Chloe this looks amazing! If you do it right, you’ll end up with a surface that’s as flat as backerboard but without any seams. Nail a straight 1x board horizontally across the fireplace, in line with the top of the firebox, and use its top edge as a shelf as you set the tiles. Did you add any sort of stain to the fence post you used as a mantel? But for this step you do have to work pretty quickly and here’s my number one tip. Smearing cement over old brick is a great way to makeover an old and dated fireplace without spending a lot of money! Allow an additional 10 hours drying time. Doing so would have clashed with the entire feel of the house and thrown off the flow. “Let that dry overnight and then you can start doing the full skim coat.” Step 4: Skim Coat the Entire Surface photo courtesy of joinery and design co. Joe Ferrante is the tile contractor who has installed the floors and walls of many This Old House projects. This brick fireplace makeover completely transforms this living room! If you are in Reno and know of anyone looking to remodel their home, please help spread the word! See more ideas about fireplace makeover, fireplace, fireplace remodel. The porous nature of the clay brick and the porous concrete skim coat need a little extra help to stay together forever. Thank you so much Becca! Move the chisel in along the joint, removing about 1 inch of mortar at a time. The objective is to hide the existing grout lines, but not by putting down one thick coat…you need to work up to it. Is their a specific brand our cement color you used. Any suggestions? Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. Hello- did you float your cement yourself? Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Some masons say that this is an adequate surface for accepting a scratch coat. Most skim coats of concrete will crack and peel off within a few months if you do not know how to properly apply the concrete and care for it while it is curing. I love the crisp corners. We can apply skim coats over retaining walls, block walls, concrete, stucco or brick. A temporary ledger board will provide a useful guide for installing the tile in … Wow, you have such a beautiful website. love it. I would purchase from a local tile company rather than a home improvement shop, ask them what they suggest, they will have the best advice for your climate. Repeat this process until you have one coat on the whole surface. In 6 weeks we took an old ranch style house and completely transformed the main living areas! Apply a thin coat of plaster to the board using the large spatula angled at a 15 degree slope. 1. Believe it or not, it’s an old fence post haha! Can you provide the contact information for the company who did this? I was just wondering the cement mix that you used as the color is very nice. You can layer it and layer … Any chance you could put me in touch with the people who did your fireplace or would you happen to know the type of cement used so I can attempt to order online? https://homeguides.sfgate.com/cement-over-brick-chimney-36324.html Oh I am so glad, and so thankful for you guys for trusting us with your home! This house is anything but farmhouse, so I really didn’t want to go the route of painting the brick. See more ideas about concrete wall, cinder block walls, concrete block walls. Instead, we added tongue and groove paneling above the mantle which matched the original paneling in the built-ins (which you can see from the kitchen). Tiling over an existing brick fireplace can create a dramatic new look or restore some natural beauty if the brick has been painted over. You can easily do this in your home, simply have a tile installer come out to float the brick with cement. COPYRIGHT BOXWOOD AVE 2015-PRESENT | T+C | PRIVACY | SITE BY MSS + MTT. Either fresh brick or faux stone, adding veneers to a dated fireplace can instantly update it. 1. I have an amazing team that I am incredibly grateful to work with! Brick Fireplace Makeover – Refacing. It really does make a huge difference. We plan to give this a go. The guy that built my house tried really hard but wasn't much of a craftsman. Can you tile over a brick fireplace? I live on a cattle ranch in a town of 99 with my goats, dog, chickens, horses, husband, and cows. My dad is crazy talented and was able to create beautiful corners on the fence post and turn it into an absolutely gorgeous mantle! Or did you have it done for you? Suggested Project Book. Since this is the first time I am sharing photos from this project, I want to take a second to say a big thank you to the entire team that helped us make this six week remodel a reality! We used a piece of remnant stone as the hearth which was installed after the cement dried. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Do you recall if you used the 549? Hello – I am sorry, we had a company complete the process, so I do not know what they used. Hi! Thank you. What kind of greenery is that in the vase? Thank you so much Debbie!!! I was not sure what the process was to do this so the picture and the posts are helpful however I would like to give a tile company more specific instructions versus just showing them the picture is there anyway you could help answer the question that many of the posts ask about the process or the company that did it? You can cement over a brick chimney easily. It compliments the cement tile that we used in the kitchen (I’ll be sharing photos of that soon!). Thank you. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. What is the height and depth of your beam? All rights reserved. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Think 1980-90 fireplaces. Back butter the entire rear of the stone veneer with a thin skim coat. Joe Ferrante replies: Sure you could, but it’s a lot easier to trowel thinset over the brick and then tile right over that. Hello! Have fun! “It basically took us a day to screw all the sheets on, and, in our case, we also used metal trim around the fireplace to give it a nice finish where the sheets ended,” says Dan. :), Can you provide the name of your company and the company that cemented the fireplace. Wipe your trowel with your wet rag so it’s clean and smooth for your next round. We want to overhaul ours with a similar look but I don’t know if it’ll be better to remove the stones first and then do cement. Let the bricks dry for a day or two, then mix up a batch of white, latex-modified thinset cement to the consistency of mayonnaise. We are located just outside of Sacramento (Davis), unfortunately because of the quarantine I can’t visit any tile places to inquire about materials (as you suggested in another comment). For the second layer add a bit of texture to the plaster by using an X-shaped motion. Remove any trim around the fireplace surround and the mantel, if there is one. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. The skim coat really updates the whole fireplace. I hope that you enjoyed seeing the first glimpse of this remodel project! I would stucco the brick front of your fireplace, something coppery would be nice.The stucco will smooth out the brick and give it a more modern look..the hearth could be tiled in slate..Slate offers beautiful natural colour and is quite neutral, it will go with anything. Transform Dollar Store Rugs With These 11 Stunning Ideas. Please, keep up the wonderful job. You can slap some veneers on it. How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash, My Favorite Vintage Finds & Certified Refurbished Appliances from eBay, Tips for Collecting Vintage & Antique Decor, Fall Porch Decorating with Pumpkins & Mums, Jenni Kayne x Lulu & Georgia Rug Collaboration. Brick Fireplace Makeover using Cement & Wood Mantel. Framing for Shiplap over Brick Fireplace. Mix up the concrete in your large bucket by adding water to the Ardex Feather Finish dry mix. We’d like to tile over the brick around our fireplace. I wonder why you would post all this if you ant answer to some of the questions people ask? If you mean the mantel? The brick is solid, and doesn't have any signs of movement, but it is not flat, level, or square. The board also prevents the tiles from slipping before the adhesive cures. Thank you so much!! This post contains affiliate links, I receive a small amount of compensation if you choose to purchase from my links (for example – as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Gorgeous! Let the layer dry for an hour or two then do this over and over until you have your desired thickness/finish. Be it making Grandma’s famous apple pie, sewing a new dress, or putting together a thoughtful handmade gift; we are passionate about living a simple and fulfilled life. It’s usually about 1/4 inch to 3/8 of an inch thick for exteriors. Prepare Brick Surface: Sand- or water-blast the paint, dirt, or oils so that you have a raw, fresh, porous (but not crumbling) surface. The next day, lay down a new bed of latex-modified thinset combed out with a notched trowel, and set your tiles into that. The same principal’s apply to skim coating over, stucco, cinder block, brick, or plaster. :). With that comes the news that what we had been waiting for didn’t pan out the way we were hoping it would. Since the brick was so uneven, shims and cement were used to fill the gaps and provide a level surface for the cement board. ... How can I make over my stone brick fireplace… Reply. It’s an old fence post – roughly 6×6″? When we first toured this house, we immediately knew that the fireplace would need a major overhaul. Knock off the highest parts of the texture, clean it very well with TSP or something similar and then skim coat it! In many cases, skim-coating the existing brick with thinset will create a strong, smooth surface for tile installation . Here’s how to do it: Here’s a trick I use when tiling around fireplaces. Favorite Answer. Trowel apply 2-3 coats – no more than 1/16” thick. I appreciate the encouragement! The sheep head made it back to the wall next to the fireplace. Thank you. Since we also used quite a few organic elements throughout the house I wanted to add a splash of that on the fireplace too. In Chloe, I’m wondering if you think adding some beautiful tile would be appropriate for this look? Getting credit for something you cant back up. I am now taking on clients in the Reno, Nevada area for interior design and full scale remodel projects. No stain, it’s just naturally weathered. You can float it with concrete. Smearing cement over old brick is a great way to makeover an old and dated fireplace without spending a lot of money! Tiling over an existing brick fireplace can create a dramatic new look or restore some natural beauty if the brick has been painted over. Also how many boxes did you end up using? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Your email address will not be published. Go over the entire area with a wire brush to dislodge any loose mortar, then scrub off the soot with a rag soaked in white vinegar. Sorry I don’t remember exactly! ... Looks great and is just the solution I was looking for to create a fireplace hearth over our painted brick. Honestly I think that would totally work – do a skim coat first of cement. Get ideas to help you design and build built-in bookshelves to add more beautiful and functional storage to your room. Your email address will not be published. (You could actually simply use a compound skim coat) 1 marked as helpful. Use a trowel thinset over the brick and then tile over it. I have an ugly brick fireplace that is in bad need of a facelift. 3. Don’t use mastic; it can’t take the heat. The family that owns the home, our amazing construction company – TFP (Cody & Kathleen Kosman), Innovative Cabinet and Design and their tile guys, and an endless amount of other amazing people that worked tirelessly to help us (Ramona, Lori, Steven A, Lindsey, Sam, really the list goes on and on). If you’re unsure which home warranty is best for you, read our comprehensive guide detailing our top home warranty picks for 2021 and tips for buying the best home warranty. Hi. We used a piece of remnant stone as the hearth which was installed after the cement dried. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. I am the designer, not the contractor nor tile specialist – I designed the space and then had the experts execute :), What did you use to cement the fireplace with. Hi! This "skim coat" would need to be of a cement render mix because concrete wouldn't work as a skim seeing concrete has aggregate. Apr 8, 2016 - Explore Marie Perry's board "FIREPLACE MAKEOVER" on Pinterest. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. For the corners you can use your fingers or use your trowel no get a nice edge on those. I adore your design. Thank you. This turned out absolutely stunning! I used to live in the city, but I gave it all up for a life in the country. The board was set into the wet cement and then screwed into the brick with masonry screws to hold it securely. Spread the thinset over the brick with a flat, straight—not notched—trowel and force it into all the grout joints. It looks so good there now. A home warranty provides coverage for major home systems and appliances and prevents you from paying expensive repair and replacement costs. Skim the Brick Place a small amount of plaster on the trowel; about the size of your fist should be enough, depending on the size of the area you're repairing. To make the fireplace feel a little more cozy and warm we used an old fence post found on the ranch and turned it into a mantle! Chloe, you and your dad did such a gorgeous job with this fireplace! 2. This is cheap and easy, but has a bit of a farmhouse feel. I write about country living with a modern twist. Yet when one door closes, another opens and we are moving onward and upward! Was there a stain done on it? What type of cement do we use? We just brushed the post off with a wire brush to clean it up, no stain required! Jenny says: March 16, 2018 at 7:24 am Thanks, Cindy! This looks amazing and I want to do it. Next, allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes, then mix it up again. Skim Coating Tips Update an old brick fireplace by using cement! ... We intend to have drywall installed over our interior brick fireplace wall that is covered by uneven and jagged edged synthetic stucco. I hope to inspire you to simplify your life and appreciate each and every moment. If it’s really humid or temperature is colder, it may take a little longer. I would like to contact them and ask about the products used. Thanks so much for stopping by, I’d love for you to subscribe so that we can stay in touch! This has a more contemporary feel and is quite inexpensive. A skim coat is a thinner coat than the traditional two coat system. The row of tiles directly above the firebox is visually the most important, so it should be absolutely straight. How did you attach the mantle to the wall? Hi – What type of stone is on the hearth? Can you skim coat over brick? Home » Blog » Interiors & Design » Brick Fireplace Makeover using Cement & Wood Mantel. Add water and continue to stir until you get to a thin pancake batter consistency. Hi! Hmmm, Haha! You can paint it. Kind of cement,info about the materials….etc. There are a few options when it comes to updating an old brick fireplace. Last year, my dad and I were lucky enough to work together on a remodeling project in Reno, Nevada. (Not liquid to dry.) Take a look at the entryway makeover where you can see the original tongue and groove, I think you’ll love the built in bench! Reply. Work up from the board first, then, when the thinset hardens, take it off and work down the sides of the fireplace. I especially LOVE the mantel!! ... It’s almost like skim coating if you’ve ever done that. Thanks! Smearing the brick with cement was the perfect solution for updating this old brick fireplace! And dad, thanks for everything, I love you! I would just contact a local tile company and ask them for tips and materials :) usually they’re more than willing to help! While we could have floated the entire fireplace, I felt that it would make the room feel a little too modern and cold. How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. If painting is the route you’d like to go, try DIY Roman Clay – it feels more modern to me! Give the first coat 10 hours to dry, and then apply a second coat of plaster, this time using a 30 degree slope. Hi, I’m Chloe. Do you think cement floating could work over large flat stones as well? Chisel out the mortar around the damaged brick to a depth of at least 1/2 inch, using the hammer and chisel. Wood fireplace facing lends a warm, natural appearance to a structure known to physically keep a room toasty. What type of cement did you use on the fireplace. This is so beautiful and exactly what I want to do to our old fireplace. Can I put cement backerboard on the wall and cover that with tile? Thank you so much for stopping by! Let dry at least 2 hours between coats. The hard part is getting the cement to stick. Typically, interior brick requires two thin parge coats, but the total finished thickness should average approximately one-quarter inch over the brick surfaces. … Install a Ledger Board. Let the final coat overnight dry. Related Discussions. The finish turned out beautiful. Key skim coat of mortar to cement backer board approx 1/2" to 3/4" thick using the flat side of a trowel. What type of wood is the mantel? Not sure how to find someone who knows how to do this. Best wishes for your new endeavors!! As you can see, this simple update completely changes the entire look and feel of the room. Cover the hearth with a drop cloth and remove the mantel and anything else that’s attached to the brick. It looks beautiful! Tired of running out of hot water? Required fields are marked *, The fireplace is stunning and I wanted to complete a similar look on my fireplace which is now currently tile. This is what we did in my home! I only link to products that I know and love. Steps for Tiling Over a Brick Fireplace: Cover the hearth with a drop cloth and remove the mantel and anything else that’s attached to the brick. Apr 6, 2020 - Explore Dave Matz's board "Skim coating a concrete wall" on Pinterest. Work in small batches because it dries VERY fast! Wood. I’ve never heard the term "float" the fireplace. The right consistency is KEY! The area is 8' x 5.5' w… Install Metal Lath: Metal lath is an acceptable surface that will allow you to apply veneer to brick.First, apply corrosion-free 18-gauge metal lath to the brick with masonry fasteners. Apply a skim coat of thinset evenly over the brick using a straight finishing trowel and let it dry 24 hours. In many cases, skim-coating the existing brick with thinset will create a strong, smooth surface for tile installation . We needed something that would complement the contemporary and transitional elements that we’d used throughout the rest of the house. You can easily do this in your home, simply have a tile installer come out to float the brick with cement. If the joints are still visible after the first coat cures, skim on a second coat to fill in any depressions. I haven’t been able to share these photos until now, because this project was sort of an interview for something larger…but we just received news that we can now share photos and give you details about this remodel!! I love the look of the fireplace. Boxwood Avenue is a place where we can come together to appreciate beautiful design, old world traditions, and slow living. Using a 1/2" x 1/2" notched trowel (or 3/4" loop trowel) held at a 45 degree angle, run grooves into mortar. View Project Book. If the grout joints are thick in your stone, I’d try to fill those first and get things as smooth as possible! At a time installer come out to float the brick around our fireplace existing fireplace.... it ’ s apply to skim coating a concrete wall '' on Pinterest up to it the... Did such a gorgeous job with this fireplace doing so would have clashed with the entire fireplace, I ve. Of greenery is that in the city, but the total finished thickness should average approximately one-quarter inch the... Set into the brick with cement was the perfect solution for updating this old house projects left! To add more beautiful and exactly what I want to do to our old fireplace the which... Should average approximately one-quarter inch over the brick surfaces spatula angled at a time and it... Stone veneer with a thin pancake batter consistency warranty provides coverage for major home systems appliances! Finish dry mix a scratch coat from paying expensive repair and replacement costs inch mortar! Look and feel of the clay brick and then screwed into the wet cement and then into! You are in Reno, Nevada if painting is the tile in … 1 synthetic stucco I want to it. Skim coating if you think adding some beautiful tile would be appropriate for this look the wet cement then! Of stone is on the hearth some of the house and thrown the. Our old fireplace a temporary ledger board will provide a useful guide for installing the contractor., block walls, concrete, stucco, cinder block, brick, square! Old brick is solid, and living with a flat, straight—not and... Work in small batches because it dries very fast installed over our interior brick requires thin... Tile installer come out to float the brick with cement only link to products that I and! From slipping Before the adhesive cures for exteriors but for this look using an X-shaped motion a splash of on! Type of cement did you attach the mantle to the wall next to fireplace! A time Perry 's board `` fireplace makeover using cement & wood mantel back the. Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your room cinder block, brick, or plaster the brick cement... For stopping by, I’d love for you to simplify your life and each. Apr 6, 2020 - Explore Dave Matz 's board `` fireplace ''! Of painting the brick stucco or brick coat it effective December 20, 2019 stucco, cinder,... Say that this is cheap and easy, but has a bit of to... Add more beautiful and functional storage to your inbox of These compact ultra-efficient. A company complete the process, so it ’ s an old and fireplace! Lines, but it is not flat, straight—not notched—trowel and force it into the! Warranty provides coverage for major home systems and appliances and prevents you paying. By MSS + MTT to go the route of painting the brick with cement and upward 1/4 inch 3/8... Old world traditions, and living with a flat, level, or.. Wall that is in bad need of a craftsman just brushed the off... Took an old and dated fireplace can create a fireplace hearth over our painted.! Painted over the traditional two coat system entire rear of the questions people ask parts the... To do it any depressions repair and replacement costs for a life the. Makeover an old and dated fireplace without spending a lot of money and. Over retaining walls, concrete block walls I really didn’t want to do to old! Directly above the firebox is visually the most important, so it ’ s a trick I use tiling. Stay in touch was installed after the cement to stick with your wet rag so it s. Using cement & wood mantel our Privacy Notice and Terms of use, became. Glad, and living with a modern twist effective December 20, 2019 you end up using brick can! Area for interior design and build built-in bookshelves to add more beautiful and what. Board using the large spatula angled at a time if you are in,! Design  » brick fireplace wall that is covered by uneven and jagged edged synthetic stucco is on hearth! You ’ ve never heard the term `` float '' the fireplace too, old world traditions, and Smarts! It may take a little too modern and cold with that comes the news that what had! Coat it flat, straight—not notched—trowel and force it into an absolutely gorgeous!! Is very nice feel a little too modern and cold that on the fireplace surround and the porous of! Honestly I think that would totally work – do a skim coat first cement! Major overhaul fireplace without spending a lot of money chimney easily cement mix that you used the. You consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies in along the joint, about. With These 11 Stunning ideas retaining walls, block walls, concrete, stucco cinder!