Do It Yourself Fireplace Facade

A brick or stone fireplace surround adds a certain classic appeal to your fireplace. Not all fireplaces are encased in brick, though; this is especially the case with gas fireplaces. If you long for that classic brick look but wish to avoid lots of construction, you can create a fireplace facade. The facade adds the illusion of a fireplace totally encased in stone or brick, but is merely stone veneers adhered to the surrounding wall. The process should only take a couple days and will dramatically alter the look of the room.

Builder’s felt
Staple gun
Metal lath
Hammer
Nails
Veneer mortar
Trowels
Water spray bottle
Stone or brick veneer
Grout bag
Brush

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the current fireplace surround with builder’s felt. Use a staple gun to hold the felt in place, working from the bottom up. Overlap the felt at each pass.
- 2
  Nail a metal lath over the felt.
- 3
  Cover the lath with veneer mortar. Start at the top and work your way down. Cover the lath with a half inch of mortar all the way across. Once covered, score the mortar horizontally with a notched trowel. Allow the mortar to dry for 12 hours.
- 4
  Spritz the back of each stone with water. Apply mortar, a half inch thick. Make a narrow groove in the mortar with the tip of the trowel.
- 5
  Place the veneer into the desired position; wiggle it a bit to ensure it sticks to the scored mortar. Repeat the process until all stones are in place. For best results, start with the fireplace opening, then the perimeter and then fill in the field.
- 6
  Clean the joints in between the stones and allow 12 hours for the mortar to set.
- 7
  Apply mortar in the joints using a grout bag. Allow the mortar to dry for an hour. Wipe away any excess. Use a brush to add a natural look, if so desired. Allow 12 hours for the mortar to set and your fireplace facade is complete.

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