Refacing a Brick Fireplace with Marble Tile

You can transform a room with a new fireplace design, especially if the change is dramatic or seriously overdue. Even if you hang the most exquisite landscape wall decor painting or fleur de lis metal wall sculptures above the mantle, an outdated brick fireplace can be an eyesore in any room. Updating it with new tile is a prime example of how you can make a major improvement in your home without spending thousands of dollars. Here are some basic steps for refacing a brick fireplace with marble tile, a stylish and modern addition to any room.

Necessary Materials

Necessary materials for this type of project include, but are not necessarily limited to the following tools and building materials:

•  Trowel and thin set
•  Straight edge or other means of keeping a straight line and measuring tape
•  Grout and grout float
•  Pencil
•  Caulk
•  Tile saw
•  Marble tiles

Do your homework before you start a renovation project such as this, so that you know if you will need any additional building materials. Taking a few minutes to do research can save you both time and money later. This will help to ensure that you can fix minor errors and be prepared to finish the project quickly and efficiently.

Basic Instructions

•  Use thin set or something similar to create a flat, even surface for your marble tiles. Refacing a brick fireplace with marble tile is not a very hard task, but it can be a bit time consuming. Let the thin set dry for at least a twelve hours or whatever length of time is indicated on the product packaging.
•  Take measurements to determine the height of the refaced area, and then measure each side of the fireplace, as if each side and the top were three different zones. You will be adding marble tiles to each area separately to create a beautiful look.
•  Use floor space to create the basic layout of your refacing, laying the marble tiles in the same positions that will be used during installation. Cut and mark the tiles so that you can easily transfer them to the fireplace when that time comes. Start with the top portion, and then work with the sides.
•  Install the top portion of your marble tile to the ready fireplace, using thin set to adhere the tiles. When you have finished, allow the marble tiles to become fully adhered by waiting at least a full day to apply the grout, wiping messes with a damp cloth.
•  Use caulk to compensate for common house settling, placing it in the vertical sections, around the fireplace hearth, and down the tile leg edges. This will ensure a long-lasting and beautiful refaced fireplace.

Final Tips

Make sure that you do not use too much water near your grout, or you will lose the color that you have chosen. Dampen a sponge to clean excess grout or messes, but do not scrub the area. Keep the water to a minimum, and do not overlook time for drying before you move to the next step. As a final note, it is always easier to read instructions before beginning to avoid making mistakes.