Revamp an Ugly Brick Fireplace No Paint

3 Materials
Ok, I hated this fireplace so I purchased a used Mantle Craigslist find ($600.00) and started on my plan. Everything worked around this "mantle" as it was very ornate.
My husband and my Pops got to work screwing 1x2 strips to hang the sheetrock onto brick fireplace, This wasn't hard at all - just measure, cut, and screw it into the brick with mason screws.
Then came the application of the sheetrock - just cut it and screw it in place.
We added supports for the mantel to screw into.
More sheetrock 1/4"...
Here it is after the sheetrock. Next came the messy part - tape, float, and sand. All of this was inexpensive, just $35.00.
This is the wall before we applied the texture.
Here's the fun part: This is a product from Lowes called Valspar Venetian plaster. It's $20 for 1 can and you just trowel it on. It has the paint color already in it, so you just have to follow the directions, then let it dry. One thing they do not tell you in the directions is to buff the plaster after it dries to give it a cool dimension, shine and color (to give it a textured look).
Using $7 sheets of tile ($10 each) we tiled around the firebox insert, which was $400.00 from Lowes. This was easy to do, with new stick on mortar mastic for glass tile. We just grouted and it was done (it was Home Depot tile and grout).


In this pic, you can see we tried a travertine hearth... that was a NO!
We had a granite co. ($800.00) come out and cut the top of the hearth, and my husband built the wood insert in the front. We asked them to cut pieces to add to the insert in the front cut outs. I am very happy with it and that it is finally all done. Now the floor, that is another day... My Husband said no more tile for him after that. Lol


All of this at approx. $1800.00 , including the mantle!
Added a decorated pic for Fall.
Suggested materials:
  • Tile, Sheet Rock,Plaster   (Lowes and Home Depot)
  • Granite   (Near by Granite Co.)
  • Mantle   (Craigslist Find)
Frequently asked questions
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  • DN DN on Jan 13, 2017
    You say you tried a travertine hearth but decided against it. What happened to the travertine? Was it expensive? We're you able to return it? Finished project looks very professional!
  • KD Redlowske KD Redlowske on Feb 09, 2017
    Did you have the granite professionally installed? I need to have 7 sq ft of tile installed on the floor in front of mine. The quotes I am getting are telling me that I have to pay for a minimum of two hundred sq ft for labor. I only need 4 18x18 tiles. The carpet installers chipped all my 8x8 1980 clay tiles. One corner had a very large chunk off. I can't get it repaired due to the age, do you have any suggestions?
  • Patricia Proo Patricia Proo on Feb 07, 2020

    How much does it cost to have a mantle built an who does it?

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  • Julia Sipe Bentley Julia Sipe Bentley on Jul 30, 2017

    BEAUTIFUL!!! I have a large floor to ceiling brick fireplace that I can't stand and didn't know what to do with. i can envision that look in my home! Beautiful!!!

  • Linda Dyer Cummins Linda Dyer Cummins on Jul 30, 2019

    I have an ugly stone fireplace and have wanted to change it. Thanks so much for sharing your project!! I can do this!!

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