When we moved into our new house, there was a long list of jobs that needed to be done in terms of updating and remodeling, but nothing stood out more than that ugly pink fireplace that dominated the center of our living room. It was one of our first projects and our neighbors were amazed at the difference it made in the way our house felt when you walked in the door. Since then there have been many more fireplace remodels in our neighborhood. You can spend anywhere from $100 to $20,000 to upgrade your fireplace, so it’s best to consider both your budget and goals. Here are some suggestions:
painting the fireplace — Do you have a tight budget? A fireplace made of brick can be painted either in its raw brick form or even if someone has already painted it another color. If you like the overall look of your fireplace, painting is a good option. There are many colors available that will blend nicely with the other colors in your room. Be sure to use paint that can withstand high temperatures. One vendor that sells products specifically for painting a fireplace is Brick-Anew. Painting was not an option for our fireplace as the tile hearth was chipped and needed to be replaced or repaired and we were not happy with the overall look of the fireplace. Also, there are a lot of people (including us) who really don’t like the look of painted brick.
Another option that can sometimes work with the right house and the right chimney is plastering. American Clay sells a natural clay plaster that can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including brick or even well-bonded paint when using their special primer. Unlike traditional plasters, the American Clay product can be reworked for quite some time after installation, making it very forgiving to the hobbyist.
chimney lining — If you want to take the project to a whole new level, you can dramatically change the look of a fireplace by using different materials on the outside face of the fireplace. You can create a sleek, high-end look with marble slabs, a modern look with concrete slabs, or a handcrafted look with small tiles in different shades and complementary millwork. You can add a shelf or remove one. You can change the shape or size of the mantel to give your fireplace different proportions. Another option is plaster or plaster on parts of the fireplace. If the mass of the fireplace is too much for the room, you can reduce it by adding drywall or paneling to the exterior. There are even stone and brick cladding materials that are fairly easy to apply and can give your fireplace a very traditional look.
The important thing to remember when repairing a chimney is to understand your local code. Combustible materials, such as wood shelves and paneling, should be kept a certain distance from the firebox (generally 6 inches or more). The building code also limits how far these materials project from the face of the chimney, how large the chimney extension must be, etc. Codes vary by country; it is important to evaluate your project in relation to the current codes in your area.
This project can cost you anywhere from a few hundred dollars (to do it yourself) to as much as $10,000 depending on the materials you use and the extent of the work required.
complete remodel — Do you need your fireplace to integrate more fully into your living space? Do you need ways to incorporate shelves, drawers, a flat screen or LCD TV, and AV equipment into your living space? You may want to build an integrated entertainment center with your fireplace. This is a high-end custom cabinetry project and is your most expensive option, but the results can be amazing.
Regardless of the size of the project you decide on, be sure to take into account any changes you are planning to the living space. Thinking of painting or buying new furniture? What is the style of your house and its existing furniture? Does the mantel need to be painted or are there other natural woods in the house that you would like to match the fireplace? Linking the look of the fireplace to the style of your home makes it a stylish accent rather than an oddity like our pink fireplace was before it was remodeled.
