How to Remodel an Old Brick Fireplace to Stucco
While a traditional brick fireplace has a rustic appeal for some, brick does not mesh well with all home décor styles. If you yearn for a more modern look for your brick fireplace, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to have the old fireplace removed and a new one installed. You have the option of remodeling your old brick fireplace with stucco. Stucco is a mixture of sand, cement and lime that provides a durable coating for the fireplace that also gives it a more modern appearance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wire brush
- Washcloth
- Warm, soapy water
- Concrete bonding agent
- Stiff-bristled scrub brush
- Water-based curing compound
- Stucco
- Trowel
- Plasterer's rake
Instructions
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Scrub the surface of the brick fireplace with a wire brush. This removes loose dust and dirt particles while simultaneously roughening the brick's surface. Wipe down the bricks with a clean washcloth and a solution of warm, soapy water. Let the fireplace dry.
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2
Prepare concrete bonding agent according to the instructions on the bottle. Apply the bonding agent to the bricks with a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Work the bonding agent into the bricks and mortar using a circular scrubbing method.
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3
Spray the fireplace with a water-based curing compound. This helps the concrete bonding agent cure properly. Let the fireplace dry.
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4
Mix stucco following instructions on the bag. Spread a thin base coat of stucco over the fireplace with the trowel. The base coat should be no more than ¼ inch thick.
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Scratch lines through the base coat with a plasterer's rake. Let the base coat dry for at least 48 hours.
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Mix a second batch of stucco. Apply the second coat of stucco with the trowel. This coat can be thicker that the base coat, depending on your preferences. Apply the stucco however you wish, leaving either the plain trowel marks or creating a design with the stucco. Let the second coat dry.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase stucco in a variety of colors to suit your current decorating scheme. You can also paint stucco after it dries.
The amount of stucco you need will vary depending on the size of the fireplace and the thickness of the final application.
The thicker your second coat of stucco is, the longer it will take to completely cure.
Stucco dries rapidly. Mixing the stucco in small batches rather than all at once helps prevent the stucco from drying out before you can apply it to the brick.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
