. You would need to have a trailer to bring the wire home, it will not bend. I even use this in the middle of my yard, in flowerbeds, its great and no maintance. Barbra

Berlin, thanks for your tips. I just found Heat Stop products on my own yesterday. Nice to know someone, yourself, endorsed them and that you say the joints "can be made" in 1/2 inch thicknesses by mixing it thick. When you recommend mixing in small batches, how quickly does the "stiffly mixed mortar" set? I do have some masonry skills so this is doable for me. Another issue I have is that I will have to mail order Heat Stop, but I can get "Fireplace Patch" manufactured by Rutland in 1 pound quantities from a TSC nearby. So, I was wondering if I could reset all the bricks on a background of regular mortar, because many of the bricks in my fireplace are completely separated from all the mortar that once held them. Then, finish pointing the mortar joints with the Fireplace Patch so that the Fireplace Patch will be in 1/2 inch to 1 inch depth in the joints. That way the regular Type S mortar won't be in contact with any flames but the Fireplace Patch will. Do you foresee any problems with taking that approach? Or should I just get a 50# sack of Heat Stop? One more question, would you, or anyone else, have any tips for cleaning the carbon from the fireplace bricks before I rebuild the firebox, or is carbon on the bricks a non-issue?

We had quite a few homes in my home town with weeping mortar and every owner ended up simply painting or limewashing the brick and mortar white or off white. I thought the texture was unique and interesting. See some of the images below.

got it. sorry you had to go through all of that. I was just trying to give you some input on finishing up the FP so that it looks good to go w/your new black surround. Maybe you like that limewash, but all I'm saying is it should be painted a brighter white. The limewash wasn't done correctly. why not look at the lime slurry link I posted and try that? couldn't hurt. And I still stand by the mantel comment. the gray stain isn't doing you any favors. This is what it should look like, with the darker mantel stain. (your limewash was applied too heavy and it looks more like a primer. sorry, it just does) Go over it w/a good masonry white paint. If you like the look of this white hearth, then look for a white, large format tile, or leftover piece of quartz. I gave you plenty of info on hearth material in my first comment. not sure what exactly you're looking for other than larger format tiles. choose the 24x24 or 30x30, 24x48" and cut them to size. go to a stoneyard ask for some remnants that are going in the trash (they throw away smaller pieces they can't sell) See if you can have them or pay a small price for them. give them your hearth measurement and they'll prob cut it to size for you. polish the edges w/various grits of sandpaper. Lastly, get mosac tiles on sheets and set those on cement board or suitable tile substrate.