Tiled Fireplace

You can do you own home improvements by resurface your fireplace with ceramic tiles.

By using the same principles that are used in any other room of your house, bathroom and kitchen for example. So once you complete the fireplace you will have the skill and confidence to go on to bigger things.The advantage of tile is that it is easy to maintain and wears out only under extreme abuse or age and it resists dirt and grime. This is great for the fireplace soot.

What you will need: glass cutter, pliers or snipers, a sponge paint brush squeegee, grouting trowel, a notched trowel, Carborundum stone and   a clean cloth for solvent cleaning.

                                                                                                                                                                                   
Once the fireplace plan has been determined spend some time with a tape measure. Take each dimension carefully and record it accurately. To order tile consult your local ceramic dealer for help on converting your dimensions to the quantity needed.

Next frame and cover all areas of the fireplace to be tiled with wallboard (sheet rock). All joints in the backing material should be sealed with spackling compound covered with tape and spackled again. Apply sheetrock directly to the old brick fireplace with masonry nails. The wall board provides a smooth uniform surface for setting the tile. The floor area to be covered should be covered with ¾” exterior grade plywood. Keep a 1/16” space between sheets of plywood and walls to allow of expansion.

While at your local store picking find out what adhesives will work best with the tile you chose. Once home again using a notched trowel spread the adhesive evenly and thin so it won’t build up and creep out onto the tile.  Do a small area at a time so the adhesive won’t dry on you. You can also buy spacers to keep the space between the tiles uniformed in your fireplace design.
Cutting ceramic mosaics is done with ordinary pinchers or pliers. Just clip off the excess and smooth the edge with a carborundum stone. You can also use a ceramic saw that is available for rent at your local home improvement store. After all the tile is in place the job should be allowed to set for 24 hours. To permit the adhesive to cure before grouting.

Grout is now available in many colors. Once you have made a decision spread the grout over the face and work into the joints. A squeegee will help to force the grout deeply into the joints and scrapes off much of the excess. Allow to dry and use a wet sponge to wipe away the final film of grout and finally, polish with a clean dry cloth. This will bring out the beautiful luster of your new fireplace.

Since the floor area of the fireplace to be tiled on either side of the hearth is covered with plywood use an organic adhesive or the epoxy resin adhesive. Use a dry-set mortar on the cement. Again do it sparingly and evenly.

When you’re done you will have a great new fire place at half the cost of having someone come in to do it for you. Just think of the pride you will have “I tiled this fireplace myself”. I do most of my home improvement shopping at Home Depot.