Has your builder looked for an alternative product to the inferior one he has that won't allow for the design you expected?

No; that doesn’t seem to be an option.😕

I couldn't quite tell from your post which of the products he's having warranty/splitting issues with, but I'm guessing it's the tile? In that case, you could see about having him not put on the finishing materials. Instead, buy the "wrapped" cedar mantle material from him (for your convenience in not having to source it elsewhere), but get a credit back for the unused tile material and arrange for the work to be done with someone else after you close so you can get the look you want and were expecting.

It’s the wood mantle not the tile that has the issue (I know sounds crazy). The mantle is as shown installed in the bottom photos; just across the front. He’ll wrap or not wrap the tile however we choose. If wrap wondering if the top of the tiles will look unfinished on the sides without the mantle above (he has offer to add a piece of painted molding but would likely see from front of fireplace since mantle doesn’t extend past sides).
My other option is to not wrap the tile and the front will will be tiled to edge (with this option he has offered to add a strip of cedar wood on the sides wrapped over corner from mantle to flow as shown in the drawing if we think that looks better). I think the wood down the sides looks strange and may damage the tile if we want to try to have someone come in after build and redo the mantle. Right now I’m leaning towards wrapping the tile and worrying about the mantle after market. All suggestions welcome!!

I would get someone in there to put in the mantle you want BEFORE tiling. I think it would be difficult to add the mantle after the fact without chipping the tile upon install. There is a way to fix this, but it sounds like your builder is going to make you do the work to make it right.

Appreciate the input guys! Mnmamax3 you make a good point just don’t think it’s doable at this time. I’m hoping I’ll be ok with the outcome after furniture placement. Thanks!

Alright I tried to draw a picture of what I was thinking but I am not an artist.. what if you add a mantle on either side that butts up against the one currently installed? Then use some kind of cool trim over the resulting seam (maybe some metal strips or a flat trim piece in a coordinating wood?

This is the kind of trim I was thinking to cover the seams where the pieces meet up. The tile will stick out from the wall and I think the trim will be able to cover the seam without sticking out. You can get decorative metal and even rolls made of rubber that look like metal.

I think if you are doing tile only up to the mantel height, you really need to wrap it.

This is my crappy picture. I would skew the trim so it just barely covers the seam and doesn't stick out from the wall weirdly. Just a thought to try and help you get what you want...

Why don’t you tile the front, stopping flush with the side walls - NO cedar strip.

Then add a mantel much like the one in the inspiration pic, but just the front piece, with it wider than the wall, hanging over each end, as seen from the front.

That way, if you are able to realize the original design it will be easy to modify. And if not, it will still look balanced and finished. I think mantels look best if they are longer than the chimney, mimicking the traditional one piece mantel with “legs.”

That is essentially the look (from the front) that would have been achieved had the builder been able to complete the original plan.

Thanks all! Will let you know outcome. Some good suggestions!

Your builder is pulling a fast one on you. Either because a) he’s figured out he’s not making enough margin as you’ve gotten towards the end of your project, or b) more likely scenario is that he doesn’t have the skilled labor to do this job, as it requires mitred corners. Getting 45 degree corners on that stone is not easy with the split and glued pieces and the varying heights and requires an experienced person and tools to do it. If you like the stone, then have him leave it, with 15-20% overage that he already should have ordered for you, and then find a professional tile setter to install it. Cutting the tiles off blunt at the end just shows the dull stone and cut marks, looks unfinished, which is not what you want for the focal point of your living room.

The cleanest look is to have the ledgerstone on the 3 sides and the mantel on the front only. That said, your current one is too skimpy looking. Look to have them replace with something bolder and don't have it go all the way to the ends.