How to tile a WHOLE fireplace: EXTREME DIY makeover (BEGINNER'S GUIDE)

In this home DIY project, I show you how I tiled the WHOLE of my fireplace with stacked stone effect textured porcelain tiles with professional results. This includes the fire opening and chimney breast face, cheeks and back.
After months of log burner research, I talk you through fire-safe tiles, heat-resistant tile adhesive, and why I use the grout I used for long-lasting results.
🎥Videos mention
Removing the 80s fascia brickwork • I knocked down a brick...
Removing the old multi fuel stove • I tried bricklaying on...
Installing a lintel to make the fireplace opening bigger • I tried installing a f...
Bricking up the fireplace • I opened up my chimney...
Installing James Hardiebacker cement board • Why I installed cement...
How I installed a boxed lipped granite hearth • I tried installing a b...
Videos I found useful
How to cut a rough textured tile • How to cut a rough tex...
How to tile around windows like a pro • How To TILE into Windo...
🪚TOOLS & THINGS I USED:
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links.
➡️ Tiles from Lincolnshire tiles in Boston
➡️ Caulking gun geni.us/caulkgun {Amazon}
➡️ Plumber flue GEOcell geni.us/PLumbe... {Amazon}
➡️ Boat/torpedo spirit set geni.us/hB7F {amazon}
➡️ Werner portable workbench platform geni.us/3wx4a0K {Amazon}
➡️ Stanley impact driver geni.us/Rjo60E {Amazon}
➡️ Stanley combi drill geni.us/fN8isKn (amazon)
➡️ Rubber Mallett geni.us/Rubber... {Amazon}
➡️ Safety goggles geni.us/ybBDFs {Amazon}
➡️ JSP mask geni.us/jspmask {Amazon}
➡️ Drywall square geni.us/drywal... {Amazon}
➡️ Buckets geni.us/pduO {Amazon}
➡️ SBR geni.us/SBREVE... {Amazon}
➡️ Werner portable workbench platform geni.us/3wx4a0K {Amazon}
➡️ Mixing paddle geni.us/mixing... {Amazon}
➡️ tiling trowel geni.us/plaste... {amazon}
➡️ Levelling spacers geni.us/tilelevel {amazon}
➡️ Palace heat resist adhesive geni.us/Palace... {Amazon}
➡️ Tile adhesive geni.us/greyti... {Amazon}
➡️ Grout 3000 mid-grey geni.us/midgre... {amazon}
➡️ Tilemaster adhesive Silicone 3000 geni.us/silico... {amazon}
➡️ Assorted packers geni.us/xs8DAq (amazon)
➡️ 10mm Adhesive trowel geni.us/10mmtr... {Amazon}
➡️ Mitreblock geni.us/mitreb... {Amazon}
➡️ Tin snips geni.us/tinsnip {Amazon}
➡️ Hacksaw geni.us/stanle... {Amazon}
➡️ Toughbuilt sawhorses geni.us/toughb... {Amazon}
➡️ Laser Level geni.us/selfla... {Amazon}
➡️ Tilecutter geni.us/wettil... {Amazon}
➡️ Cutting disc 115 geni.us/rdxmax... {Amazon}
➡️ Cutting disc 110 geni.us/cuttin...{Amazon}
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[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Do you like how it turned out?

[@SalC007]

looks fab👍

[@36ydna]

It looks great. You did a really good job.

[@nonoyorbusness]

It were nerve wracking, but well done!

[@diywooddesign1548]

Very slick! Nice work 👍🏾

[@nbessell]

It looks fantastic Vikkie 😃

[@helenmcgowan9573]

Sunday evenings are never the same without an instalment from Mrs TCD.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Aw, thanks so much 🤩

[@juliequinlan6564]

💯% Agree

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

Vikkie never fails too impress me with her skills and work ethics. 😊

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thank you Karl

[@heatherwalton9501]

The amount of calculations and patience needed for that job kind of scrambled my brain but all credit to you Vikki - it looks super professional. Well done. I think you deserve at least a week in the hot tub after that. 😅

[@JojoChampion]

We initially thought those feature tiles looked too busy. But once placed and grouted - looked the biz! Haven't tiled in years, but swear by the wet cutter. Great video, V. X

[@DeafMaker]

That looks amazing. For the trim white Caulk gets my vote, it feels the safer option

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! I agree!

[@lindaallen78]

I'm so impressed Vikkie. I take my hat off to you. I was glued to that video and made my husband watch it with me, (hoping to inspire him). LOL. You make me laugh so much. Special shout out to Mr TCD the cameraman and Hans, the Health and Safety Officer. (I've got your back mum). Well done., it looks fab. ❤

[@alisonscurr4395]

The tiles look fabulous. I personally would go with white silicone at the top of the wall. Makes life easier in the future when it comes to painting.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks Alison! I agree!

[@yorkie75]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUKyou can’t paint silicone, you need to use decorator’s caulk

[@ohasis8331]

@@yorkie75 Products like SikaFlex are expensive but they have great characteristics AND you can paint over it.

[@davidhumphrey70]

It's all turning oit amazingly, you're doing a grand job. White caulk gets my vote for the edge of the trim/beam

[@TheOnlyHonor]

Amazing! I think we can all agree who the star of the video is - The Supervisor Hans! he is adorable

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Hahaha.. he'll be giving us his honest review once the fire is installed 🤣🤣

[@SteveMonk1956]

Brilliant job Vikkie, well done. White caulk in my opinion. 🙂

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks! I'll get on it 😀

[@markduggan3451]

Fantastic video, I didn't care how long it was. I'm watching it at 2 a.m., and it kept me awake. I'd go for white.

[@janmitchell641]

It looks fantastic, Vickie, and definitely you should use the white cork by the lintel.

[@GasheadSteve]

Such a potty mouth lol Job well done Vickie. Great job.. onto the next 😊

[@AndyCallaway]

The dog bed - I mean fireplace is looking great. 👍

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Haha... hopefully we'll blow his mind when the fire is installed! He loved it on the narrowboat

[@paulyh4531]

That room will be so nice when it's done , it will be really cosy watching the TV with the log burner going. Nice one vl 👍😊

[@mafish7962]

What an amazing job! Well done, Vicky, Mr TCD and of course Mr Foreman Hans! Have a great week, Laura ❤❤❤

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

I love the explanation of the thought process

[@fionamainey7686]

Love watching your attention to detail. My husband grew up on a farm and the mentally is to just whack things together with no aesthetics at all. This is why I hire tradesmen to do it properly and safely. Best to do it right the first time.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much ❤️ Definitely need to take your time with tiles! Once it's set, you've got to live with any flaws and appreciate/ignore them 🤣

[@debbiehaha1300]

You have done amazing job vikkie, looks beautiful. I bet you’re well chuffed. Love your videos.

[@eddieg1954]

Superb video. White caulk for me. Love the way it turned out

[@marktrower2267]

Looks fantastic well done Vikkie

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

thanks so much :)

[@MrMGZT]

Hi Vikkie fantastic job👍looks good, you be washing it down a few times i would let it dry between washes, my advice for the bit of fill i would use white squared off so the trim can be seen as a straight edge, i think gray would look a little too much against the white plaster wall, your attention to detail is excellent.

[@Sadlercastle]

That looks stunning, love the tile combination. I think white cork so looks a crisp edge against the grey.

[@veronicawhite398]

Absolutely fabulous job, Vikkie, Mr TCD, and of course, Hans. Very inspiring. Well done, all! 🥰 Definitely white for the caulking, as that is the dominant colour. 🐕😊A kiss and cuddle for Hans!😍Veronica x

[@paul-fk7de]

Vikkie you are a very clever lady that is a professional job you have done I would definitely hire you to do tilleing absolutely brilliant job 👏💪

[@katieh200]

It looks amazing Vikkie you have done a fantastic job huni 😉👍😁❤️

[@paul._david]

Looks absolutely fantastic Vicky, love the look.

[@JakeT0191]

I wasn’t sure about the tiles when you originally showed them, but actually it looks super smart! Nice job 👏🏼

[@jimmy4952005]

had my own tilling company a bit ago go you parceling is so hard to cut well done👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@annpritchard1567]

The fire place looks amazing, I think I would go with the white caulk, and I really enjoyed the longer vlog.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Aw, thanks so much! I was really worried it was too long, but I felt all the info in it needed to stay to help others

[@OriginalRaveParty]

You've done a great job 👍

[@NicolaHunt-w7w]

Great video Vikkie, really love your fire place, very impressed with your tiling and obvious patience! And glad to hear you're making use of your hot tub!

[@steveposton3928]

Spiffing job if i may say so. Well done, i know who to ask now for my tiling jobs lol

[@juliequinlan6564]

Well done Vicki - I love it, it’s looking really good! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💕💕 I can’t wait to see the completed room especially the new doors! 💕💕💕 Definitely the white cork! 👍

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@annehoy9224]

Well done Vikkie it looks beautiful, you are so talented xxx❤👍👏👌

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much 😊

[@Jako-fh8zg]

I think it looks lovely - I suppose the lesson is to allow plenty of time to complete 👍 brilliant video and thank you for the explanations 🙏 Jako 🙏

[@carliem9494]

That looks really lovely ....... the vision is starting to gel now

[@MarkDurbin]

Looks great! thanks for the video!

[@totherarf]

Now That is looking good! Don't forget to check the sell by date on the adhesive ..... like plaster you don't want old stuff!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much! Come to think of it, I have LOTS of old grout.... maybe I should be checking the dates for them too. Some are 2-3 years old 😅

[@Woodchip1865]

Great work Vikkie ! Definitely white caulk or CT1 for the finishing trim 😉

[@tonyjover]

Great job, it looks super! Bit late now but if you'd used box trim edging you could have used it down both sides of the front and wouldn't have needed those battens. Also, for future reference, the little metal tile levellers with a plastic screw top are easier to use than those knock-off plastic ones, plus they don't more the tiles around.

[@MrRedfreds]

Great job 👍, plenty planning in the prep.

[@Sheim-b4k]

It’s beautiful Vicki well done. ❤

[@rosieg1603]

Well this is looking really nice 💜 loving the two different tiles blending nicely together 💜 I think white caulk would look good can't go wrong with white caulk 💜💜

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much and agree with white caulk. And that's what I loved so much about the display in the tile show room... the contrast looked so stylish

[@lesterbathrooms3948]

Looks Great!!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much... you're too kind 😍

[@gailconway5037]

Very smart clever lady❤

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@christinephillips9709]

Vikkie it looks really nice, you are so talented. Really hard work but saving yourself a fortune. And, knowing the job is done perfect. well done you. Oh and white cork i would say.xx

[@al100ad]

Cracking job, looks fantastic. An idea for the spare tiles, maybe a few square/oblong plant pots. Oh and that top bit, definitely white caulk.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much!! I love the idea of an indoor plant pot to match it!

[@OohAhCantona73]

Beautiful job, top notch! Great attention to detail. Really enjoyed watching 😊

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Vikkie, You done a brilliant job there, I would go with the white caulk. as always a great video take care

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much 😀

[@theOldApple556]

looks fantastic

[@richardjones5255]

Looking great!

[@edwardtrickett6064]

Looking fabulous already! And it is only going to look better with the flooring you have chosen too, I would go with white caulk on the trim next to the overhang, because as you said, it would create an illusion and it would blend in better

[@shaunsmith690]

A big well done to say you haven,t tiled before a great effort ,yes it took you a bit of time but well worth it. I would go with the white caulk think in my opinion would look better.

[@kimstockwell721]

Vikkie, that's a super job you've done there, very impressive. My choice is white caulk on that little bit too.

[@JohnJones-wo1bc]

Proper job done properly. Kudos.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thank you 😊

[@Robbo-z7t]

Love those tiles. Used them in our bathroom. Def white mastic next to the grey trim

[@robfryer9962]

White for painting 👍🏼 great job satisfaction with that job

[@HouseFairyDIY]

The Mapei Super Flexible tile adhesive is really good.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Did I see you use it for your floor tiles? Watched it the other day and your self levelling flooring video :)

[@andrewferguson7762]

looks a good job and very encouraging for others inc myself to try. Thanks for showing us the trials and tribulaitons of tiling.

[@jwall6006]

It looks wonderful! Have you explained to the pup that it’s not a new bedroom for him?

[@gingerelvis]

Looking good! I vote for white caulk, it will just blend in better and look more natural. I've never really been a fan of the score and break tile cutters, for textured tiles as complex and uneven as the ones you have used the wet cutter is the only real option, theres just too much varieation for the crack to follow. You will have to keep us updated with how the tiles fare after a few months of fires, I've found most finishs crack under heat down the sides of the stove over time, the back wall is oddly usually fine.

[@mpaws]

I think it looks great. A good tip to use windolene to tidy up the silicon. I wish I had known that two days ago when I used some in a shower cubicle and made a right mess.

[@markdyballuk]

blimey, great work, well done indeed

[@davidmarkey4353]

Excellent work. I have enjoyed these video and love that you ask advice to help you make the decisions. as for the spare tiles. Tables inside and out, or make the background for a clock or two. you may even have enough for Christmas presents.

[@juliemarriott3077]

looks great, well done

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much ❤️

[@jonjones.]

Vickie that look bloody brilliant. you’ve done an amazing job 👌 I think a matching table with the off cuts would look great, do you know anyone who could make the wooden table 😂

[@v88krb]

Well done, looks really good. You would probably have found it easier to apply the adhesive to the wall with a trowel and then just used the comb edge to give the lines, I don't think i'd have applied adhesive to the back of the tiles, just get good lines of adhesive on the wall. Also, horizontal lines of adhesive tend to stop the tile sliding down and make sliding side to side easier. But, well done, keep up the good work.

[@janetsteingold-yt1xu]

It looks really nice ❤

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thank you 😊

[@paulwoods7857]

Mrs TCD...great diy er, and fit bird as well!❤

[@christine42615]

Love it!!! I'd keep a couple full tiles stored 'just in case' otherwise maybe a small surface for a bathroom cabinet or feature wall in bathroom? Fireplace looks amazing though ❤❤❤❤

[@salsolo2403]

brilliant job well done 👍

[@richardmartin4839]

Fab job vikkie, i would use white caulk and not the grey

[@chrisheald6897]

fantastic! really good video and job well done!!

[@peterwentworth9181]

Very nice job!! I love tiling it's so rewarding when you finish. On the other hand l hate wallpapering lol.😂

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Haha.... I'm the same... love tiling... HATE WALLPAPERING 😅

[@LornaWillimott-ur5vd]

Vaguely recall when we had a tile cutter like the one you were using with the saw blade that it had a guide so you could get a nice straight cut, like the fence on a table saw.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes, this used to have one too when I looked up the model online, but I think it's 30 years old - couldn't find the part so I winged it instead following my pencil lines 🤣 often I find discrepancies when trying to cut with some guides too so cracked on without it

[@molsky13]

Looking good😊

[@RitaFarrow]

that is a beautiful bit of art,love it ,well done u

[@louisecampbell2479]

Really neat job well done 👏🏻 I would put frog tape on the tile and use white caulk for a clean edge

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much! I'll do that!

[@AmazeTase]

Fantastic job Vikkie. You should be massively proud of that job! Just an idea re the off-cuts….how about breaking a few up to make a mosaic artwork of some sort?

[@craigbrockman8886]

White chalk. Retains sharp line of the trim. Luv your work.

[@VonL1963]

Awesome work Vikkie! You could make a nice mosaic side table with those broken tiles. 😊

[@clarkington_uk1567]

You should be really happy with that - looks really tidy! Certainly puts my tiling efforts to shame!! 😂

[@TheDwight1379]

That's wonderful! White Cork, after the trim.

[@andreacrashe9894]

*Vikkie, that is impressive. Well done. But I actually thought you were doing the same tile all the way around on all four sides... I guess I missed the part in the video of the two different tiles. 🙂 Ideas for tiles: Cut the left over tiles into coasters, with a thin slice of Cork underneath it, so then it won't scratch anything. Like Coffee mug size, dinner plate table size.. and also to go under hot meals on the table runner for special occasions like Xmas etc. As this will just add into your scheme of styling your home. Make extra for your outdoor table too. If still enough left over then put the tiles on top of the outdoor table.🙂 The new dog sleeping quarters looks great too 🙂NZ*

[@Swarm0r]

Cant wait to see the fire in place! Great work so far. Be interested to hear about your wood strategy. With all that land, I wonder if you can supply your own? I find our stove to be more of a luxury than a 'cheap' way to heat.

[@philsbbs]

I'm impressed.

[@valwright3699]

Really lovely Vicky. Well done. I vote white caulk.

[@DebsHill1]

i’m glad i’m not the only one who swears when tiling. could have paid off my mortgage with the swear jar the last time i did it

[@oatesprojects]

Decent job that considering first time, 👏

[@stevenbennett3922]

Proper job!

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks 😀

[@johnmcgauley421]

Well done

[@andyWebb-ex5vr]

Personally, I think the two sides should have been the same tile as front and back, but always great to watch how you go about your work

[@fishingforbiteswithmo]

Looks great 👍

[@tobtnosike9433]

I love you and you look perfect! YAYYYYYYYYY

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

☺️ cheers! Hope you liked the fireplace too? 😅

[@tobtnosike9433]

@@TheCarpentersDaughterUK I am love fireplace with you too!

[@thesydmc]

Great Job.

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

I’ve got that same Plasplug tile cutter, it’s got to be 20 years old and still going strong - with a few new blade discs along the way. Has your guide rail failed, I noticed you didn’t have it fitted and mine packed up (wouldn’t clip on, something broke) several years ago? Fully understand the “wet patch” when using this, but it’s a great bit of kit, and you’ve done a great job with that tiled fireplace.

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Yes.... compact plus plasplugs cutter! I borrowed it off a family member and it no longer came with it. Maybe it broke too and ended up in the bin?

[@normanboyes4983]

You did a pukka job Vikki.😀👍 White caulk.😉

[@TheCarpentersDaughterUK]

Thanks so much and agree!

[@sharonmc5192]

I've used my trusty Plasplugs tile cutting machine several times over the years. Endorsed by Tommy Walsh no less which shows how old it is. Noisy as hell, quite messy and you end up with wrinkly hands but it does the job. (where do you buy extra blades from btw? Do you have a link?) Never got on with the scorey cutters even with smooth tiles. Well done!