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!