Fireplace Facelift

The Before.....

I made my dramatic entrance and immediately failed the very few readers I have by only writing one post....

BUT...The LJM has been very busy since the last post. One morning after John left for work last week I could not help but notice that the tile on the fireplace was looking at me funny. I have always despised the terrible maroon-ish, cheap, ceramic tile, but this day I hated it even more than normal and decided that I could not take it any more! I started ripping out the tile on the hearth and hoped that John wouldn't be too upset when he got home and discovered that I was destroying his house.

He came home and luckily he was not mad. That night I tore out the tile around the surround with full confidence that this would be a "do it myself project". I was already thinking about how proud I would be when I accomplished such a big task ALL by myself. Sadly, when I tore the surround out I learned that the original installer of the tile applied it directly to the Sheetrock.....so basically I was not only ripping out the tile, but also pretty much the wall! Oops!

I called my Dad and explained the situation. He told me several things to get at Lowe's or Home Depot. With confidence that I still had everything under control I headed to Home Depot to get everything I needed to continue on my little "project". I was so sad as I starred at the shelves and shelves of boystuff starring back at me. Even with my dad's excellent description I had NO clue what I needed to buy. Boo.... I was sad.

I called Dad back and told him I could not find what I needed and for some reason became way to shy to ask for help so I returned home with nothing.....sigh...and Dad said he would come help me the next day! Hooray!!!

Dad got to Montgomery around 9. I think the description of the remains of the fireplace I gave him the day before somewhat lived up to the destruction he discovered when he got here...He poked, tapped and studied the fireplace and told me to get a pen and paper. Immediately he listed several things we would need from the store. I jotted them down and we headed to Home Depot.

Dads are smart, but my Dad is very smart...he can read the labels of the boy stuff at Home Depot and understands what they say! He knew just what to buy. Our favorite purchase was "Wonderboard"....and it is incredible! He asked if I had ever heard of wonderboard and I told him I think I used to have a bra by them but some reason I don't think that is exactly what he meant....Wonderboard fixed the surround I destroyed and made it even better than new!

We worked and worked and worked and worked...Dad left at dark and the fireplace is ALMOST done! I still have to get a wet saw to cut thin tiles for both sides of the hearth and a piece for underneath the firebox opening. Then I will move on to grouting....YIKES! I will post the finished product, but our process pictures will have to do for now!

Barley helped us all day and was very happy with our progress. He loves spending time helping his mom and granddad.

Dad carefully evaluating my destruction......

The Mantle must go....

measure twice cut once

Hooray for Wonderboard!

tiling begins.....

The "Almost finished" after!