Ideas for Fireplace Tiles
A fireplace was designed to be the center of any room it was placed in. Unfortunately, either through overuse or disuse, many fireplaces already look dingy and unattractive.
One quick way to dress them up is with the use of fireplace tiles. These tiles are made of various heat-resistant materials ranging from marble to terra cotta and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
The part of the fireplace where fireplace tiles would be laid is the surround. The fireplace surround is the arc-like structure that frames the actual fireplace.
Aside from its aesthetic function, the surround also serves to protect the wall around the fireplace from soot and heat. Thus, it is made of flame-retardant materials such as stone, brick, marble and concrete.
To apply fireplace tiles to your fireplace surround, you first have to thoroughly clean the surround; also, remove the mantel on top of the fireplace if there is one.
Then, create a template of your design on the floor to determine how you will place your tiles. Make sure the surface of the surround is smooth. Apply thinset adhesive with a flat trowel to create a flat surface as a bed for the tiles; let dry overnight.
Install a plank of wood below the center section of the fireplace surround to act as a support for the setting tiles.
Apply a coat of thinset adhesive with a notched trowel and place the tiles carefully on the surface above the support ledge, then work your way to the far edges and top. Let the tile set overnight.
Then, move the support ledge to the bottom of the fireplace to serve as support for the tiles to be placed on the legs of the surround.
Apply thinset with a notched trowel then lay the tiles from the bottom upwards, first one leg then the next. Allow to set for four hours. Install smaller tiles in the area where the support ledge was placed.
Apply grout to fill in the gaps between tiles and let dry overnight. Replace the mantle and seal the edges with heat resistant caulk. Allow the fireplace tile to cure for five days before using the fireplace.
