Ditch Builder-Grade Fireplaces And Try This Creative DIY To Charm Up Your Space

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A fireplace in your home is an excellent design choice. Even if it isn't fully functional, you can utilize a fireplace as a nice focal point in the room by placing your television above it or displaying decor items on your mantle. Builder-grade fireplaces, however, can be less desirable in the home due to their pre-built facades and low-quality materials. In the worst cases, they can be a design nightmare to work around or even a safety hazard if they don't work properly. Instead of installing a new custom fireplace, look for inspiration from creative fireplace makeovers that will blow you away. If you don't have the time or desire for a professional fix, it's far easier to reuse the space and modernize your fireplace design with a fun DIY so it's more practical and functional for your home, instead of settling for the standard builder-grade design.

Another problem with builder-grade fireplaces is that their material is poor, and after a few years, they are often barely usable. It would require getting a new working fireplace in your home, which can cost a fortune. Instead, you should ditch the builder-grade fireplace in your home, insert some intriguing tiles on the inside, and incorporate an aesthetic mantelpiece to charm up your space. For this fireplace DIY, you'll need some tools for measuring, cleaning, and leveling, and cutting tile. You may also need some filler to create a flush surround, like this DAP Plaster of Paris Tub Molding. Finally, if you don't like the existing mantel, find a decorative surround, similar to this EPICOZY Fireplace Mantel Surround.

This project can be DIY'd by those with some basic handy skills, but hiring a professional may be wise in some cases. The fireplace may not be usable after adding tile, so you should have the chimney capped first. After removing the old fireplace elements, evaluate the hearth in case it needs to be leveled. You may need to use plasterboard on the back of the hearth or the surround. Your goal is for the floors, sides, insides, and top to all be level and straight. This will make it much easier to lay the tile. Check the lintel and ensure that it's in good condition before you plaster it in to make it flush for the surround. You may have to get a concrete lintel installed before using the plaster to make the surround even all around.

Next, begin installing tile on your fireplace, covering all of the floor, inside walls, and outside walls as much as you'd like for your desired look. Installing alternating colored tiles can give a cool checkered effect. You may need a tile cutter or saw to get all your tiles to fit. Depending on what your mantelpiece is made of you may need to get some brackets to secure it in place, such as these Picesa Heavy Duty Brackets, especially if it is made of heavy material like marble or stone. Finally, caulk the joints and the surrounding walls to seal to mantelpiece to them. Once everything is level, set, and dried, you can add in your accent pieces and decor for a beautifully aesthetic fireplace in your home!