How to Resurface a Brick Fireplace
The need for resurfacing a brick fireplace may arise if it starts to look outdated, cracked and faded in a room. Barring the need for extensive repairs such as brick replacement or fireplace restructure, you can resurface a fireplace brick in a very simple and cost effective manner by making simple surface repairs to the cracked mortar and by cleaning the faded surface and the build-up of soot to the bricks.
What you will need:
- Safety gear
- Plastic sheeting
- Wire brush
- Chisel
- Broom
- Water
- Dish detergent
- Salt
- Clean rags
- Scrub brush
- Mortar
- Trowel
- Wooden stick
- Place plastic sheeting around the work area to protect the flooring around the fireplace before you resurface a brick fireplace. Cover surfaces to prevent them from becoming covered with mortar dust and cleaning detergents. Ventilate the room well before you begin.
- Use a wire brush and briskly brush the surface of the bricks to remove as much of the loose mortar as possible. Utilize a scraper or a non-metallic chisel to help loosen damaged mortar pieces to a depth of ½ inch until more stable mortar appears.
- Use water to completely soak the bricks and ensure that throughout the cleaning process that the bricks remain soaked with clean water. Doing this will stop penetration of the cleaning solution into the bricks where it will cause damage.
- Prepare a cleaning solution by combining 1 part of salt with 1 part of a grease-removing dish detergent. Combine water into this mixture to create a thin paste.
- Apply this paste to the brick surface using a rag. Work from top to bottom and use a scrub brush for stubborn areas. After cleaning the entire area allow it to dry for 10 minutes.
- Soak a clean rag in water and use it to rinse away the cleaning mixture from the brick surface. Remove all traces of soap from the brick or it will leave a hazy whitened appearance on the surface.
- Prepare the mortar as instructed in the manufacturer’s directions. The finished mixture should have a pliable, not thin and runny consistency. Leave the mixture to set for an hour and then add water to make a workable mixture.
- Saturate the mortar joints with water and allow a little time for the water to absorb. Use a trowel and press some of the mortar mixture into the joints and damaged areas. Layer the mortar about ¼ inch thick and allow to dry.
- Create layers of about ¼ inch thicknesses into all damaged areas and allow to dry until you can press your thumb into the joint without it breaking. Use a wooden stick to manipulate the mended joints so that they resemble the others.