Alright, folks, let’s dive into my latest DIY adventure – tackling the fireplace with some black bricks. I’ve been wanting to give my living room a bit of a facelift, and the old, boring fireplace seemed like the perfect place to start. I had seen some cool photos online of fireplaces done up in black bricks, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to gather my supplies. I headed over to the local home improvement store – you know, the one with the orange logo – and picked up a bunch of black fireplace bricks. I also grabbed some mortar mix, a trowel, a bucket, a sponge, and some gloves, ’cause safety first, right? I already had a good level and a tape measure at home, so I was good to go on that front.
Prepping the Area
Before I could start slapping bricks on the wall, I had to prep the area. I laid down a drop cloth to protect my floor from any mortar spills, ’cause let me tell you, that stuff is a pain to clean up once it dries. I also gave the existing fireplace surround a good scrub to make sure the new mortar would adhere properly. I don’t want any bricks falling off mid-winter, do I?
Laying the Bricks
Next up, the fun part – laying the bricks. I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag. It’s kinda like making a really thick, gritty cake batter. Then, I started applying the mortar to the back of each brick and sticking them to the wall. I used the level to make sure each row was straight and the tape measure to keep the spacing even. It was a bit tedious, but kinda therapeutic, you know?
- Mix mortar.
- Apply to bricks.
- Stick bricks to the wall.
- Check level and spacing.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat.
The Finishing Touches
Once all the bricks were in place, I let the mortar dry for a couple of days. I really had to keep the cat away during this period, he kept on trying to walk over it! Then, I went back and cleaned up any excess mortar with a damp sponge. I also added a nice black mantel to complete the look. It really tied the whole thing together, if I do say so myself.
The Result
And there you have it – my black brick fireplace. It was a bit of work, but totally worth it. The room looks so much more modern and stylish now. Plus, I get to brag to all my friends that I did it myself. If you’re thinking about sprucing up your fireplace, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands a little dirty and maybe have a few “oops” moments along the way. It’s all part of the fun, right?
Oh, and one last tip – don’t wear your favorite shirt while doing this project. Trust me on that one.
