BUILDING A CONCRETE FIREPLACE the EASY way!!

[@marblegarden8456]

Great video! The part with your daughter made me smile too.

[@kayroland7871]

The fireplace turned out beautiful, I will be doing this in my house.

[@bohanjiang618]

Highly underrated KZbin channel! All great tips and tricks! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@thinkreno]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment

[@larryreid8562]

Love this fireplace. The heat comes out of the front so its easy to have it recessed into the wall/fireplace. Love all of the color options and it heats our living room pretty fast.

[@gismabenj8912]

30 seconds into the video and I’m sold 😆 “I have no f*ckin idea” but I’m going to try 😆😆

[@thinkreno]

That happens a lot in my house. 😂

[@unwelcomemotivation]

LOL the intro had me! faux concrete is so interesting, it's one of those things where there is no one size fits all solution, seems like there's lots of different techniques but not one tried and true method, thanks for this video! I think Australia actually has the best faux concrete products, even a paint!

[@GreenAppelPie]

instant sub

[@joshuacox5482]

You got my thumbs up for the kiddo at the end. That's sweet. And the fireplace looks great too. Great job!

[@thinkreno]

Thank you!

[@CG-sr9xg]

How do you only have 3200 subs?! Great videos! Thanks!

[@thinkreno]

Haha. I would love to have more subs! Appreciate the comment!

[@escho100]

Very informative and right to the point. Beautiful work.

[@thinkreno]

Thank you!!

[@vitozingaro6319]

Thanks for sharing very nice and neet job i like how you show the products use

[@1224ISAAC]

Beautiful job. I love it man. Thank you for your time to share this video.

[@thinkreno]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment!

[@ryancormack6934]

Looks great. Nicely done!

[@MissMolsonIndy]

Amazing end result!

[@thinkreno]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@euniemin1334]

Awesome description!!! Very helpful. Makes jobs like this less intimidating. Thank you!! 🙏

[@thinkreno]

Glad you found the video useful!

[@artelements848]

Great video! Oh that's what Durabond is for. Love your kid!! hilarious touch.

[@jesselemmon7493]

Came from Vancouver carpenter! Good video and Definitely deserve some more subs!

[@thinkreno]

Haha. Thanks. Appreciate it!

[@dchrysostom]

Amazing job.. love it .. your girl did a great job also…🇨🇦👍🏾

[@yeyatatiana2076]

Wow that looks really really good! Love that look. We have a regular fireplace but have never used it. Is hardy board fire resistant? I like that cement product you used. Adding this to my husband's project list 🤣🤣

[@thinkreno]

Thanks! And yes, hardiebacker cement board is non-combustible. But if you’re building over top of a working fireplace, I would use steel studs instead of wood studs, then screw the hardy backer board onto the steel studs and everything else would be done the same way! Hope this helps. Good luck to your husband. 😀

[@part3girl]

Mirella thanks for asking this! This is exactly what I want to do, put this over an existing brick fireplace. Think Reno thanks for the suggestions

[@dimitrilekkas2617]

This is such an awesome project and aesthetic! Just wondering how it’s held up after all this time? Any signs of cracking or wear? Any tips or things you would do differently looking back on the project?

[@thinkreno]

Everything still looks the same as the day I did it. No cracks at all. Cement board is key, though. Tried this on drywall and plywood. Both eventually cracked

[@The.buildher]

@@thinkreno does it need to be sealed (I created the same and am putting in a covered porch.

[@PlushSounds]

Nice work! We want to do the same type of application for our hearth, but will this work with a vented gas ceramic log firebox or could the heat from the fire damage the surround?

[@thinkreno]

I would try a test piece first, once you have the firebox installed

[@harishveeramani2907]

This is fantastic. Exactly what I was looking for. Great idea for an accent wall. Does this need to be sealed after the cement paint has cured and hardened ?

[@thinkreno]

Sure, you can seal it but it will darken the cement quite a bit. I didn't seal it because I liked the lighter tone. Being that it's a wall that's not going to have too much contact, I'm not too worried about sealing it, but time will tell...

[@Dentropolis]

Excellent information and production values. I’m putting in a gas fireplace for heat. The linear fireplace won’t be quite as wide as yours. I find that a mantle will be necessary to act as a heat break for the TV above it. The recessed box behind the tv is a good idea which i will use.

[@thinkreno]

A mantle is a great idea for a heat break with a gas fireplace. Good luck with your project!

[@sparkinlandry]

Beautiful ❤❤❤

[@eddieg5415]

I agree, your fireplace looks great, and I've watched this and your framing video a number of times to figure out how I am going to do mine. Wondering if you know of another concrete that will work but with a little more working time (and hopefully one that I can "stamp"--I'd like to make it look like it is poured/formed concrete. I was hoping to stamp in the look of wood forms. Thanks!

[@thinkreno]

What you need is a cement mix that can be spread under an inch thick. Most dry mix has a minimum of 2 inches. You can ask your local hardware store what they have that might work. You could potentially use thinset, but I’ve never used it for an application like that.

[@1feripe]

This is awesome. I am ready to put in the Planipatch. A few questions....what thickness do you apply the first coat? And the second coat? You sanded after the first coat? With what grit did you use?

[@thinkreno]

Both coats are about 1/8”-1/4”. Doesn’t need to be exact but you don’t want it paper thin. It’ll crack. Better to be a little thicker. And I used 120 grit sandpaper!

[@jimmybryant2465]

Great video, exactly what I needed to get started on my build... what fireplace did you buy and use?

[@thinkreno]

Glad the video helped get you started. The fireplace is a Napoleon Alluravision- 60” (Deep version). Good luck!

[@QU33NISH]

Awesome video!! Question! What do I do if the studs in my wall do not line up with the width of the frame I’m creating?

[@thinkreno]

You just need to screw the top plate and the bottom plate of your new wall to the top and bottom plates of your old wall. Doesn’t matter about lining up the studs! The plates run all along the length of your walls

[@DribblingDeon]

great job ...very informative love it

[@thinkreno]

Thanks!

[@josephcarosa2489]

Awesome video and it looks great. Any thought of putting a sealer on to add shine and potentially strength? If so do you have a recommendation?

[@thinkreno]

Hey, thanks. As far as sealers, there are many different ones you can use in various sheens, but I chose not to use any sealer because it will darken your concrete and I wanted a lighter look. But it’s just personal preference…

[@josephcarosa2489]

@@thinkreno Thanks for the feedback...Ill let you know how it turns out.

[@nicolemead363]

Amazing video! Thank you! After following all the steps with the same products we have minor hairline cracks across every seam :( Do you know how to repair these? Did you have any after letting the concrete set?

[@thinkreno]

If the cracks are on every seam and you used cement board, mesh tape and durabond, then you may have just spread out the plani patch too thin, or the wall you’re working on is flexing, which could be due to build quality

[@kleeenco]

Looks great, you should enable your likes!

[@thinkreno]

Thought they were enabled! Have to figure that out. Thanks

[@vanessabydesign]

Great video

[@miriambautista9713]

Love it can you recommend something like plain patch in a color off white

[@thinkreno]

Not aware of Planipatch in other colors but you could always paint it with the appropriate paint

[@basecampguesthouse6763]

Great video! You make it look so easy! We are thinking of installing an electric fireplace and framing it the same way you did but instead of hardy board we would use plywood. It sounds like we might be able to use planipatch directly on the plywood for the same look - is there any reason you would advise against this approach?

[@thinkreno]

I suppose you could try plywood. But the fibremesh is engineered to go over joints on cement board, as well as the durabond to adhere it. Not sure how well fibremesh (or even regular mesh tape) would hold up over joints on plywood!

[@martinicu]

This is a great tutorial. Can you tell me what the name of trowel like tool you used to apply the Planipatch? Thanks.

[@thinkreno]

Sure. It was a Marshalltown 8-inch Taping Knife

[@lindagreen7561]

This is awesome. Can it be painted white?

[@thinkreno]

Sure. But if you’re just going to paint it white, you might as well use drywall!

[@cherrybautista7660]

what Plenipatch did you use?

[@HairExperience]

Awesome job !!

[@thinkreno]

Thanks man!

[@lillithjones993]

Thank you for your video! I have a precast stone Rumford fireplace that has an insert area of 42 x 42. I want to frame it in as well and put it in a smaller version of the flame insert. The floor is cement. I’m not sure how I should attach the bottom plate to the cement and I’m curious to know how you are going to keep your fireplace from falling out of the frame how is it secured? Thanks.

[@thinkreno]

There is a faceplate around the fireplace that removes to reveal screw holes. Either on the front or inside inside the fireplace insert, depending on the manufacturer. I attach my bottom plates by using a hammer drill to pre-drill the holes in the cement and then nailing it down. If you’re not comfortable with that, you can pick up some construction adhesive and glue the bottom plate down. As long as the rest of the fireplace frame is screwed or nailed into studs on the walls and the ceiling, glueing the bottom plate is fine

[@abviper]

Hi! Great looking project as everyone has been commenting. I was wondering, did you use the mesh tape over of the screw holes or just on the cement board seams?

[@thinkreno]

Just over the seams. You can just use the durabond over the screw holes!

[@goldhour]

This looks fantastic, great work. One question, why use cement board? is that a local building code requirement? Could you use drywall instead?

[@thinkreno]

Cement board is much more rigid and so cracks are much less likely to form. It also doesn’t absorb like drywall or wood does, which also means less likely to crack

[@mcamero50]

Nice work. Clean look. Can you answer a question for me? What side did you face towards you up? The smooth side of the hardibacker or the rough side?

[@thinkreno]

I always use the roughy side. The cement or thinset has more to grab onto

[@ericjones1621]

Is that regular drywall mesh tape or the alkali mesh? I also didn't know you could use Durabond on cement board...interesting, thanks. I think it looks awesome.

[@thinkreno]

It was fibatape, so a bit stronger than regular tape, but there is a specific (and more expensive) cement board fibatape that comes in grey. Not sure if it's proven to be any better than other fibatape - could just be a marketing thing ;)

[@MrTimesetter]

Followed you over from Vancouver Carpenter. Nice work, looks awesome. Sub'd

[@CandiceD727]

Hi, great video. How long did you wait in between the first and second coat?

[@thinkreno]

About 4 hours or so!

[@CarlosLopez-iu1rq]

Will newcrete work ?

[@tonyb282]

Hello, great video. Im working on my mantel now. I have to buy the hardibacker next. I found it in 1/4 and 1/2 in sheets. Do you think the 1/4 inch sheets will work. The 1/2 inch sheets are almost double the price. Thanks for your help

[@thinkreno]

If your doing the plani-patch idea, I’d go with the 1/2”. It’s more expensive but the 1/4” can flex which could lead to cracking…

[@tonyb282]

@@thinkreno thanks

[@SP0TJ]

Do you need to use durabond? Can you just rely on the planipatch to act as the joint compound/for taping seams? I can't find durabond locally.

[@thinkreno]

I’ve tried that before, and it did eventually crack. But up to you, if you put it on thick enough, it might be OK.

[@Marvin-fn7ks]

Great video and nice work ! I am in the process of preparing to use white acrylic stucco over cement board . Looking for an old world European look. I was struggling over what to do on the corners . Either vinyl sprayglue -on square corners or using the fiber tape and try to make my own corners .

[@thinkreno]

Steel bead corners would work as well...

[@akong4909]

Hi!! This is a great video, LOVE the look of your fireplace. I am hoping to achieve a similar look but over an dated brick fireplace. We are planning on installing a wood stove into the fireplace, too, I’d like to add. Do you think this would be possible to do over a brick? Any recommendations?

[@thinkreno]

Yes, you can use a product like plani-patch over the concrete and brick, as long as the brick is cleaned up and not loose at all!

[@NiceRider]

So it’s been a while. Any issues with cracking at all? Thanks and great video.

[@thinkreno]

All good. No issues at all

[@lipi7966]

Great video & it looks fantastic! I've been looking for an easy, not as messy product to use for a concrete look & this is perfect! Would you recommend using steel studs with an electric fireplace 240v/2,500w/10.4a/8,530btu Dimplex Ignite XL Linear fireplace? With the heat generated, not sure if steel studs would be needed (saw previous comment regarding heat). TYIA!

[@thinkreno]

Thanks!... And about the studs, I’d just check with the manufacturer first and see what they recommend. I typically use wood with electric fireplaces and steel studs with gas, but I always follow the recommendations of the company

[@thejasonhargis]

Great video! Would this process work for shower walls? Thank you in advance…..

[@thinkreno]

I personally wouldn’t, but there are some good sealers out there. You’d probably need to reseal often though

[@ALBTC]

mine cracked after about a week. Joints were staggered and the cracks seem to be in random spots. Could it be that I applied the plenipatch too thick? Or something else? I followed all other instructions as per the video

[@thinkreno]

most likely there was movement, like the substrate you used wasn’t sturdy enough (1/2” cement board minimum) or direct sun hitting it. Something that would cause the wall to flex.

[@arthurr4747]

What type of fireplace did you use

[@thinkreno]

Napoleon Allure 60 inch recessed fireplace

[@Newsonpoint14]

Do you recommend Durock or hardie board because I have durock seating in my garage

[@thinkreno]

Durock would work just fine.

[@annaharris9826]

Once this cures completely does it harden like cement?

[@thinkreno]

Yes!

[@jennellkaplan1183]

Hi there! We used your video to create our own cement FP. We used 1/4" cement board, staggered seams, taped seams, etc. Applied 2 coats of Planipatch. Looked awesome, but after 24hr drytime, we noticed a few hairline cracks. Any suggestions on what we may have done wrong?

[@thinkreno]

The issue most likely is that the cement board you used was too thin. Quarter inch is obviously available but it’s very rare you’d use it. Only when you actually want it to bend or flex, like on a curved wall. You could try filling the cracks and then adding another top coat. Maybe a bit thicker. I would guess that cracks would eventually form again based on the thin cement board, but then they could just be part of the aesthetic. Not necessarily a bad thing!

[@duliskidsshow340]

She’s a sweetheart.

[@lipi7966]

Did/can you use 1/4" cement board vs. 1/2" for this application?

[@thinkreno]

1/2” for sure. You don’t want any flex or your cement can crack

[@defenedyourcountry]

Nice. What did you use for corner pieces?

[@thinkreno]

Just regular drywall corners used with durabond

[@annaharris9826]

Is there a benefit to using the fiber tape vs paper tape?

[@thinkreno]

Fibre mesh tape that is designed for cement use will give a better bond long term and prevent cracks

[@The.buildher]

I recently did this and had some darker patches throughout on my second coat! Tips to remove them or will they lighten over time? (Fireplace is not sealed over concrete) and secondly if putting under a screened porch should I seal it) thanks in advance!

[@thinkreno]

Did you use planipatch or a different product? As far as a screened porch, I would seal anything outside. It will change the color but it will last much longer

[@The.buildher]

@@thinkreno I did use planipatch it’s odd spots through out I may try a 3rd coat as some spots I wiped to much during my wipe down! Thanks for the tutorial got me through my build pretty quickly and was relatively easy!

[@thinkreno]

I’d say try not to go back over any area as it’s drying. That’s probably the cause of the discolouration!

[@annaharris9826]

How much of the 22 bag of Planipatch did you go through?

[@thinkreno]

Pretty much one full bag to do both coats

[@menniemiller5783]

Can you do just one coat of planipatch on the fireplace surround?

[@thinkreno]

You could try, but chances are it would crack.

[@porscha1563]

Wait! How did you install the speaker bar? It went by fast.

[@thinkreno]

It just hangs on a couple of screws!

[@rjwsb562]

Hey Think Reno, would this work well on a normal fireplace? Not planning on using gas or electric.... any feedback would be great. Thank you

[@thinkreno]

You could try it. My only concern would be the heat may eventually create micro cracks in the planipatch. If I were doing it I would add a couple more layers of planipatch to make sure it was thick enough to hopefully withstand the heat

[@rileypikor5677]

Can you put planipatch on drywall?

[@thinkreno]

Drywall tends to flex more than cement board, so chances are the planipatch will crack at some point.

[@vrejon101]

Great video. Just one question, what do you have your tv bracket screwed into? It can't be held up by 3/4" plywood, but I didn't see where you screwed into any studs.

[@thinkreno]

3/4” plywood is plenty strong as long as you use lag bolts to mount your tv bracket (and not just screws). But I would not use plywood that is thinner than 3/4”. Alternatively, if you like, you could double up the 3/4” plywood by gluing and screwing another layer on.

[@vrejon101]

@@thinkreno Thanks for the quick response, I should have mentioned that my TV is 85" and 100lbs.

[@solidsn8k3]

Can the planipatch be used for an outdoor fireplace?

[@thinkreno]

If you sealed it, perhaps. But you might want to do a test patch first. See how it weathers

[@ZhaoHH]

Your daughter is adorable.

[@PhilippinesScam]

how has the concrete last? I was thinking of doing this to my 16ftx8ft fireplace in my living room.

[@thinkreno]

It’s been great. No problems

[@Shaka.Vision]

Can I do this if mine is built with brick?

[@thinkreno]

Yes, for sure.

[@mikeknizner6444]

Do you think I could use gray modified thinset as a coating?

[@thinkreno]

From my experience, Thinset would eventually crack. And it’s much harder to smooth out…

[@lipi7966]

You showed doing the taped/mudded the drywall joints for the concrete backer board, but did you tape/mud the backer board to your existing drywall where it joined the wall at the inside corner joints? Or did you just apply the concrete compound directly over that joint & up to the the existing drywall?

[@thinkreno]

Yes, I taped the inside corners as well...

[@lipi7966]

Good to know, thanks. The trick will be getting the inside corners taped/mudded then to match the existing orange peel texture on those walls afterwards. (sigh)

[@lipi7966]

@@thinkreno Ok, so you taped the inside corner joints. Did you also tape/mud the ceiling joints to the cement board with the dura bond?

[@thinkreno]

I did, but I have flat ceilings. If you want to avoid having to match your orange peel, then just use caulking and paint it the same colour as the ceiling. I would mask off a straight line first before your caulk though

[@lipi7966]

@@thinkreno ok, TY. On your video, there appeared to be a gap between the ceiling & durarock where you placed tape while applying the concrete, so thought I'd ask. Not sure what to use since durabond has to be used on the durarock side & drywall compound on the drywall side, so caulking or perhaps using a plastic drywall J-channel (or maybe metal) on the ceiling & existing tie-in walls for the durarock bump out would be a nice finishing touch. No orange peel match & a clean/neat finish

[@adamrodriguez353]

Did you ever seal the planipatch? I have a similar project, but my fireplace has a hearth so it will be sat on. Thoughts on sealing the planipatch?

[@thinkreno]

Sure you can seal it, but it will darken the planipatch. I didn’t do it for that reason. Try some tests on a scrap board first. See if you like the color change

[@adamrodriguez353]

​@@thinkreno Thanks for the reply!

[@solidsn8k3]

What would you use to seal the planipatch?

[@thinkreno]

Just some concrete sealer

[@cache4pat]

I noticed in other videos, dealing with Concrete, that that they 'mist' it, to keep it hydrated to faciliate the troweling would & slow the setup time of the material going on. How is it holding up ??

[@phogettaboutyu]

How did you add outlet ?

[@thinkreno]

I explain in my Wire Splicing video: WIRE SPLICING step by step! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ_ZZaSpd85-fpY

[@joshuachristenson1521]

Is the drywall corners necessary? I’ve seen other videos where they don’t use them! Thanks.

[@thinkreno]

From my experience, if you don’t use corners, or some kind of mesh, cracks with eventually form.

[@joshuachristenson1521]

@@thinkreno thanks! I’ll definitely use the mesh at the least

[@thinkreno]

👍🏼

[@joshuachristenson1521]

@@thinkreno just finished my concrete fireplace up, turned out great! Thanks so much for the video it helped a lot!

[@thinkreno]

Awesome!

[@lewisAYR]

Would you be able to apply planipatch to drywall or would you still have to install cement boards?

[@thinkreno]

Personally I wouldn’t over drywall as PP is not meant for that (it may eventually crack). On the other hand, I know someone who did use it over drywall and hasn’t had a problem...

[@Robert-ln7yv]

Where do I get the TINTED CEMENT? Can't find it.

[@thinkreno]

I haven’t seen any factory tinted cement but you use a tinted sealer afterwards

[@manniesisneros6803]

You did real good job are you a diyer??

[@thinkreno]

Thanks. I’ve done a lot of renos for myself and for others...

[@strictlymuscles7751]

I did this over the weekend and have noticed cracking. There weren't cracks noticed after the 1st coat, only after the 2nd coat. Any suggestions on correct the cracks?

[@thinkreno]

Cracking would come from the stability of the wall. If it’s not solid the cracks will come back no matter how many coats you put on!

[@strictlymuscles7751]

@@thinkreno That makes sense. I resanded the 2nd coat and the initial cracks went away but in some spots new ones appeared as I was sanding. I realized that the cement board was flexing slightly as I sanded. It still looks great

[@gsusfreek57]

How many bags of the Planipatch did you need? Just the one 22lb?

[@thinkreno]

I used about 1 1/4 bags, but my fireplace is 8 ft wide and 9 ft high, so pretty big but most standards...

[@sdapo]

Would planipatch work well with a gas fireplace? Will the heat cause it to crack?

[@thinkreno]

I’ve had people tell me they’ve done this with gas fireplaces and didn’t have any cracking issues. But you can also tile over planipatch, which is what I would’ve done had it not held up. so far it’s still perfect. I still might tile one day if get bored of the look and want to change it up.

[@thien8124]

What’s the best way to fill in the small gap between the wall and backboard?

[@thinkreno]

I just use a bit of clear caulking (not silicone). You want to be able to paint it if necessary

[@danaa.1093]

When you removed the old fire place was it a gas one?

[@thinkreno]

Yes, it was. But we rarely used it since we have radiant floor heat, so I installed the electric one instead so we could have the ambiance of a fire going without any heat coming out. I actually ran the gas line out to my deck for my barbeque.

[@jasonbatres2117]

Do you have to use Hardie board?

[@thinkreno]

Planipatch is designed to go over cement/cement board. Although I have seen guys use it over 3/4” plywood...

[@traceydmytruk5431]

can you put this concrete on a painted wall or does it have to be on concrete board

[@thinkreno]

It will stick to a clean wall, but I would be hesitant to do so. It might last quite a while but I believe it will begin cracking at some point… probably within a year

[@lipi7966]

You didn't say, but how thick were EACH of your Planipatch coats? 1/16th? 1/8th? TY!

[@thinkreno]

Yeah, right between 1/16 and 1/8. You need to work fast so Really depends on how thick you mix the planipatch.

[@lipi7966]

@@thinkrenoOk, thank you! We have followed your framing & this finishing videos & are at the Planipatch step in the process. Hope to have it done this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration & help!

[@ZhaoHH]

Can I just apply the cement directly over the old brick fireplace wall?

[@thinkreno]

You bet. Just clean and prep your old fireplace really well first!

[@allenreisner6045]

Why didn’t you use an adhesive for the concrete patch?

[@thinkreno]

For this particular brand, you only need to add adhesive if you’re going over a vinyl floor...

[@Kelsey-cv4mw]

Could this be painted ?

[@thinkreno]

Sure you could!

[@TheProjectHomeShow]

Great

[@Goknolz]

So here we go Great video, what material did you use to transition from the backer board To the drywall

[@thinkreno]

Just a small bead of grey caulking! Cheers!

[@CHRIS-ge4ou]

It’s been 3 months since the video. How’s the Planipatch? Is it cracking? I’m trying to decide which cement to use

[@thinkreno]

Good question. The answer is no, there is zero cracking. The Planipatch still appears as it did the day I applied it. However, I also put a bit of Planipatch on a drywall section of wall to test it and it did crack. So I would say you do need a substrate such as concrete board and then use the Dura bond as well.

[@CHRIS-ge4ou]

@@thinkreno sweet! Thanks for the response. One last thing, what did you use for your corner bead? Regular drywall corner bead or was that something different

[@katrinasmith6535]

@@thinkreno Great video. I have tried a few other products and have had cracks. Is your fireplace extremely hot?

[@thinkreno]

​@@CHRIS-ge4ou Just a regular corner bead with paper...

[@thinkreno]

@@katrinasmith6535 It's electric so it doesn't get as hot as gas, but so far I haven't had any issues!

[@TheProjectHomeShow]

Can you add color?

[@thinkreno]

You could stain the cement, if you’re wanting a different tone…

[@tbsoundarts1]

Anyone do this for a hearth? Curious if it could be sat on with plywood underneath it

[@thinkreno]

I’m actually working on doing it on a bay window bench. I’ll have that video out in a couple weeks

[@plugger410]

I’m sure the first reaction people have when they see this concrete fireplace is to go up and knock on the wall. Any regrets or second thoughts since it most likely will just sound like a hollow wall when you knock on it? What are your thoughts on building up a few layers of plywood underneath the cement board, or even doing cement block and then a skim coat of planipatch on top of it?

[@thinkreno]

I thought the same thing, but no one thinks twice about it unless I tell them it’s not solid concrete…

[@martinh3239]

another idea is using golmex cemetet plaster. somes in powder also comes out really nice also. ssl.cdn-redfin.com/photo/40/bigphoto/112/20-598112_8_0.jpg check it out this is the last property i built also did a drop down tv if you wana look up the rest of the property