How to Drywall a Brick Wall Fireplace

Traditional brick fireplaces don't always fit in with a modern aesthetic or even your particular taste. If you dream of something updated and more contemporary, you don't need to hire an expensive contractor to dismantle and rebuild your fireplace. Novice home-improvers may not know that a brick fireplace can be refaced, or that they can do it themselves. By covering the old brick with drywall, the fireplace has a base on which to apply paint, tile and most any other materials, transforming and contemporizing the room.

Drill
1/4-inch drill bit
1/4-inch cedar plugs
Rubber mallet
1-inch by 2-inch spruce boards
2-inch drywall screws
Level
Fine-grit sandpaper
Rags
5/8-inch drywall
Drywall saw
Joint compound
2 straight putty knives
Fiberglass joint tape
Drywall mud

Instructions

- 1
  Drill ¼-inch holes along the mortar lines between the bricks. Make the holes 3 inches deep and about 1 inch apart. Fill each hole with a cedar plug; hit the top of each plug with a rubber mallet until it is about even with the bricks.
- 2
  Cover all of the bricks with horizontal spruce boards. Line up the edge of each board with the nearest mortar line. Screw 2-inch drywall screws through the edges of the boards and into the cedar plugs behind them.
- 3
  Sand the surface of the spruce once the brick is completely covered. Make sure there are no rough or splintered areas and that the whole facing is level. Wipe the surface area with a dry rag to remove dust.
- 4
  Prepare the drywall for hanging. Determine where cuts need to be made or where a piece needs to be resized. Cut or trim the drywall as needed with a drywall saw. Hang all of the prepared drywall with drywall screws so that the surrounding area of the fireplace is completely covered and all of the seams remain aligned.
- 5
  Spread joint compound along all of the seams using a straight putty knife. Keep the application thin while covering each joint completely. Smooth each joint with the knife so that it is straight and even.
- 6
  Cut strips of fiberglass joint tape to fit each seam. Apply the strips over the joint compound while it is still damp. Work slowly and keep each piece straight and unwrinkled from end to end.
- 7
  Let the seams dry completely. Spread drywall mud over the entire refaced area with a clean, straight putty knife. Apply the first layer moderately, then add a second, thicker layer to achieve a smooth, uniform finish all over the refaced area.
- 8
  Allow the mud to set overnight. Examine the surface for any rough patches and sand these lightly. Finish your resurfaced area as you wish.

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