How to Tile Over a Brick Fireplace
Brick fireplaces feature in many older homes. If you no longer want the brick fireplace style or you want to update this type of fireplace to something more modern or contemporary to match your home’s décor, you can tile over a brick fireplace to meet your design needs. You do not need to demolish the fireplace, but instead you can simply apply ceramic tile over the brick of the firebrick to change its look.
What you will need:
- Drop cloth
- Wire brush
- Ceramic tile
- Tile cutter
- Flat trowel
- Notched trowel
- Thinset adhesive
- 1 inch x 3 inch piece of wood
- Grout
- Grout float
- Damp sponge
- Wipe cloths
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Level
- Heat resistant caulk
- Protect the flooring adjacent to the fireplace by laying a drop cloth in front of it.
- Use a wire brush to scrub the brick and to ensure that you remove all dirt, dust and debris. Remove accumulated soot on the bricks by wiping them with a cloth soaked in a vinegar solution. Allow the bricks to dry for several hours.
- Select the tile you desire or decide on a tile design for the fireplace. Cut a cardboard design of the tile placement to help visualize the spacing and the correct measurements before you begin to cover the brick fireplace with tile.
- Remove the fireplace mantel if it has one. Mix the thinset according to the instructions and apply it using a flat trowel. Ensure that the layer forms a smooth surface, and if it does not, then apply another layer. Allow the thinset to dry completely.
- Level and screw a 1 inch by 3 inch piece of wood below the top of the fireplace opening on the fireplace surround. This will support the bricks as they set.
- Use a notched trowel to spread thinset on the fireplace surround above the support wood.
- Set tiles on the brick fireplace surround, beginning at the middle and working away from the fireplace opening and towards the top of the surround. Use tile spacers to separate the tiles and cut tiles at the edges as necessary. Remove extra thinset on the tile surface using a dampened sponge.
- Reposition the support ledge to the bottom of the fireplace so that it will support the tiles placed on the legs of the fireplace. Level and screw the support in place.
- Place thinset one leg of the brick fireplace and set tiles into it working upwards and using the support ledge for support of the initial row. Tile the other leg in the same manner and wipe the tiles with a dampened sponge to remove dried thinset. Allow to dry for a few hours.
- Remove the support ledge and tile the area it covered with tiles cut small to fit the space. Wipe with a damp sponge and allow to dry.
- Remove all tile spacers.
- Mix the grout according to instructions and use a grout flout to grout the tiles. Allow to dry overnight and wipe with a damp cloth to remove any grout haze on the tiles.
- Reinstall the mantle if removed, using heat resistant caulk on the edges.
- Allow 5 days to cure after tiling over a brick fireplace before you build a fire.