A fireplace makeover might sound intimidating, but it’s not. Over the years my beloved fireplace has started to look a little dated and worn out. It was time to make over my fireplace!
It only takes a little time and a little effort to change the look of your fireplace, all you have to do is start with the mantle. Are you ready to make the commitment? Yes? Let’s go learn how to makeover your fireplace mantel like I did mine.
Here’s what you’ll need to make over your fireplace:
-2×4 board
-level
-paintbrush
-screwdriver
Step One: Place a drop cloth on the floor of your workspace. This makes it great to easily catch debris and other items while working. Lift the fireplace fasteners and remove fireplace doors. Dispose of it if you plan on replacing the doors, or set aside if you are planning a reinstall.
Step Two: Determine how far off the ground you want your mantel to be. Typically, mantelpieces start approximately 60 inches off of the ground. Make a mark of the desired height on your wall, and use a ruler to mark the width and then the middle point of your mantelpiece.
Step Three: Use a screwdriver to attach your 2×4 wooden beam to the wall across the drawn center point of your mantelpiece. The wooden beam will act as a support system for the mantle. Make sure to attach the beam to the wall with extremely sturdy screws, I recommend using at least ten-inch.
Step Four: Cut a flat “breastplate” from a 1×12 board. This board should be cut to find out the 2×4 support system. Attach the breastplate to the support beam again with ten-inch masonry screws.
Step Five: Start with 45-degree miter cuts on each corner of your crown molding. This will be the actual mantelpiece. After the miter cuts are complete, you can attach the crown molding to the breastplate and the wooden support beam. Use some sort of finishing nails for this step. It gives the fireplace much more of a finished look!
Step Six: If desired, you can add any trim to your new fireplace mantel (there is some running down the sides of the fireplace below). Make sure you cover your nail holes with putty (you’ll be so glad that you did!) and thoroughly sand your project down after letting the putty dry completely. Paint your mantle new now, if desired!
Step Seven: Reinstall your fireplace doors and enjoy your incredibly easy fireplace makeover!
