Okay, folks, let’s talk about my little adventure in bricklaying – specifically, building a brick surround for my wood stove. I’m no pro, but I’m pretty handy, and I like to document my DIY escapades, so here we go!
First things first, I gathered my materials. I’m talking about a whole bunch of bricks (obviously), mortar mix, a trowel, a level, a rubber mallet, some string, and a few other odds and ends. I also made sure I had a good, solid base to build on. My hearth was already in place, so that part was taken care of, thankfully.
The Prep Work
Before I even touched a brick, I did a dry run. I laid out the first course of bricks around the stove, just to get a feel for the spacing and make sure I had enough. I wanted a nice, even gap between the bricks and the stove, for both safety and looks. This also helped me figure out how many bricks I’d need to cut to fit. More on that fun later.
- I used a string line to create a guide. This keeps the row straight.
- I used brick spacers to make sure that the spacing are even.
Getting Down to Business
Next, I mixed up the mortar. Now, this is where things can get a little messy. I followed the instructions on the bag (super important!), adding water slowly until I got a consistency like peanut butter. Not too runny, not too stiff. You want it to hold its shape but still be easy to spread.
Then, the actual bricklaying began. I spread a layer of mortar on the hearth, about an inch thick, and started setting the first bricks. I used the trowel to “butter” the ends of each brick before placing it, making sure to press it down firmly into the mortar bed. A tap or two with the rubber mallet helped to settle it in.
I kept checking the level as I went, both horizontally and vertically. This is crucial, people! You don’t want a wonky brick surround. A little nudge here, a little tap there, and I got things pretty darn straight.
The Cutting
Of course, I ran into some spots where I needed to cut bricks to fit. Let me tell you, this was a bit of a learning curve. I used a brick chisel and a hammer, scoring a line around the brick and then giving it a good whack. Sometimes it worked perfectly, sometimes… not so much. Let’s just say I had a few “oops” moments. But hey, that’s part of the process, right?
The Slow and Steady Climb
I worked my way up, row by row, making sure to stagger the joints for strength and a more visually appealing pattern. It’s a slow process, no doubt about it. You gotta be patient and take your time. I’d do a few rows, step back, admire my handiwork (and check for level!), and then keep going.
The Finishing Touches
Once all the bricks were in place, I let the mortar cure for a couple of days. Then, I went back and filled in any gaps with more mortar, using a pointing tool to get a nice, clean finish. This part is called “pointing,” and it makes a big difference in the overall look.
Finally, after everything was good and dry, I cleaned up the bricks with a damp sponge, removing any excess mortar. And there you have it! My very own, hand-built brick surround for the wood stove. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I’m pretty darn proud of it. It adds a nice, rustic touch to the room, and it definitely helps to radiate the heat from the stove more effectively.
If your thinking about doing your own, you should prepare all tools and materials ahead, be patience, and be careful to avoid injury.
