How to Tile a Fireplace - Add Stone Veneer

Hello there, in this video, "How to Tile a Fireplace - Add Stone Veneer", home renovation brothers Dave and Rich, and Dave's son, Caleb, show you how you can transform your outdated fireplace into a contemporary showpiece.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the top two factors that sell houses.
Did you know that fireplaces are the third most important feature?
Many people value fireplaces and updating yours should greatly increase your property value.
There are different methods for resurfacing your fireplace, depending on your fireplace's current construction. It could be brick, in which case you put a skim coat of mortar on the brick so the new tile can adhere to it.
If you have painted brick, the mortar won't stick to it, so you can attach lathe to it, and then put mortar over that. Or you can use our method.
In our case we built a fireplace housing around a ventless fireplace by attaching cement board to a 2x4 frame. We then applied thinset to the back of the tile and onto the cement board. We made grooves with a trowel, which allows the air to escape as the tile is adhered.
The tile used in this video is a stone veneer. We paid the extra money for mitered corners, which really give the project a pro finished look. These corners are expensive, but in our opinion well worth the money.
You will need a tile saw to cut the tiles.
This is truly an awesome DIY project that almost any homeowner can do. It will transform the room. You will be very proud of you effort every time to walk by your updated fireplace!
Hope this helps!
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[@rizocars6115]

Just like it was measured 🤣🤣, thank you for the explanation before the install, very helpful

[@Housebarons]

Hey Static…, Thx for watching!

[@jodykershaw7701]

This was done 2 years ago. I’d love to see what it looks like today since it wasn’t done correctly!

[@mji6326]

What part of it was done incorrectly???

[@Gokywildcats11]

Job well done on installing

[@Housebarons]

Hey David, Thx again. Hope it helps.

[@Tuneinthelight]

Love the finish! what about maintenance on the fireplace? The gas valve if you have to get to it?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Paul, We have a second main valve accessible in the basement. You can also access some through the fireplace opening. So far - worry free! Thx for watching!

[@calebmschneider9964]

Sadly no information on how the tiles were cut down to fit between the 2 corner stones on opposing sides. Did you build the fireplace to perfectly accept 3 runs between corners or was there cutting down to do and if so was that difficult to achieve or straight forward with a wet saw? Watched this video hoping it had that 1 piece of info as video after video everyone leaves out that 1 important step. Good video outside of that.

[@Housebarons]

Hey Caleb, We used tile which individual pieces were stacked and essential glued together to form one piece. They were designed to be staggered so that when mounted there were no straight looking grout seams running down the fireplace. ( see the 0:45 sec. into the video) The corner pieces also that staggered design on both sides. So…. When cutting the tiles, we cut the same staggered pattern into the tiles. The tiles were very easy to cut - wet saws can do amazing ( but noisy) work with a fresh blade. Should be no issue. Be sure and she’ll out the cash for the pre-made corners. Really a pro look when done. Hope that helps & thx for watching!

[@gord-zilla9914]

Nice video, looks amazing... How do you service the gas fireplace? Appears no access point to do routine service? thanks

[@Housebarons]

Hey Gord…, Maintence??? 😳 You can get to some internals through the fireplace opening. There is a ball valve that we enclosed but we also have an additional gas manifold w/ other ball valves in the house basement. Hope that helps. Thx for watching!

[@gobraphil]

This is the video series i have been looking for! I would think the thinset/mortar would not stick to the metal and metal lath would be needed to screw to the fireplace facing? Also, i would have expected the concrete board to be screwed into the top of the fireplace where the airgap is but i guess that is not needed?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Phillip, Great to hear! We bought a mortar made for that application. It’s still adhering well after 4 or so years. Thx for watching!

[@TopGunMan]

@@Housebarons What mortar is made for this? I'm not aware of any mortar for setting tiles across heated metal and adjacent cement board. About to fix some tiles that popped off the heated metal above a friend's fireplace.

[@cghrios783]

I want to install a ventless fireplace in a existing wall. Do I have to take the sheet rock and put cement board or can I add the cement board around it and inside so the wall stays the same? Is there a way around it? Thanks

[@BladeAndrade]

Did you apply a sealer to the ledger stone tiles?

[@Housebarons]

No sealer needed. Thx for watching!

[@mannyfresh8504]

Hello. I’m working on the exact same project in my new home. Just using different stones and a different type of electrical fireplace. Question, never installed cement board before. I know when installing drywall you have to patch your butt joints… is this at all necessary when dealing with cement board for a fireplace?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Manny, We did not and it has held up just fine. Enjoy your project. Thx for watching!

[@mannyfresh8504]

@@Housebarons thanks!

[@jexxux1]

Hi there do you put stone over the metal of the fireplace? Can it be removed later does it have any mark or line to were should the stone veneer stops?

[@Housebarons]

Hey chuyy, Yes stone over metal. Can’t be removed - not easily at least. No markings that I temember - we just did what looked right.

[@Gokywildcats11]

May I ask your preference. Ventfree vent. Propane heater

[@kevinslezak3844]

Would you be able to provide the stone veneer manufacturer and color choice? Thanks.

[@nolangrey87]

Can you recommend A vent free gas fire insert like that one but hot enough for outdoors under a gazebo

[@Housebarons]

Hey Nolan..,, No experience with that. Our unit was designed for indoors. You may want to try calling any indoor manufacturer for starters and see if they can be used outdoors. I’m not sure what would need to change or if anything would need to change. Thx for watching.

[@1kbconstruction824]

Yes you can use it for out door

[@nolangrey87]

That’s great. thank you for the reply

[@tonioelhandyman3824]

What kind of thin set did you use for the metal and can you use it for tile?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Tonio, Don’t remember exact name but specs on bag or call to manufacturer should let you know for sure. Thx for watching!

[@jodykershaw7701]

I see not a single person pointed out that you did not mesh and finish the cement board like it is supposed to be done. As the seasons pass all of that work is going to start to separate!

[@Housebarons]

Hey Jody, It has been holding great for years now. No issues. Thx for the input.

[@tedwinslow363]

Did you have any issues with any stone coming loose at the transition point between the metal around the insert and the backer board due to heat expansion?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Ted, Not one bit. The fireplace opening has a small 2 inch metal upper lip/ deflector. But it all gets pretty warm nonetheless. But it’s been 2-3 years and go to go. Thx for watching!

[@haroldrigmaiden4351]

@@Housebarons what was the brand of verneer stone did you use around the fireplace and where did you purchase it?

[@haroldrigmaiden4351]

@@Housebarons nevermind I found it down below

[@coreypadilla8321]

Do you know the brand and color of the stone used?

[@Housebarons]

Hi Corey, there was so much debate about which tile to choose. Ultimately we are delighted with the one we went with and it gets tons of compliments. I had to dive deep into the records to find this info, but I was actually able to locate the receipt. There are 2 pieces. The main part is a tile called Birmingham Architectural 55x15cm., sku 650012. We bought it from the Tile Shop, which is in Indianapolis. www.tileshop.com If you buy this from them, let us know, we will ask for a commission :) Also, we purchased the corner pieces from the Tile Shop. You can try to do a mitre cut on the main pieces to create corners, but you could end up with a jagged cut line. The corners are expensive, but we think the end result justifies purchasing the corners. The corner pieces are called Birmingham Architectural OC, sku 650013 This tile is awesome! The company has other great options available. Good luck with your project, let us know how it works out!

[@JeepArmyUSA]

How thick is that cement board?

[@Housebarons]

Hey Jeeparmy, I honestly dont remember - it's been a while. If I had to guess - 1/2 inch. Thx for watching.

[@JeepArmyUSA]

@@Housebarons I went with 1/2” thanks!

[@edinatolnai7972]

Hi do you have the color and the stone name of it?

[@Housebarons]

Hi Edina, There are 2 pieces. The main part is a tile called Birmingham Architectural 55x15cm., sku 650012. We bought it from the Tile Shop, which is in Indianapolis. www.tileshop.com If you buy this from them, let us know, we will ask for a commission :) Also, we purchased the corner pieces from the Tile Shop. You can try to do a mitre cut on the main pieces to create corners, but you could end up with a jagged cut line. The corners are expensive, but we think the end result justifies purchasing the corners. The corner pieces are called Birmingham Architectural OC, sku 650013 This tile is awesome! The company has other great options available. Good luck with your project, let us know how it works out!

[@jamesr.3460]

So I noticed you did not install any access panel/door for accessibility to the gas shutoff valve (where you transition from a solid steel pipe to the flex hose) that you installed at the floor level under the fireplace. I am aware you have the shutoff valve at the manifold in the basement. Would there be any advantage to having access to the gas shutoff valve under the fireplace even if it is to give you access to visually inspect if issues arise in the future?

[@Housebarons]

Hey James, Once connected, it should be good long term. It’s a judgement call. Thx for watching!

[@Gokywildcats11]

Ventfree vs vent

[@Housebarons]

Hey David, I do like ventless. You get all the benefit of the heat. We have a natural gas fireplace at our house and it really seems like 80% of the heat goes up the chimney! Ventless does raise concerns with/ some folks, ( you can see previous posts for longer explanations. But my Preferred is ventless natural gas. Thx for watching!

[@Hogwarts-Dropout]

Those are the nicest pre-made corner pieces I've ever seen. All the others ones I've seen are ugly and sloppy.

[@Housebarons]

Hey Hogwarts, Thx. But those corner pieces cost about as much as the rest of the tile. Get what you pay for??? Thx for watching!