204 SharesWelp, this is probably one of the biggest DIY projects I've ever decided to undertake: makeover our floor to ceiling red brick fireplace. When we first bought our house, I was SO excited it had a real deal fireplace!

I know to many reading this, that may not sound very exciting; but I grew up, and still live in, South Florida. Fireplaces are few and far between. Figuring out how we were going to paint this old brick fireplace from the 1970s was a top priority. This may sound silly, but I've always wanted a fireplace that I could decorate for all the holidays. I'd imagine setting up little pumpkins on the mantel and hearth, covering it with Christmas lights and evergreens, and just reveling in it's cute character.Since our fireplace hadn't been touched since the 1970s, the red brick had a lot of efflorescence mineral deposits (the white stuff) and dust and soot than I even realized until we got in there. Let's just say that an this fireplace makeover that was supposed to be an “afternoon” or “weekend” project quickly turned into a two month long project! Granted, we did more than just repaint the fireplace brick, we also redid the fireplace mantel and tile hearth.

Watch the video to learn how to repaint your red brick and see the fireplace makeover before and after!While remodeling our old fireplace, we made every mistake in the book. Which means you are in exactly the right place, because if there is a mistake to be made when it comes to re-doing a fireplace, we probably made it! Since we remodeled the entire floor to ceiling fireplace, I'm breaking this into a three part series: 1. How to makeover red brick fireplace with paint 2. How to DIY makeover fireplace mantel with wood stain 3. How to DIY makeover fireplace hearth tile with paint instead of re-tilingSo buckle up and I'm going to take you through our wild (and depleting) but ultimately rewarding ride! You can shop all the products in this post at the bottom!

Whether you are looking to refresh your existing brickwork or are contemplating a fireplace renovation, these ideas will get you inspired. Fireplace Makeover Trend #7: Surrounding a Brick Fireplace with a Wood Mantle Surround Wood mantles that surround brick or tile create classic coziness that can stay looking smart for decades.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links and thank you to Sherwin Williams for providing supplies! Here's our fireplace before anything:Our fireplace was your traditional old school red brick. It had efflorescence build up (the white stuff on the brick), soot, and all sorts of other grime on it. The mantel was a weird greyish white wash that didn't really like nice or match our floors. Lastly, the hearth had these hideous 4×4 cracked white tiles that some previous owner had decided to put some sort of heavy black goopy grout filler in between. The black stuff they used had sprayed tiny dots onto the white tiles, the lines were uneven, and it once again, really clashed with our floors. Our plan to DIY makeover our floor to ceiling red brick fireplace, mantel, and tile hearth:We wanted to keep things budget friendly and do it ourselves.

MLB 13: The Show Review. Still the highest WAR in the league. Posted: 5 Mar 2013 3:59 pm. Fans of other teams might wince, but Sony’s long-running MLB: The Show baseball sim is almost New York Yankee-like in its ability to deliver a playoff-caliber product every year. MLB 13 The Show is a realistic baseball game that allows players to feel the MLB experience with moments such as when you're called up to the majors, a sacrifice fly to left field, or crushing a. MLB 13: The Show is another winner in a series that’s easily the best baseball sim since EA’s since-shuttered MVP Baseball line. All this publication's reviews Read full review. Mlb 15 the show review.

After all, we just moved into our new home and we believe in only doing small inexpensive projects to start, until you've lived in a place for a while and know what the real priorities. We may want to do a heavier makeover of this fireplace in the future with drywall or stone, but for now we decided to keep our budget small and makeover the fireplace with paint.In order to do this, we decided to paint the red brick, strip and stain the mantel, and paint the tiles on the hearth. Yes, you read that right, we decided to paint the tiles (more on that in post 3!) DIY Painted Brick Fireplace Makeover On A Budget Preparing the fireplace brick surface for paint: Step 1: Hand Vac & Wire brushingAs with everything related to paint, preparation is key. I'm not going to lie, this took us about a week or so to get just right.

We started off by g the bricks. I'd recommend using a to first get the top coat of loose debri off the brick before the wire brushing, because let me tell you, A LOT is going to come off.We decided to skip the initial vacuum because we figured we'd have to vacuum again after anyway and wanted to cut back on the step. You can totally follow our lead on that (skip the initial vacuum), but please please please if you do, it's even MORE important to wear safety goggles and a face mask (we didn't).What to expect while wire brushing:While wire brushing, SO much stuff is going to come off.

This is labor intensive (and if you aren't stripping a mantel too, will be the most labor intensive part of this project). We scrubbed and scrubbed and the more we scrubbed, the more it seemed like the bricks were disintegrating beneath us! Finally, we got it to a place where I felt okay about it – not great, but okay. Step 2: TSP & WaterWe decided to wipe the whole thing down with TSP and would get to priming the next day!

Only we woke up in the morning and the efflorescence was still pretty prominent. I went down a google rabbit hole in panic and just continued to panic. We HAD to get the efflorescence off! Everything I read basically made it sound like if we didn't get this off, in a few years our paint would be peeling. The LAST thing I wanted to deal with was doing a botched job on preparation, then have peeling and chipped paint we'd have to go back over down the road. What is efflorescence?Efflorescence is the white residue on brick. It's basically when a soluble solution, like water, permeates the bricks, or any masonry, and evaporate on the exterior.

It leaves behind a chalky white deposit of salt residue on your fireplace. How to get rid of efflorescence:So after watching a few Youtube videos on how to get rid of efflorescence, I decided to make a solution of baking soda, alcohol, bleach, and dish soap. We applied the pasty mixture with a paint brush. Let is sit for a few hours then scrubbed it off.

Oh man was that messy! Long story short, the efflorescence had gotten better, but was still there and now our fireplace had a nice white dusty residue on it thanks to the baking soda.At this point, I was near tears – WHY did I have to do that?! So we continued to water and wipe the brick, wire brush anything else off, and then did a finally hit on the fireplace with TSP once again, waited 24 hours and decided we'd prime the next day. If you are redoing your entire fireplace, including the mantel and hearth here's a tip:You'll want to work from top to bottom.

At this point, I decided to strip the mantel, figuring we'd get the bottom dirty and once I was done cleaning the thing, I wanted to be done cleaning it forever. Read this post for more about DIY stripping and staining your fireplace mantel. Priming the fireplace brick: What you'll need to prime your fireplace brick:.Our method for priming the fireplace brick was to paint in all the crevices around the brick, then use the roller for the brick faces. This took us a while, but with some Lizzo blasting in the background and the baby napping we were able to get the entire top done in a couple of hours. We decided to do the bottom the next day.Painting the fireplace brick: What you'll need to paint your fireplace brick:. Sherwin Williams in Extra White.Quick note: again, we were redoing our entire fireplace, so we did the entire top (primed and painted), then we redid the mantel, then we painted the bottom brick before tackling the fireplace hearth.Painting the fireplace brick was much like priming it.

We used the same method of getting into the cracks and crevices first, then rolling the fireplace brick faces. Painting the fireplace brick did go a lot faster than priming. Make sure to check out the rest of the posts in my DIY Painted Brick Fireplace Makeover On A Budget series!

AboutI'm Rachel, the founder of The Confused Millennial, a lifestyle blog sharing personal experience and advice to help other confused millennials navigate this whole '#adulting' thing on topics like careers, entrepreneurship, finance, the home, relationships and more.After earning my Master's Degree in Counseling, and landing my 'dream job' I found myself feeling completely miserable with no work-life balance. I rectified the situation by getting in touch with my passions and started coaching millennials to create their own blog or business that they could turn into a fulfilling and sustainable career. My expertise has been seen on, Fast Company, Brit + Co, Dailyworth, and more. Learn more about working together on turning your blog into a business.

Tearing out a fireplace can be both terribly messy and expensive—not to mention unnecessary. Read on about a more cost-efficient (and DIY!) alternative for your next room refresh.

You can repaint the walls, re-carpet the floor, and replace all outdated furniture, but leaving that eyesore of an old fireplace untouched in a room refresh will only hold your new design back. Fireplaces are natural focal points, so the condition of yours sets the stage for the whole room. Since tearing it out can be both messy and costly, many homeowners opt for a more cost-efficient alternative: fireplace refacing. This process focuses on updating just the surface of the fireplace without changing how the room’s heating operates at all. As a result, so that you can modernize the look of the entire room—all while reigning in your DIY project’s timeline and budget!

Design Options Materials

The first major consideration when committing to refacing the fireplace involves selecting the ideal materials. Today’s homeowners have many options from which to choose: Smooth concrete, new tile, granite, rustic brick, even wood can breathe new life into an outdated fireplace surround. Whether your hearth is operable or just for looks, there is a fireplace refacing material available and ideal for installation.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Concrete or Stucco

Concrete or stucco mix can be applied by hand directly to the surface of an existing masonry fireplace, then either troweled smooth or a finished with a texture to suit the space. Both DIY products come as dry powdered mixes to be combined with water when you’re ready—and very affordable supplies, at that. A bag of either concrete or stucco mix costs about $9 and will cover approximately 25 sq ft of fireplace when applied 3/8-inch thick.

Wood

Wood fireplace facing lends a warm, natural appearance to a structure known to physically keep a room toasty. Leave it unfinished for rustic vibes, or coat with stain or paint for a traditional (even crisp and clean) look. Both paneling and thin wood boards work well to cover the existing fireplace. Depending on which you choose and its variety of wood, your fireplace refacing supplies can range from less than $1 per foot of board for common 1″-thick pine to over $12 per foot of board for mahogany, walnut, and more exotic hardwoods. Before buying in bulk to reface a working fireplace, consult your local fire codes to know the limitations. The International Building Code prohibits the installation of any combustible material, including wood, within 6 inches of the sides of a working fireplace. Local fire codes vary—even be more restrictive—so if you’re redesigning the area around an operable fireplace, contact your local building authority for the rules in your community first.

Photo: airstone.com

Masonry

Masonry veneers, sometimes called “thin brick” or “thin stone,” are manufactured to look nearly identical to their real brick and stone namesakes—at a fraction of their weight and thickness. The microscopic differences between an installed veneer and the real thing make veneer a top choice for an authentic fireplace look. Depending on the brand and the pattern of brick or stone you choose (there are many), veneer sheets range in price from $5 to $15 per sq ft.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Tile

Tile is a rather traditional fireplace refacing material, available in nearly limitless choices of color and design. Install it yourself, and this option can even be affordable! Tiles range from under $1 per sq ft to as much as $15 per sq ft, depending on brand and type.

Stone

The same type of stone slabs commonly used for kitchen backsplashes and shower walls can be brought into the living space as fireplace refacing materials. Choose from slate, granite, quartz, soapstone, and more to suit your individual style, but know that the real deal will cost you. Stone slabs are pricier than other refacing materials, starting around $50 per sq ft for granite and quartz and around $70 a sq ft for soapstone and slate. That’s just a starting point, though: Costs can exceed $100 per sq ft for slabs with desirable hues and patterns!

Photo: istockphoto.com

What to Expect from Installation

As can be expected, installation varies by the type of material you choose and the look you aim to achieve. The simplest and therefore most popular refacing technique involves installing the new materials directly over the existing fireplace surround or, if there is none, the neighboring drywall. This method is suitable only when the existing materials are in good shape—that means no loose bricks or crumbling tiles, so give it a close inspection before you begin. If your current surround is in poor shape or you’d prefer that the new fireplace takes on a different size (short and squat or a grand floor-to-ceiling treatment), your first task involves disassembling the old fireplace facing so that you install directly on the drywall behind it.

Masonry veneers are designed to follow a very straightforward installation process. These adhere directly to existing masonry using a coat of veneer mortar (an adhesive compound strong enough to secure the lightweight refacing materials) that comes recommended by the manufacturer. If you want to install masonry veneers over wood or drywall, though, you must first attach metal lath to the wall; the box of materials should offer an easy-to-follow step-by-step from the manufacturer.

Wood paneling or wood boards, on the other hand, need something more to attach to. Typically, installing wood facing over masonry is a two-part process: First mount batts (thin wood boards) to the masonry with concrete screws and then install the wood facing over these with regular screws or nails. Hide any divots where you’ve drilled or hammered by filling with wood putty, and a coat of stain or paint can transform the new structure from a minimalist feature to a more traditionally sleek piece of architecture.

Tile or stone slabs require the surface beneath be very flat for installation, often accomplished by skimming the surface flat with mortar before installing the fireplace refacing material of choice. Tile and stone can even be installed directly over drywall, so long as you use the right mortar: Ceramic tile requires ceramic tile mortar, porcelain tile requires porcelain tile mortar and stone slab manufacturers may call for veneer mortar. While small tile and slab projects are DIY-friendly—say, covering the brick portion of a fireplace that features masonry nearest the fireplace opening and frames the structure with a wood surround—you may want to call in a professional tile setter or mason to at least get a quote on a fireplace refacing project that will encompass an entire wall.

Mantel or No Mantel?

Rustic fireplaces often boast bulky mantels that add to their log-cabin appeal, but a concrete fireplace without any mantel at all can look spectacular in a contemporary setting—particularly when its floor-to-ceiling height isn’t chopped by a horizontal ledge. Ultimately, whether or not you incorporate a shelf mantel in your refacing project depends on your desired style.

Similar to the use of wood as a facing material, if you want to install a wood mantel over a working fireplace, fire codes will apply. In general, a mantel that extends an average of 1.5-inches outward from the wall, should be positioned no closer than 12 inches from the top of the fireplace opening. The farther the mantel extends outward, the greater the amount of clearance it needs. Always check with the local authorities to be on the safe side.

Mantels can be made from scratch, purchased new, or even saved from another construction. If your existing fireplace has a gorgeous mantle, there’s no reason you have to get rid of it in this room refresh—it can be removed and reinstalled over whatever new refacing material you choose. Or check out secondhand stores that carry old building materials, like the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, for a deal on a ready-made mantel.

Once you’ve chosen your mantel, keep in mind that the heavy ledges must be adequately supported by attaching them with long bolts directly into wall studs to hold their weight. Beefy, oversized mantels, depending on their weight, may require additional reinforcement in the form of installing stud backers in the wall before the mantel can be hung. The extra time and care that you take ensuring a proper installation will then ease concerns about any of your home decor crashing down later, providing enough peace of mind to relax in your wholly redesigned living space.