DIY Restoring a Fireplace

Cleaning

• Over time, a fireplace can develop soot stains on the surround and develop a generally unclean look. In some cases, cleaning the outside of your fireplace can be all of the restoration you need. Wear protective latex gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes from chemicals and any flying debris. Use a stiff brush and a compound consisting of water and tri-sodium phosphate. Mix the compound based on the manufacturer's instructions on the container. The cleaning process can get messy, so lay down drop cloths to protect your floors and wear old clothing.

Mantle

• Some fireplace mantles go up both sides of the fireplace and then have the shelf piece that goes across the top. Other mantles consist of only the top shelving unit. Wooden mantles can sometimes be sanded and refinished to give a new look, but you will have to be careful that you do not damage your walls. Mantles can be made from wood, marble, metal or vinyl. Your mantle may be installed as a part of the wall or it may be hung to the wall like a bookshelf. Before you begin demolishing your mantle to remove it, analyze it to determine a safe and less destructive way to remove the old mantle and to reduce the amount of work you have to do to install the new one.

Surround

• The surround is the surface around the opening of the fireplace that is commonly made of brick, stone, marble or some other non-flammable material. According to the Bricks and Brass website, the surround is often attached to the wall around the fireplace using metal screws or bolts. Some finish work hides the bolts, but they can be found using a small metal detector.

Hearth

• The hearth is the stone, tile or concrete slab installed in front of the fireplace. It is designed to provide protection to your rugs and wooden floor from embers and the heat of the fireplace. A brick or concrete hearth is installed into the floor and would need to be completely removed to be replaced. If you have a concrete hearth, then you can save money and time by covering it in new tile as part of your DIY fireplace restoration project.