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| HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS, ADVICE, AND RESOURCES |
Enhancing
your Home and your Lifestyle
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Interior
Projects
Fireplace
Makeover
Hardwood Flooring
Staining Your Tile
Grout
Caulk & Caulking
Bathroom
Facelift
Vanities
& Sinks
Vanity
Tops
Faucets
Tub/Shower
Doors
Medicine
Cabinets
Floor
Tile
Electrical
& Lighting
Walls
& Ceiling
Accessories
Basement
Tips
Lighting
Techniques
Sump
Pumps
Contain Water Intrusion
Deck
& Patio
Cleaning
& Stripping
Power
Washing
Staining
Your Deck
Furnishing
Your Patio
Energy
Related Tips
Savings
for the summer
Savings for
the winter
Hot Water
Savings
Home
Security
General
Security Tips
Security
Lighting
Security
Cameras
Lock
Bumping
Storage
Solutions
Closet
(Reach In)
Closet
(Walk In)
Pantry
Basement
Out
Of The Normal
Hockey Centerpieces
Winter Cat Shelter
GIVE YOUR FIREPLACE A NEW LOOK - There are various makeovers you can give your fireplace ranging from a new mantel to a complete new look.
Before you start imagining a new look, remember that fire codes will have to be considered. Any combustible product that you might use, such as wood, will have to be a certain distance from the firebox. Your local building department can inform you of the code requiring the distances.
BRICK FRONT FIREPLACE - The options can be a complete refacing of the fireplace with marble tile or just painting the brick. Shown below is a standard brick fireplace with a pine mantel. The brick was painted and given a faux finish using teabags. The existing mantel was disassembled and rebuilt. The dental was removed and crown installed in it's place. The sides of the fascia were refinished with wood.
Another option to refacing your fireplace is to use marble. It's not necessary to have custom marble slabs made, although it is an option. One thing to consider with marble is it's softness. Unlike granite, marble is a softer material and is subject to scratching. The brick can be refaced using marble tiles as shown in the picture below.
Shown below is another option using 12x12" marble tiles and refinishing the mantel. In this project, the mantel was once again reused, but redone with oak trim. The original fireplace was identical to the one above in the "before" picture. The built out wall was added as an architectural feature to create height to the cathedral ceiling.
What you decide to do with your fireplace and how far you decide to take the makeover is completely up to you and the building and fire code book.
Next Topic: Refinishing your prefabricated fireplace
If
you're going to reface your brick fireplace with tile, make sure you
run a level down the face to locate any bricks that might protrude slightly.
If you find any, knock them down so the tile lays flat. A shiny tile
will reflect differently if not in line with the rest of the tiles,
much like mirror tiles would.
Do
not use sanded grout with marble tiles. The abrasiveness of the grout
can scratch the tile when rubbed across the surface. Keep grout lines
thin on marble tile. This draws your attention to the marble and not
to the grout lines.
At Home is presented to you as a source of information. Never attempt any project you are not comfortable with and consult your local building department for any remodeling projects you choose to undertake. If you hire a contractor, consult your State Division of Consumer Affairs and be sure to obtain a Certificate of Insurance before the job is started.
All
pages within this site are copyrighted and may not be distributed or
reproduced without the specific permission of the owner. If you are
interested in using a portion of this site, please contact the owner.
©2009 TL Home Services, LLC - TownhouseLiving.com - AtHome with
Tom