In Part 1 of How to Build a Faux Fireplace and Transform a Room, I shared with you how we built the basic frame for my son and daughter-in-law’s new faux fireplace. With the frame built, it was time to hang the brick-looking tile. 

Locating the brick-tile wasn’t easy, but with brick in hand, we were ready for the next step. 

First, we needed to determine the layout. We needed to plan ahead so that in the end, everything would be spaced correctly. Generally, when laying tile, I start by locating the center and working out from there.

This insures that if tiles need to be cut, they are cut to the same lengths on both sides. We didn’t want a 4” cut on the right side and a 1” cut on the left. That would just be tacky. We needed to consider the vertical layout for the same reasons. 

After we had a pretty good idea where the tile should go, we simply started hanging it. In addition to the tile we also needed thin set mastic, an appropriately sized notched trowel, and tile spacers. 

The trowel size is determined by reading the packaging of the mastic and is dependent on the size of the tiles. 

We used 1/2” spacers. 1/2” for a tile grout line is somewhat unusual. Normally, a grout line would be much skinnier, especially when installing smaller tiles like ours, but, if our brick tiles were going to look like brick, we needed our grout to be fat and chunky. 

After the mastic was applied with the trowel, the brick tiles were firmly pressed into the mastic. That process was completed over and over again until we’d covered both sides of the fireplace.

With the sides completed, we started thinking about how we wanted the front of the fireplace to look. We didn’t think we’d like the finished look if we just ran the tile in rows across the front, so we tested it. We pulled out a pencil and drew tiles on the backer board. It’s a whole lot easier to erase or scribble out lines than it is to move tile. Believe me on this!

Sure enough, the look wasn’t quite right. It would have worked well with a sleek, modern fireplace, but that’s not what we wanted and in this application it just looked boring. After lots of talking, brainstorming, and drawing, we opted to offset some of the bricks around the firebox and to hang them vertically across the top. It just made the finished product look so much better!

Sometimes a little planning can save a whole lot of headaches later!

We did not tile the area where the mantel would attach. Additionally, we left a blank spot, the size of one brick, for tv cords to pass into the interior of the fireplace so they can remain hidden. If they ever decide to locate the tv somewhere else, or sell the house that hole is easy to cover by applying a single brick. 

In addition to the brick tile, we needed to finish out the firebox. Brick panelling from Home Depot was perfect. We painted it a matte black and cut it to fit the firebox. The left side and the bottom are removable giving access to the wall outlet, the cable tv cord and the cords running from the tv. The cable box just sits in the corner of the box and blends right into the black “bricks”. 

Once the tile was hung and the mastic was allowed to dry, it was time to grout. We chose a grey color that resembled traditional brick mortar. Grout is applied by pushing the grout into the crevices between the tile, then removing the excess. This is done with a tool called a float. It’s basically a rubbery trowel. Then the grout residue and haze is washed from the surface. 

This is, hands down, my least favorite part of hanging tile. In fact, I hate washing grout. It’s messy, time consuming and takes elbow grease. Though we started the grouting before I had to return home, Joseph and Jamie ended up finishing the bulk of it after I’d left. Based on our follow-up FaceTimes I suspect they now despise cleaning grout haze as much as I do! 

With the fireplace built and the tile all hung and grouted, Joseph turned his attention to the mantel. He built it out of pine, then distressed and stained it. Not bad for a kid who wasn’t going to do projects! He made his mama proud!

Finally, to add a touch of authenticity and contribute to the overall look, they added a fire grate and some logs. 

I love how it transformed their room! But more than that, I loved the time I shared with them. I wouldn’t trade that for the world!  

When he left home to make his own way in the world, he swore he’d never do home improvement projects. He’d had enough of paint and drywall, sawdust and chaos. 

When he called to ask if I might want to help him build a faux fireplace, I was excited. I always cherish time with my son and daughter-in-law and I loved the thought of helping them with a project. 

Still, even while I was buying my plane ticket, I just couldn’t help myself.  “I thought you were never going to do home improvement projects?” 

“I wasn’t. But I have a wife who likes them!”. 

I smiled. Enough said! 

Initially, the fireplace was going to have a  shiplap finish with some brick accents around the firebox. However, as we looked at ideas, it became apparent that Jamie really liked the floor to ceiling, brick fireplaces. It would be more work, take more time and cost more money, but that’s the design we settled on. 

After creating a design and determining our measurements, we created a frame out of 2 x 4’s. Essentially we built walls and attached them to the existing wall. Because the entire thing would be covered with brick, it needed to be sturdy and well anchored to the existing wall.

I wish I could say I graphed out all of the framing and created a cutting list , but that’s not quite the way it happened. With a general idea of what needed to happen, and the pressure of a tight schedule, we just started and made it up as we went along. This is definitely not the way I usually work!

We built the base much like I’d build a floor joist system. When that was completed we framed the walls, attached them to the base, then to studs in the existing wall and finally to each other. At that point, we added additional framing members where I thought we could use extra support, or where I knew they would want to hang a tv. In the end, we could climb on that thing and it wouldn’t so much as budge!

After the structure was completed, we covered the framing with DensShield. This is my go-to backer board because it’s lighter and easier to cut and install than either Hardie Backer or Durarock cement board and it’s code compliant for use in tub and shower areas, without requiring an additional water barrier.

While we weren’t concerned with water infiltration, we did want a good, stable surface on which to attach the brick. This would be a lot of brick!

At this point, it would have been good to build and and install the mantel. Building it would require tools my son doesn’t yet own and thus a trip to Jamie’s brother’s house. For this reason, and the fact that they really wanted to at least start the brick before I returned to Colorado, we decided to focus on the brick work.

Locating thin brick, in stock, on a Saturday proved to the most challenging part of the entire process.

I thought we’d head down to Floor and Decor, grab what we needed and keep right on working. In reality, we had a hard time finding any place that stocked the thin brick. Stores that did, were closed on Saturday and we simply didn’t have time to wait.

Frustrated in our efforts, we did the only thing that made sense. We took a break, consumed chips, salsa and Margaritas, and evaluated our options.

We could drive to Tucson, a couple of hours away and buy thin brick. We could order the brick and wait for it to arrive in a couple of days. Jospeh and Jamie would have to finish the project because I would be back in Colorado. Or … we could use a tile from Home Depot that looked like brick. We opted for the tile.

With our hope and enthusiasm renewed, we piled into the car and drove the mile or so to the nearest Home Depot. Even Cooper, the new puppy was included in the expedition.

Our enthusiasm was short lived. The brick would continue to plague us. That Home Depot didn’t have enough. By the time it was said and done, we’d visited six Home Depot stores across the Phoenix east valley, spent hours and hours shopping, and I’d been reprimanded by a Home Depot employee for climbing a ladder. Yes, I was too impatient to wait for help. Yes, it was October in Arizona and hot. Yes, I was wearing flip flops. Yes, I am well aware that flip flops are not appropriate footwear for ladder climbing. And YES! I know he was just trying to keep me safe and do his job, but the puppy was tired, hungry and cranky and so were we!

Somehow we persevered and when we finally headed for home, the back of the car was loaded down with tile, mastic and grout.

Another Margarita and a tasty dinner and we were back at it. After all, we had a deadline.

Next week I’ll show you the brick and the finished project!