Homeowner Forum / Repair / January 2009

You can paint brick.   Why not try that first in case
it meets your needs?

Paint is very common. Hard to get an cheaper and easier than that.

Looks like a good candidate for tiling.  I have seen some beautiful
fireplaces done in regular ceramic tile - nice handpainted tiles, or
patterns in the tile, etc.  Not sure why you would want backerboard
unless you are worried about an uneven surface.  -- H

I'd get a mantle with sides down to the floor (looks like you have about 4
inches there?).  This would be flush to the sides but not over the brick
(check code, your sides are quite minimal as it is).

Then probably tile the bottom part where the base extends, since that's the
main 'bad' there.  Also, the base isnt very high.  Not sure on code specs
where you are but I've not seen any that low here.

I wouldnt paint it if you plan to ever use it.

It's not very attractive as is, but I think a lot of the problem is
that the paint around it is just too light.  The contrast is too
great.

I'd pick out one of the lighter colors from the brick (I can see
terra cotta and perhaps peach) and paint at least the wall
behind the fireplace.  You're definitely on the right track
with the color of the accessories on top.

A mantel would be nice; the fireplace looks a bit like a face with
no eyebrows.

As other posters have said, painted brick looks terrible.  I wouldn't
go that way.

If you're determined to have a completely new look, then go ahead and
reface it or replace it.  However, if that doesn't work out (time,
finances,
code, etc.), you always have the cheap and easy option to try a
different
color on the wall behind it.

Cindy Hamilton

Nobody else said it, so I will. That fireplace looks like a metal
prefab, and that brick looks entirely decorative, and probably
removable. (Looks a lot like my faux fireplace.)  Is your outside
chimney brick, or sided like the house? What year was house built,
and/or the fireplace installed?  Hard to say without a closer look, but
I'd almost bet all that brick would pop off there in about 20 minutes,
including the hearth. It would then just be a matter of building back
with something fireproof in a color you like. Only likely code issues
would be the required air space around the tin box, and required
distance of non-flammable materials for hearth and surrounding the
opening. Likely there is already backerboard behind the brick on the wall.

But I could be wrong.
--
aem sends...

I'm sorry, man, but that is one ugly fireplace. I don't suppose you can sue
the prior owner, because you bought the place. I can think of a few simple
things.

1.  Put some dark paneling on the wall right behind.  That might lessen the
impact of the bricks.

2.  Those bricks must have been color-enhanced somehow.  See what a bit of
sandpaper will do.

3.  Paint the bricks with whitewash or limewash.  You'll have white bricks
for a while, but the whitewash/limewash wil shrink and peel over time, and
leave a very attractive brick surface.

4.  A mantel is a good idea.  You can make a decent one from 2x8 pine with
some braces cut from the same board, then fancied up with a jigsaw.

5.  Offer it to the next movie company to do a remake of the Brady Bunch.
Take the proceeds and move to Tucson, where you can learn the joys of adobe.

6.  Or stay in CA, and explore the real joys of a doobie.

7.  A stick of dynamite or a bit of C-4 is a last resort. Blow that mo-fo
out of there and claim it as a chimney fire.

good luck

I tiled over mine that was similar to what you have.  I didn't have
the raised hearth to deal with but you could tile that as well or wrap
edges with wood of your choice.  Of course check the code but I doubt
it would be an issue because you would be adding the would to the
outside edges of the hearth and not reducing the non-flammable area.

They way I attached my tile to the face of the brick was with good old
Liquid Nails.
Ran a good thick bead on the back of each tile
Pressed in place then pulled it off
put back in place and let go

Not a one has even thought about coming loose.  I used tiles with
straight edges and didn't bother leaving a grout space, just butted
them together.  Nothing that is going to win me a design award but way
better than most of the crap you see on HGTV.

Disclaimer: I have only used my fireplace once since I 'glued' on the
tiles a year ago but I doubt the minimal heat is going to affect
Liquid Nails if you use yours regularly.  If it does then mix up some
mortar and slap them back up.

Cheap & easy way to cover up some ugly brick.