How to Design & Tile a Contemporary Fireplace

Creating a Tile Design

• 1

  Measure the areas of your fireplace that you intend to cover with tile. Review local building codes to see how close you can place tile to the firebox before creating a design.

• 2

  Peruse a variety of different tiles you think you might like to use in your design. Select large tiles, subway tiles or bold mosaic tiles to create a more contemporary look. Stick with a single color of tile or mix up a neutral, like white, with a bold color like red to make a more striking, contemporary look.

• 3

  Sketch out on graph paper each side of your fireplace where you plan to put tile. Make each square of the graph paper equal to a standard amount of space. For instance, if you're planning to use 4-inch square ceramic tiles to create your design, make each square on your graph paper equal to 4 inches square.

• 4

  Create several different designs until you find the one you like. Practice with different patterns as you sketch. Straight horizontal and vertical designs utilizing the grout lines as bold design elements are often found in contemporary designs.

• 5

  Create a dry layout for the tile directly on the floor. Review your design to make sure it's exactly the way you want it before applying the tile to the fireplace.

Tiling the Fireplace

• 6

  Cover any elements of the fireplace, such as the mantel, which you don't want to cover with tile, using masking tape or painter's tape.

• 7

  Mix up a batch of thin-set mortar. Apply it evenly with a finishing trowel over any rough areas, such as brick, on your fireplace to create a smooth finish on which to lay your tile. Let it dry per the manufacturer's instructions.

• 8

  Use the width measurement you took previously to find the center of the fireplace. Draw a center line using a straight edge and a pencil at this point.

• 9

  Cut a 1-by-3 to the width of the fireplace, using a circular saw. Hold the 1-by-3 against the firebox, so the top of the board is flush with the top edge of the firebox. Check to make sure the top of the firebox and the board is straight using a level. Use a drill to screw through the board into the fireplace. Use masonry screws to attach the board to the fireplace. This is your ledger.

• 10

  Mix up another batch of thin-set mortar per the manufacturer's instructions. Use a notched trowel to apply a line of mortar across the center line right above your ledger. Place the first tile on the ledger, so it's centered over the center line. Push and wiggle the tile into place gently until it's set in the mortar. Place a tile spacer against the tile where there will be adjacent tiles, if desired. Install the rest of the row.

• 11

  Apply more mortar. Install the rest of the tiles above the ledger. Use the level to make sure your tiles are straight and plumb periodically.

• 12

  Remove the ledger board. Measure from the bottom of the leg of the fireplace to the bottom of the tile at the top of the fireplace. Measure one of the tiles you're planning to use on the leg. Add 1/4-inch for a grout line. Divide your leg measurement by the tile and grout measurement. The decimal is how wide the final tile at the bottom should be. Rip a 1-by-3 to size. If you're using a variety of different tiles, lay out the tiles to figure out the size of the bottom tiles.

• 13

  Place the boards at the bottom of the fireplace flush against the floor. Drill through each board into the fireplace. Use masonry screws to attach the boards to the fireplace. Repeat the process on the second leg.

• 14

  Mix up more thin-set mortar per the manufacturer's instructions. Apply a coat of thin-set mortar to the surface of the leg with a notched trowel.

• 15

  Place the first tile against the edge of the fireplace, flush with the side and the top of the board. Press and wiggle gently to set the tile in place. Place a spacer next to the tile where any adjacent tile will meet, if needed. Lay the next tile. Repeat the process until every tile is laid on that leg. Repeat the entire process on the second leg.

• 16

  Remove the boards along the bottom. Use a tile saw to cut the bottom trim tiles to size. Butter the back of the trim tiles with thin-set mortar using the trowel. Press and wiggle the tile gently into place, leaving room for the grout lines. Let the grout harden and dry overnight per the manufacturer's instructions.

• 17

  Prepare a batch of grout per the manufacturer's instructions. Apply grout with a grout float on a diagonal across the entire surface of the fireplace, pushing the grout in between the tiles. Use one edge of the float to scrape across the surface of the tiles and remove any excess grout. Wipe away any excess grout on the surface of the tile with a damp rag. Let the grout dry overnight per the manufacturer's instructions.

• 18

  Buff out any remaining grout haze on the surface of the tiles with a dry rag once the grout has dried completely.