Putting Tile over Brick around a fireplace

[1989hawk]

I am going to cover up the red bricks around my fireplace with tile. I would be covering vertical area next to the opening and the floor right in front of the opening. Is there anything I need to know?

How clean does the vertical surface need to be? Good cleaning agents?
Do I need a special thin set?
How long to let it dry before using the fire place?

Thanks

 

[FredWanaker]

I;d hire a mason, even though I worked for one in my teens in the San Mateo area, and did that type work. The tiles will determine the type of mortar and grout. The firebox should be inspected by a licensed sweep first in case it needs any repairs. I lived in a house someone tiled over the fireplace and hated it. Think 40 - 50 years ahead when choosing a tile. Enjoy

 

[engineer2]

Just remove all loose dust and dirt. A wire brush will help if there is soot. Dish soap if you want, with a good rinse. You don't want to leave any soap residue behind.
Any modified thinset would work or whatever the tile manufacturer recommends. Modified means it has additives to make it easier to work with and stick better.
Since bricks can be uneven, consider using tile leveling clips available at any big box store or tile store.
Plan your tile layout so you don't end up with odd cuts or slivers of tile.
You can grout 24-48 hours later.
I would wait a week before firing it up if it is a wood burner. If it is a gas fireplace in a metal cabinet, a couple if days will be fine.
I've been liking Floor and Décor for their selection and helpful staff.

 

[ace10]

You're going to attach backer board to the existing masonry.

Contact the manufacturer of the mortar and grout for guidance on dry times. Generic internet answers aren't a good idea.

 

[duneslider]

If the brick is all solid and you don't see any cracking in the mortar you should be fine to tile right over it. When i have done this I would usually do a skim coat of thinset over the whole thing to smooth/even the whole thing out. It goes pretty quick doing the skim and then the next day it is ready to tile and gives you a better surface to go off. Any quality thinset will work fine for this and should be determined based on the tile being used. There are a lot of great thinsets available today. A non-sag might be nice on the vertical walls. Once you decided on the tile you will be using I could help out more with thinset selection.

IF you have mortar that is cracking, or bricks cracking that is a bad sign and you may want to reconsider tiling over the brick.

 

[firebirdparts]

I used backer. Built in flat surface that way. But I kinda had to cover some gaps anyway.

 

[1989hawk]

The bricks and mortar are in good shape. The wife just does not like the red brick around the face of the fireplace. The bricks are rough. They have tiny grooves across them and then there is the recess where the mortar is. The fire place does have a metal insert in it with a stainless tube up the chimney.

I was not going to attach back board to the bricks. Just put the tile over it. In 5 years when the place is sold it will all be ripped out. In the Bay Area you need to convert to gas or remove fireplaces.

 

[jhelrey]

I'd be tempted to skim coat it with a mortar mix with additives. Then tile from there.

 

[The Cobbler]

I would be inclined to put concrete backer over it . probably easier and quicker in the long run

 

[rayra]

bonding mortar with a notched trowel, tile it as you would a floor. And get hard plastic spacers, not the squishy silicone ones. Skim coat the bricks and notch. Back butter the tile and notch perpendicular to the brick coating.

 

[Mirage]

I used this stuff when I did one of mine last year. Was grey brick with quite a bit of texture, was covered with quarry tile before, did my best to get all the old mortar off.

 

[duneslider]

I don't see any reason to attach backerboard, it serves no purpose in this situation. I would only skim coat the brick with mortar first because it will make tiling a little easier. You could certainly do it all at once though.

Rapid set mortar would be fine but I typically don't suggest it for people who haven't used it. It sets fast and people generally will mix too much at a time and waste a lot of mortar. Brick is like one of the easiest things for mortar to stick to so any mortar is going to grab like crazy. Once you decide what tile you want to use I would be happy to suggest mortars that would be good to use. Really though, any of the fortified mortars will be fine. They will say something like polymer modified, or Modified, or Enriched. Just don't use anything that costs less than 10 bucks a bag.

 

[FredWanaker]

The bricks and mortar are in good shape. The wife just does not like the red brick around the face of the fireplace. The bricks are rough. They have tiny grooves across them and then there is the recess where the mortar is. The fire place does have a metal insert in it with a stainless tube up the chimney.

I was not going to attach back board to the bricks. Just put the tile over it. In 5 years when the place is sold it will all be ripped out. In the Bay Area you need to convert to gas or remove fireplaces.

Considering that the state sponsored forest fire burn areas in CA are well over several million acres in the last couple years, and thousands of destroyed homes - not to mention months of dark Mordor like skies and ash from the smoke that fell here, it is sad you can't even let a new buyer make a decision what they want to do with it when you sell. Our home prices here in the Northern California Central Valley area have gone up hundreds of thousands of dollars (30%) in the last year due to the lumber shortage (several of the lumber mills here in CA burned with the fires making matters far worse), and the outflow of people from the Bay Area who don't want to live there anymore coming here. Many of my quiet neighbors for the last 30 years have sold, and moved out of state in the last few months due to the huge gain in home values here. If they take the profits now they are mostly tax exempt.

Would the wife accept just paint since you are going to tear it out in 5 years anyway?

 

[Sumboodie]

The bricks and mortar are in good shape. The wife just does not like the red brick around the face of the fireplace. The bricks are rough. They have tiny grooves across them and then there is the recess where the mortar is. The fire place does have a metal insert in it with a stainless tube up the chimney.

I was not going to attach back board to the bricks. Just put the tile over it. In 5 years when the place is sold it will all be ripped out. In the Bay Area you need to convert to gas or remove fireplaces.

Wow, they don't allow wood heat?

 

[1989hawk]

Parts of California are banning all wood burning as heat in new homes. Some cities are only allowing new houses to only have electric. No gas plumbed to the house.