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.
This is so cool! I dream of re-doing my mantle but have always thought it would be way to expensive. I love your little spreadsheet of costs because it showed me this project doesn’t have to be too far off.
Wow – lighter and brighter! Great job.
Nice work! I love all the molding and lights! You should be very proud of yourself! Your fireplace looks much better! Lisa
well, can I just say it?
B- E- A- YOOtiful!
Great job and I love that you did for so little money.
those are the things that ‘wow’ me.
making something beautiful with so little.
again , great job.
Oh. My. Gosh. It is JUST gorgeous! I can’t believe you knocked out such a massive project in such a short time and for so little! Way to go!!
I hate my fireplace–will you come here next?!
Wow. That is so amazing. It looks fabulous. I cannot believe you did all that for under $150.
Gail, Your fireplace makeover is amazing! I love what you did to update and change from the drab to the dazzling. You must be so elated with the results. You give us so much hope…that we can accomplish just about anything no matter the size of the project.
~judi 😉
wow that is an amazing transformation! i love the new look! i would be standing in front of it all the time and never get anything else done! lol
WOW! What an awesome job you did on that! Simply amazing what you can do!
You certainly deserve a break after that huge project.
Kudos,
Rose
You should be so proud!
All by yourself too!! ….I am woman hear me roar!
Well done!
Candace:)
Gail, it’s beautiful! You did such a wonderful job, and I think that $149 is an incredible bottom line! So happy for you. Now you can look at it and think happy thoughts instead of of dark, dirty thoughts. Uh, wait. You know what I mean. (I’m such a dork! That came out wrong. 😉
Wow! you did an incredible job! Not sure how I stumbled onto your blog, but been blog stalking you throught your process of rebuilding your fireplace. It’s beautiful. LOVE! Will be checking out some of your other projects. Thanks for sharing!