The fireplace is a crucial part of a house. It lets in so much warmth and brightness that you can never feel lonely around it. When there’s a family gathering during winter, everyone flocks together near the fireplace because of the comfort and the lovely feeling it gives. It immensely graces the entire house.
A fireplace without tiles doesn’t look well-furnished and grand, so it has to be given a good finish. Many efforts are made to make it look really good and attractive. Attaching tiles to a fireplace brings a good amount of posh and luxury, making everything look better. You need good hands or professional help to carry out this work, so it’s really important to have thorough research on how to tile your fireplace.
Important Tools and Materials Needed for Tiling a Fireplace
- Measurement Tap: This tool helps you get the exact knowledge about the size of your fireplace.
- Tile Cutter: The tiles do not come in the required size and shape, so a tile cutter has to be present.
- Trowel: Without a trowel, you cannot apply adhesive/mortar on the walls of the fireplace. A trowel may bring evenness of the adhesive to the surface.
- Grout: Typically a mixture of cement, sand, and water, grout is applied to fill the gaps between tiles so that good support and stability are achieved.
- Grout Float: A tool that’s made of rubber and designed to squeeze grout into the spaces between the tiles.
- Rubber Mallet: This hammer-like tool helps in making the tiles stick better to the wall. Its job is to tap on the tiles and adjust them gently.
- Tile Spacers: These are small plastic tools used to ensure equal spaces between the tiles. They are very small objects, but they play a big role.
- Protective eyewear and gloves: These are worn so that your eyes and hands do not get hurt during the renovation.
- Sponge: A sponge is needed to clean the surface of the newly installed tiles.
Ways to Tile a Fireplace
1. Clean the Fireplace
The first step of this project is to clean the fireplace. You just have to make sure that there are no dirt or stains on the surface of the fireplace. And sometimes, there is brick debris on the walls of the fireplace, so it’s best if you brush them off. Because when the surface is not clean enough, it’s difficult to stick the tiles.
2. Do the Measurement
It is very important to measure the dimensions of the fireplace because only then do you get to know its exact size. A measurement tape is needed here to do the job so that the right size of tiles is arranged.
3. Apply Adhesive
When you are modifying a fireplace with tiles, a heat-resistant adhesive or mortar is a must. Because if there is fire, there will be heat for sure, and you don’t want the fire to damage the newly-applied tiles. A trowel is needed to carry out this work.
4. Choose the Tiles
Now it’s time to choose the tiles of your choice and add style to your fireplace. Get what color, theme, or pattern you want from the market, as there are many options available. Some popular tiles to consider for your fireplace are – wood-look tiles, patterned tiles, subway tiles, natural stone tiles, etc.
5. Cut the Tiles According to The Size
After you are done selecting the tiles, cut them according to the size of the surface of the fireplace and be ready. The tiles have to be even and uniform in order to appear proper and fine.
6. Lay the Tiles
The next step is to carefully place the tiles onto the adhesive and make sure they do not fall off. If you think you are not capable enough to perform this work, get professional help. But if you watch a few tutorial videos online, it’s easy to learn.
7. Fix the Tiles with Spacers
Get tile spacers because you need them to ensure even spacing between the tiles after the laying out is done. The event spaces are assured so that the tiles stick better and firmer on the adhesive that’s applied. It also makes sure that every corner of the tiles is touched with the adhesive.
8. Grout Application
This step is necessary because it shields the adhesive between the tiles, which prevents both the tiles and the adhesive from falling off. Before you start applying, it’s important to remove the excess adhesive that has squeezed out of the spaces between the tiles. It may seem like a minor thing, but the impact it has is indisputable.
9. Grout Float
After the application of grout is made, use a grout float to push the grout into the spaces made by tile spacers.
10. Rubber Mallet
After the application of grout and adhesive is carried out, grab a rubber mallet and gently tap on the tiles to ensure good adjustment for the tiles. This step helps to prevent the tiles from falling off. This device is not like the regular hammer, which is made of iron. In a rubber mallet, both sides have rubber heads that provide a soft sensation when tapped on the tiles, and they do not break the tiles.
11. Clean Them with a Sponge
After everything is carried out, clean all the surfaces of the tiles for a smoother and shinier look. Because tiles are known for giving out a polished and lavish aura, get it done with a sponge, a bucket of water, and detergent. The inclusion of detergent gets rid of excess grout and dirt.
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12. Allow the Grout and Adhesive to Dry
But don’t forget to keep one important thing in mind. After every step is carried out, do not be in a hurry to use your newly renovated fireplace. Give it some days because it needs to dry up fully. The grout and adhesive that have been applied need to be dry and firm because you don’t want your tiles falling off.
Types of Tiles to Consider for Your Fireplace
The market is filled with varieties of tiles as building constructions are increasing and getting more and more common. The rise of modernism brought along many things, including the necessity of building constructions for various purposes, and at the same time, gave birth to many types of tiles and other building materials.
Some are of extremely good quality, that it costs a fortune to purchase them. But there are some that are budget-friendly, and anyone with a low budget can buy it. Whichever kind you want to go for, it’s all up to your choice.
1. Beige Marble with Real Marble
This type of tile is absolutely posh and lavish to look at. The plus is that it’s affordable, and you can easily get it for your home. The metal effect that comes with the tiles has the tendency to welcome an expensive look to your fireplace. It’s like making your house look expensive and rich without having to spend much.
2. Floor Print Tiles
With a pattern so lovely and yet simple, you can never be fed up with it. Get these tiles for your fireplace at a good price. Awaken the floral spirit in you and enjoy the freshness because it can offer a touch of nature to your fireplace. And to let the floral pattern go unnoticed, you can pair your fireplace with neutral surrounding tiles.
3. Natural Stone White Tiles
This frosty effect on the tiles may give you the spirit of Christmas. It is very much ideal for fireplaces. And when the holiday arrives, these tiles are going to contribute so much to the decor. Natural stone tiles are also never out of style, which means you will never start to find it boring and outdated.
4. Subway Tile Stone
These tiles are a little bit smokey and mysterious, which will make the fireplace look traditional but with style. The shade of the tiles also complements the aesthetic of a fireplace. Imagine being ‘smokey’ in nature, where there is a lot of smoke going on. If you want to get it for your fireplace, you can get it online or at the tile store, which is just right across your street.
5. Classic Tiles
These are very classic, timeless, and gorgeous tiles that have the ability to bring immense glam to your fireplace. Classic tiles also make anything traditional and loving. Using them to renovate your fireplace is the best choice. Choose the color crème because it has the property of making anything look timeless and precious.
Conclusion
The inclusion of a fireplace in a house is very much mandatory in a modern household. It is taken as a decorative element because of the beauty and grandeur it adds to a home. The brick ones look traditional and slightly archaic, but the addition of tiles speaks volumes about modernism.
The tools and materials that are mentioned in this article are all important and necessary. These are the basic needs, and they will help you renovate the boring and outdated fireplace in your house.
And if you follow the process of laying the tiles thoroughly, you may get to have the knowledge like an expert. Give it a shot and start renovating your fireplace, which is just lying in the corner unused.
