Renovate a Fire Surround with Wood or Granite
Four Easy Steps to Remodel and Modernize an Outdated Fireplace
Often it suffices to just redecorate the fireplace mantle, add an elaborate, oversized mirror or rethink the hearth design. However, the time may come when the entire façade of the fireplace surround is tired, bland and outdated. When it comes to renovating the fireplace, there is a multitude of great ways to create a focal point with the fireplace, starting with the surround. Considering natural materials that are earth friendly and cost saving as well.
Understanding the Parts of a Fireplace
In a nutshell, the surround is the area to the sides and above the firebox. In most cases, these remodel jobs also include redoing the hearth, which is the floor area that surrounds the base of the fireplace. On a traditional fireplace, these areas would be the brick façade of the fireplace. Of course, the mantle is the shelf that sits atop of the firebox.
Four Simple Rules to Renovate a Fireplace Surround
For DIY enthusiasts, and fans of television shows like Moving Up or Dear Genevieve, professionals often reface a fireplace by covering over the brick with flame retardant wood, granite tiles, mosaic vitreous glass or possibly fieldstone. It is not a difficult task and in most cases, it can be done by a homeowner when a few simple rules are followed.
- The most important aspect is safety – be certain to use fire safe materials and fire retardant plywood if wood is the base used. Never use thin bead board or panel type materials that are not up to fire codes.
- Choose materials that are durable and easy to clean such as travertine, slate, granite and marble. These sumptuous materials come in slab and tile, although the slab will be significantly more expensive and will probably require a professional installer.
- With tiles, it is advisable to spend the extra five bucks and purchase a bag of tile spacers, which are placed between each tile, during the arrangement phase, to make sure all the tiles are spaced evenly before grouting. One more tip on grouting: choose a grout color that either matches the tile as closely as possible or is dark. Soot and dirt will build up and using a blended or dark grout minimizes the grime’s visibility.
- For a wood burning fireplace, be certain to leave the vents around the firebox free from cover. For a gas fireplace, make sure not to plaster or cover over the switching mechanisms. When the project involves replacing either the firebox or doors, this task should be done first before the new surround is tackled.
Use Creativity When Designing the Fireplace
Be creative with the new fireplace surround! Don’t be afraid to carry chosen materials all the way up to the ceiling to create a truly stunning focal point that will give the room the illusion of higher ceilings. This is particularly effective when using slab granite or fire retardant grooved wood.
Another option is to mix materials such as crisp white paneling below the mantle and a creamy marble tile above the mantle and framing it out in crown molding. Another hot trend is to use crown molding to frame out an elegant space above the mantle to place a plasma flat screen television. By matching the crown molding to the rest of the fireplace, the television will blend in nicely, instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.
In any room, the fireplace naturally becomes the focal point. When this important decorating niche is neglected, it makes no difference how perfectly arranged the rest of the room is; the dysfunctional fireplace becomes a distraction, and takes away from the cohesiveness and aesthetic flair of the entire space. Be adventurous and turn the fireplace wall from lifeless to the life of the party.
Stunning Focal Fireplace w/ Flat Screen TV Above
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A Lovely Room with a Focal Fireplace
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