Brick Fireplace Makeover
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1980’s Ugly Brick Fireplace Makeover with lumber and paint.
I’m so happy my brick fireplace makeover is done! It makes me smile every time I look at it.
1980 Dark Brick Fireplace with Stone Mantel
Wow! Isn’t this brick fireplace makeover amazing? How did I put up with that look for so many years?
Fresh White Fireplace and Mantel
How to Paint a Brick Fireplace
Meeting Challenges Head On
This is the right side of the hearth before. . .
After I enclosed the hearth with underlayment. That ugly floor area is no longer visible!
A look at how I used the thin plywood to make a new facade over the brick.
After which I added a 1×6 for the brick fireplace makeover.
Boxing in a Stone Mantel & Hearth with Thin Plywood
I love the new look so much!
I always, a.l.w.a.y.s. hated the concrete hearth. It was suppose to be stone, not two slabs of concrete with a seam.
Adding and securing wood trim pieces.
White Brick Fireplace with Black Firebox
Please remember I am not a decorator. I used what I have at the house to show off my new mantel. I’m sure I will change it up many, many times before I settle in to something I really like.
Below is the cost break down. It’s more than I expected, but overall, I guess it’s not too bad.
Cost of Brick Fireplace Makeover
Would I do it again?! You bet! I was so tired of all that dirty brick and concrete!
- Crown Molding (mantel) 8.96
- Crown Molding (ceiling) 12.32
- Lauan 2 sheets 10.28 ea 20.56
- 1/2 x 3/4 Molding (2 pieces for mantel, 1 for hearth) 8’, 8’, 9’ .42 lf 10.50
- 2×4’s 9’ free (curb finds) -0-
- 1×4’s (3) 6’ 2.78 ea 8.34
- Screen pine trim 24’, 40’ .59 lf 37.76
- 1×6 (2) to cover sides of brick on left and right sides 6’ 5.27 ea 10.54
- Quarter round 9’ .42 lf 3.78
- Kilz 1 gallon 12.00 (estimated) 12.00
- Semi gloss paint 1 gallon 12.00 (estimated) 12.00
- Black paint 1 qt 7.55 .55
- Wooden applique free (thanks Jamie) 0-
- Vent 5.00
- Glass shades for light fixtures 2 free (thanks Sherry) -0-
- Misc (caulk, spackling,nails, wood glue, liquid nails)
If you have any questions, comments please contact me through my e-mail or a comment below.
Updates Through the Years
EDITED TO ADD: As of Summer 2010, my fireplace mantel looks like this:
The fireplace screen? It was brass, and I painted it! See how to paint a brass fireplace screen.
This has to be my favorite project of all time. I wanted a change for so long and I did it all myself (from scratch). It still makes me smile when I look at it!
No fireplace, no problem: Make a Faux Fireplace Mantel
Christmas 2015 See the easy shutter fireplace screen here.
How about another update? Summer 2019, AFTER I installed floating laminate flooring! See the easy window project here.
You can check out my other posts here:
how to faux wood mantel
painted brick fireplace
give a brick fireplace a wooden facade
adding trim to a wooden fireplace facade
If your fireplace just needs a paint update, be sure to check out Thrift Diving’s How to Paint an Old Brick Fireplace.
Gail, I love this transformation and am looking to do something similar with a 12ft wall of brick and a 15″ raised hearth. My concern is that I still want to use my fireplace. Was thinking of switching it over to gas. Are you still able to use yours? Thanks!
No, mine is no longer a working fireplace (due to the wooden hearth) If you could do some other treatment to your hearth….oh wait–my mantel is wooden also. But I guess many people have wooden mantels, right?
good luck!
gail
YOU ARE AWESOME…I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU DO…THE FIREPLACE IS BREATHTAKING…
Sooooo pretty!! White, crisp & clean. Just the way I like it 😉
Wow…you are so talented!!! That is just beautiful!
This is a beautiful transformation! Found you through House of Grace, and I’m now a new follower!
xo- Carmel
Oh my! Gail, this is beautiful! I’m amazed at all the projects you take on and how well they turn out. This is a TOTAL transformation. You are such an inspiration. I was just looking at your kitchen makeover and popped over here. Beautiful!
OH MY! I just took pictures of my fireplace in our paneled family room, my husband loves the paneling…it is suppose to be very good stuff, I just think it looks like a man cave…love your fireplace…
hope you have time to come by…I just put up pics of my kitchen and well I didnt do it quiet as professionally as you! but it does look better!
This is really a fabulous transformation! Really updated the space! Thanks for sharing!
I have been wanting to paint the wood on our fireplace since we moved in years ago. But my husband is dead set against it, as he loves the natural wood. So, I can tell you, I’m pretty jealous right now of your lovely white fresh mantel(wink) Fantastic job!
Love your fireplace. I need to paint mine too and I was just wondering what white paint you used? Brand and color. Thanks so much!
You did an amazing job – your fireplace looks fantastic.
We want to change our surround but don’t want to ruin it so are thinking about covering it instead – it’s such a good idea to do this.
~Sam
It looks so nice and fresh now. Good job!
-Danielle