How to Put Tiles Around a Fireplace

Measure your fireplace surround and cut the backerboard to fit. Spread construction adhesive to the existing fireplace surround and put the backerboard in place. Screw the backerboard into the surface behind it using screws appropriate to the material (masonry screws for brick, metal screws for metal). Cover the seams between each piece of backerboard with 2-inch gummed tape and then cover with a coat of heat-resistant thinset mortar. Skip this step if your existing fireplace surround is brick in good condition.

Spread heat-resistant thinset mortar on the fireplace surround close to the inside edge. Comb the thinset with the edge of a notched trowel. Press the tiles into the thinset, using a straight edge to keep them straight. Place tile spacers between the tiles.

Spread and comb thinset and push tiles into place until the entire fireplace surround is covered. Drive 8d nails into the backerboard near the bottom to support the bottom row of tiles. Let the mortar dry overnight.

Remove the spacers from between the tiles. Spread heat-resistant grout over the tiles with a grout float, pressing the grout in between the tiles. Scrape the excess grout from the tiles with the edge of your grout float.

Wipe the tiles with a damp sponge when the grout has begun to dry. Joint the grout by running the corner of a damp sponge along each grout line, creating an even depth.