How to remove large concrete rocks from a fireplace?

Becki Lomonaco
by Becki Lomonaco
I want to take these off and make them much smaller. This looks like real rocks and lots of concrete. The house was built in the 70's. If I can't take it off maybe paint?
  8 answers
  • William William on Aug 27, 2016
    Looks ugly and off center! Built in the 70's it may not be real stone, but Z Brick or similar simulated stone glued onto the drywall. You can try to see if you can remove one stone with a chisel and small sledge hammer! Wear a dust mask and eye protection. Hopefully it is fake stone and you can remove it. You may have to replace the drywall.
    • See 1 previous
    • William William on Aug 27, 2016
      You can paint it, but it would still look off. If they are real stones and can't easily be removed you can build out a floor to ceiling surround/ mantle, extend it on the right to match the distance from the corner to fireplace on the left. You can check out what I did to my fireplace to get an idea.*****http://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/fireplace-redo-15815323
  • Lisa Lisa on Aug 27, 2016
    You can put a facing over it, such as wood, drywall or a new tile, but if you take it down--which would be my instinct--drape off the room with plastic, put on a mask and eye protection, and pull it down with a crowbar. Expect to ruin the wall behind it.
    • Madonna Madonna on Aug 27, 2016
      having had the unfortunate case of having to remove this exact same problem, grab a crow bar and sledge hammer, and take out the frustration on the wall. we took it to bare studs and began again..
  • Canadianlady Canadianlady on Aug 27, 2016
    Put heat-proof gyprock right over the stone. That's what most designers would do to modernize a brick or rock fireplace.
  • Lainey Howell Lainey Howell on Aug 29, 2016
    I would take off the left side, to make it equal to the right side. Add a nice rustic mantel and put some interesting art above, with a few candles in nice holders arranged to the sides. Some sconces would look nice as well. If the rock won't come off straight, fill the edges with cement, or cement colored grout, and build floor to ceiling bookcases/storage all the way around the rock face. Hope things work out for you.
  • Becki Lomonaco Becki Lomonaco on Aug 30, 2016
    Great idea! My husband does not want to get rid of it. This is a compromise
  • I would leave it, it's going to be a mess and a ton of work to remove it. Then I would paint it and add a mantel.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jan 03, 2024

    Hi Becky, hope this helps you. The 70's were all about the faux rock walls, you should be able to remove these fairly easily, even if they are real.

    https://erthcoverings.com/news/article/removing-stone-veneer#:~:text=Removing%20stone%20veneer%20from%20your,do%20it%20on%20your%20own.