How To Enclose The Outside Of A Brick Fireplace?

This video from Steve’s Garage demonstrates how to frame over a brick chimney, a crucial step in a fireplace renovation project. The homeowner adds a new framed wall in front of the existing brick fireplace, drywalling, and childproofing the fireplace with a fixed fireplace screen screwed into the facade. The fireplace is then built with standard house bricks, fire-rated bricks for the firebox, a clay flue, mortar, refractory mortar, and an iron grate.

To add an outlet on the exterior, an outdoor-rated enclosure can be used, which mounts to the existing surface. A poured concrete slab provides a sturdy, level pad for building the fireplace. An open-front box of cinder blocks is atop this base, and hearth blocks are placed on top.

To modernize the look of a traditional brick fireplace without remodeling, consider a simple paint job in colors like whitewashed, matte black, and shades of blue and green. The first step in the fireplace project is installing framing over the existing brick fireplace using metal studs. To complete the project, remove any loose bricks, nail the metal lath to the brick, clear the edges, take measurements around the fireplace, and lay out the fireplace.

A galvanized pipe for the chimney flue is required, at least 15 inches in diameter, to draw smoke upward. Demonstrate a brick fireplace and use plywood to create the fireplace box in areas where brick has been removed.

Can I use my fireplace without a liner?

Chimney liners are essential for all areas, including terra-cotta clay flue, stainless steel flue liner, and heat shield flue lining. Unlined brick or block chimneys should not be used to vent heating appliances or fireplaces. Local jurisdictions may require specific flue liners, and stainless steel flue liners may be required by building code officials.

If your current chimney flue has cracks or missing mortar joints, it is considered unusable. Cracks can occur from chimney fires, home settling, or excess moisture in the flue. It is crucial to fix the damaged flue immediately to prevent carbon monoxide or creosote leakage. Regular chimney inspections are recommended to ensure safety. Installing a stainless steel chimney liner is the easiest solution to repair the chimney flue without requiring a new chimney and flue.

Condensation and moisture are signs of a chimney liner issue, as excess condensation inside a clay flue can cause mortar joints to wash away over time. Condensation is commonly caused by gas and oil-burning appliances venting in the chimney.

What are the best blocks for fireplace?

When choosing a fireplace block, it’s essential to consider the properties of both cinder and concrete blocks. Concrete blocks are known for their superior heat handling capabilities, making them ideal for fireplace safety. Cinder blocks, on the other hand, offer better insulation and warmth, but they may be less durable due to their coal ash content. Despite their similarities, they have distinct properties that can significantly impact the efficiency, safety, and longevity of your fireplace.

Cinder blocks are lighter and offer better insulation due to their coal ash content, but they can be a double-edged sword in terms of durability when exposed to high heat. Concrete blocks, on the other hand, offer exceptional strength and fire resistance, making them a reliable choice for heavy-duty fireplace structures. Understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring your hearth stands strong and functions efficiently.

Can you attach drywall directly to brick?

To hang drywall over a brick wall, apply construction adhesive to the back side of the drywall, with some specifically designed for this purpose. Concrete nails are then driven around the perimeter of each piece, passing through the drywall and into the mortar joints, as mortar is easier to penetrate than brick. These nails must be driven just below the surface, allowing them to be covered later with drywall joint compound.

What do you cover exterior brick with?

Cement board and metal lath sheeting are frequently utilized materials for the repair of existing brick structures. The installation of these materials is facilitated by the use of masonry fasteners, which ensure that the material is securely anchored in place.

How do you block a brick fireplace?

To fill a fireplace with thermalite blocks and bricks, plaster over them, and ensure the chimney is capped at the top with a “pepperpot” cowl to prevent water from entering the flue. If the back of the fireplace is damp, inject it with a thoroseal tanking coat or use a rennovating plaster/skim coat like Limelight. Another option is to build a stud frame in the opening, set it back the thickness of the plaster board, and plaster over it. Blocking up a redundant fire place is possible, but it’s important to close off the chimney top and vent the flue space to prevent condensation from forming.

How to drywall over a brick fireplace?

To install drywall, start by measuring and cutting the first piece of drywall, then add evenly spaced globs of drywall compound to the back of the drywall. Place the drywall on the brick surface and use masonry nails driven into the mortar to hold the sheet in place until the compound dries. Once the compound has set, finish the job by using joint compound and tape to cover joints and nail holes. Danny Lipford, a home improvement expert and television personality, started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at 21 in Mobile, Alabama.

He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford, and has made over 200 national television appearances. He is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner. com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

What can you cover a brick fireplace with?

A brick fireplace can be transformed into a new look with various options. Paint can be a great way to revamp your fireplace, while staining the bricks can be a more affordable and stable option. Limewash can be used to cover the fireplace, while concrete, stucco, stone veneer, tile, or wood can be used as alternatives. Brick is a stable and affordable heat-safe building material, but it may look outdated or ready for a change. Covering a brick fireplace can breathe new life into it, requiring creativity and the work of a skilled contractor.

Some ideas include painting the fireplace, staining the bricks, covering it in concrete, sticking to stucco, adding a stone veneer, tile over it, or incorporating wood. Whether you prefer to do it yourself or with the help of a skilled contractor, there are many ways to make your brick fireplace stand out and add a new look.

Do you need a liner in a brick fireplace?

The National Fire Code mandates that chimneys be lined with brick, clay, or steel. Most homes built in the past 50 years have a clay liner for wood-burning appliances, while older ones may have clay or brick. These liners are typically 8 inches by 8 inches or 8 inches by 12 inches, which is an acceptable area for drafting a fireplace. A round liner can cut the draft area in half, requiring small fires unless smoke is coming back into the house. Steel liners may require 5 or 10 minutes to warm the flue before lighting a fire.

The fire code requires chimneys to be repaired or replaced if they constitute a fire hazard. An inspector may identify a hairline crack in a clay tile liner and suggest a $2000 to $3000 steel liner, often if their company installs these liners. If the flue is not severely damaged, a new liner may be necessary.

Some common times when a steel liner is recommended include installing a wood-burning insert inside a fireplace or a free-standing wood stove, ensuring smoke is not coming back into the house from the chimney, or if a chimney fire has not been resolved rapidly and caused extensive damage to the chimney interior.

Do outdoor fireplaces need a flue liner?

A gas-fired fireplace requires exhaust vents, while a wood-burning outdoor fireplace requires a smoke chamber connected to a chimney with a spark arrester. To increase airflow, vents or flue liners should be used in these fireplaces. Direct vent gas appliances take fresh air from the outside into the hearth unit, while discharged air is transferred outward via a flue system. Most direct vent gas fireplaces vent to the outside, away from the user.

Outdoor wood fireplaces also need vents to enhance draft, strengthen the fire, prevent smoke inhalation, and prevent chimney fires. Vents can be used vertically through a chimney or away from the user.

Is it safe to drywall over a fireplace?

Diffuse drywall is not suitable for fireplace insert surrounds due to the combustible cover paper that can be dries from radiant heat from pellet or gas inserts. PermaBASE Building Products has developed a wall heat shield system using ½” PermaBASE or ½” PermaBASE PLUS® cement boards, both listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for use with UL-listed solid-fuel and fireplace stoves. These cement boards have been tested according to the UL 1618 Standard for Safety for Wall Protectors, Floor Protectors, and Hearth Extensions.

How to update a brick fireplace on a budget?

Enhance your brick fireplace by turning it into a focal point that blends with your existing decor. Paint it in a neutral or bold tone, refrashen it with a German schmear or concrete skim coat finish, or add dimension with a modern or antique mantel surround or a reclaimed floating wood mantel. Explore brick fireplace makeover ideas in various styles, from traditional to transitional, modern, and farmhouse. For a contemporary feel, paint a large brick fireplace white, while a midcentury modern-style brick fireplace is decorated with a trio of black-and-white photographs.