Brick Fireplace Makeover

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 Faux Wood 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.

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You can check out my other posts here:
how to faux wood mantel
painted brick fireplace

give a brick fireplace a wooden facade

fireplace pt 4

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.