Okay, so I’ve always wanted a fireplace, and I’ve always loved the look of a brick arch over the opening. I finally decided, “What the heck, let’s do it!” I’m no expert mason, but I’m pretty handy, so I figured I could handle it. I am quite satisfied with my own hands-on ability.
Planning and Prep
First things first, I measured the fireplace opening like ten times. Seriously, measure, measure, measure! I wanted to make sure I got the arch just right – not too high, not too low. Then I spent some time sketching out what I wanted it to look like. After I sketching, I started to look for all the tools I would use later. I don’t want to be interrupted during the process.
Building the Form
This was the tricky part. I built a wooden form to support the bricks while the mortar dried. I used some scrap plywood and 2x4s. I’ve got to say, getting the curve just right was a bit of a head-scratcher, but I finally got there after some trial and error. I kept adjusting until I was happy with it.
- Cut the plywood into the shape of the arch. I used a jigsaw for this.
- Reinforced it with the 2x4s to make it sturdy.
- Made sure it was perfectly level and centered over the fireplace opening.
Laying the Bricks
Now for the fun part! I mixed up some mortar – not too wet, not too dry, just like Goldilocks’ porridge. Then, I started laying the bricks on the form, one by one.I used the pre-prepared cement to spread some on the sides of the brick, and put them down, and used a small hammer to gently tap it to fix it.
I used a trowel to spread the mortar on the bottom and sides of each brick, and then carefully placed it on the form. I made sure to keep the spacing even and the mortar joints nice and neat. It’s kind of like building with giant, heavy LEGOs.
The Keystone
The keystone is the brick at the very top of the arch – it’s what holds the whole thing together. I shaped mine a little bit to make it fit perfectly. Getting it in place was a little nerve-wracking, but once it was in, I knew the arch was solid. I’ve got to tapped it gently into place – phew!
Waiting…and Finishing Up
Then came the hardest part: waiting! I let the mortar dry for a good few days before I even thought about removing the form. This is very important. You cannot ignore it. Once it was good and dry, I carefully took the form apart. And there it was – my very own brick arch!
I cleaned up any excess mortar and gave the whole thing a good once-over. I’m pretty darn proud of how it turned out. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and it adds so much character to the fireplace. Now, I just need to finish the rest of the fireplace surround!
