How can I redo my ugly mobile home fireplace?

Jinnifer
by Jinnifer

I live in a mobile home, it has a fireplace built into the corner of the living room. I hate it it takes up room that I could use. I would like to tear it out but I'm afraid it may be more of a job that I can handle, so I've set an oversized recliner in front of it to hide it, and that of course ex up even more room.

It's huge and ugly, help me!

  14 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 17, 2018

    Hi Jinnifer,

    Yes, You really need a Gas engineer to do it for you if ofcourse it is Gas. It will mean quite a lot of mess what with the Flue and insulation etc. Ask about to see if there is someone qualified who could do the job for you. Good luck!

  • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Nov 17, 2018

    I would call a handyman, if I were in your shoes.

  • Roberta Rhodes Roberta Rhodes on Nov 17, 2018

    How about a better picture of your fireplace area?


  • William William on Nov 17, 2018

    Looks like an insert with wood surround. No much of a problem removing it. Is it gas or wood burning?

  • Sharon R Sharon R on Nov 18, 2018

    If it's gas, I would get help. If it goe thru the roof to vent. If it's a electric insert, It's pretty easy. Depending on your skills.

    Might even find someone who will take it out, for the fireplace.

  • Grace Gleason Grace Gleason on Nov 18, 2018

    Why is a gas fireplace any more difficult to remove? Turn off the gas at the source, disconnect the line, and you should have no problems. Gas is not magic if you are careful. Electricity can kill you without notice. Yanking the junk out after disconnecting the gas is a no-brain-er. Just remember to patch the hole in the roof that the vent (if you have one) goes through. :-)

  • Shore grandmom Shore grandmom on Nov 18, 2018

    You could make it a focal point. Remove the paper or whatever it is on the wall. Put up a little bit of tile around it and put a small mantle on it. Some nice candles or decorations would look nice on it. Then put your furniture around it and enjoy a cozy fire in the could winter. Decorate for the holidays. You could even hang a tv above it.

    • See 2 previous
    • Shore grandmom Shore grandmom on Nov 19, 2018

      Take your time and do small sections at a time, so that you don't get overwhelmed. Your house will get done but it will be messy until it's finished.

  • Joanna Smith Joanna Smith on Nov 19, 2018

    Kill 2 birds with one stone. Paint the wall a color you love, then get some of that stick-on brick or stone to surround the fireplace about one or two rows wide. Put a slate floor in front of it and a heavy wooden mantle above. Then, build bookshelves around the entire thing, which will give the fireplace a set-in look and give you tons of storage.

  • Jinnifer Whitaker Jinnifer Whitaker on Nov 19, 2018

    My walls are this crazy, I assume, prefabricated drywall that has a kinda wallpaper on it.....I would like to paint but I’ve been told paint won’t dry, and or stay ( scratches off, not going to hold up if it did dry) ...I hate the color of the walls so much, and it is throughout the whole house, so the fireplace is not the only “ eyesore “...any and all suggestions welcome!

    • See 2 previous
    • Jinnifer Whitaker Jinnifer Whitaker on Nov 20, 2018

      Alan, your advice is greatly appreciated! It makes good sense to me to do the light sanding. Did you see what William said about using Kilz? I’m not familiar with that product....would it eliminate the need to sand the walls? William said washing them down would do, but since I’m not familiar with the Kilz product, I would like to know what you think....thank you , Jinnifer

  • Linda Criss Linda Criss on Nov 19, 2018

    FIREPLACE: Tear the wall out around fireplace. To make things easier leave the chimney on the roof, but where it comes into the house to the ceiling you can buy a cap at a fireplace store to seal it off. I am guessing you may need to put up some sheet rock and repair the floor where it sat, but messes are created when we remodel.😊 hope this helps.


  • William William on Nov 19, 2018

    Looks like vinyl over particle board. Screwed to framing. You should be able to unscrew the boards, them remove the framing. Removing the fireplace would be next. You would need to remove the flue vent. More likely goes out the roof. Would need to seal the hole and patch the roof. The vinyl can be painted but you would need to wash the walls down. Prime with Kilz primer, then paint. This would be for the whole house. Shouldn't scratch off with the primer. No need to sand since it is a type of wallpaper.

  • Jinnifer Whitaker Jinnifer Whitaker on Nov 20, 2018

    Thank you William, your advise to use Kilz makes the whole process seem way more doable and time saving! I greatly appreciate your time and advise........jinnifer

  • Dawn Santiago Dawn Santiago on Dec 24, 2018

    Jinnifer I redid mine, I got some pallets cut the wood to brick sizes and got different colors of spray paint that’s called “ sand” from Walmart. It came out gorgeous and it looks and feels like real brick! I hope you try this please let me know how it turned out if you do it!

    comment photo