son took the paneling off, so we need a new one, but what? One side of it is flush with a wall. I'm thinking about either cleaning up the brick and putting on some kind of new mantel or covering the brick with Nantucket Limestone from Heritage Stone. Any ideas? The black squares are old blowers that will either go or be covered over.

PS I do not want to tear brick out! And there are these two awful pockets on the hearth that end up holding a shovel, poker, dirt, etc... still have construction debri in them. What to do with them??? Thanks for any ideas.

available in an easy-to-use kit which is sent to you with free shipping from a company called Brick-Anew (www.brick-anew.com). The package comes complete with the necessary tools for a weekend do-it-yourself project. Yes, it can be done in a single weekend. Clear instructions for proper application are included. This really is usually the best answer to your fireplace's exterior problems. The finished product has a textured sandstone look available in several colors. A video is available on this project at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FarofFXZcvI

*Options I considered for this project:

One cheap way out is just to go to the building supply place or the local paint store and buy a paint that matches or compliments your carpet, walls, etc. Unfortunately when you're done, you have a fireplace that looks kind of like a painted wall. Replacing the brick is way too expensive. Covering it up with sheetrock is another option but more expensive, difficult and you lose the beauty of the brick.

*Questions and unexpected events that arose during the project:

Can it really be done in a couple of days? Yes, and much of that is drying time between the different paints and glazes.

Will it look better than just slapping on paint? Yes, there are lots of before and after pictures available that have used this process.

* Cost Comments:

The kit comes with everything you need to do a 100 square foot fireplace. The price even includes sh

*My motivation to do this project:

Older brick fireplaces often look as though they are on their last legs. Maybe the bricks are stained with tar and soot but, functionally, the fireplace is as sturdy as the first time a fire was built inside it. The bricks are solid and the draw is good. It's just plain scary looking.

Brick is a high-quality building material and doesn't come cheap. New brick and laying it is expensive. If you hire a contractor to replace those bricks, you are likely throwing several thousand dollars at the problem. If you're thinking of new sheetrock or a new fireplace surround, that can also be expensive and not give you the look you desire. You want a permanent solution and not a job that looks rushed.

*Project Steps:

The only prep work necessary is to brush off your brick to remove any loose mortar or dirt. Remove any decorations and fireplace accessories.

Paint a base coat over all your brick and mortar. Then you follow up using either your small roller or sponge to apply three "undertone" colors and a glaze. There's nothing difficult or tricky about the process. Just follow the steps in order and get great results.

To summarize how easy:

Step 1- Remove all accessories and clean the brick.

Step 2 - After taping off the fireplace, brush on the base coat/sealer over all the brick and mortar like you're painting a wall. It will look something like this:

Steps 3 - 6 - Apply color 1, glaze, colors 2 and 3 allowing the paint to dry between each step. The written instructions and video explain the options in more detail.

Step 7 - Apply the clear matte finish, if desired, after allowing the paint to dry completely.

Advice:

Be sure to tape and cover areas that you don't want paint to get on, just like doing a wall.

The kit comes with all the tools you need so you don't need or want a fancy and expensive paint brush.

As with any paint project, wear your old clothes.

Clean your brushes and rollers as you go while waiting for the previous coat to dry.

If you have an overly large fireplace, you may need to order an extra can of base coat.

If the brick is really in a horribly dirty state, you might want to order the cleaner available for an extra charge.

Materials:

Brick-Anew Fireplace Paint Kit - $0.00