Okay, so I’ve been wanting to do something about my boring, outdated fireplace for ages. It was just…blah. Then I saw this picture online of a fireplace with these cool red bricks, and I was like, “That’s it! I’m doing that.”
Getting Started
First things first, I measured the whole fireplace area. Gotta know how many bricks to get, right? Then I headed to the home improvement store. Man, there are a LOT of brick options. I finally found these rustic-looking red ones that were just the right shade – not too bright, not too dark. Picked up some mortar and some basic tools, too. I’m not gonna lie, I felt a little overwhelmed, but hey, gotta start somewhere.
The Dirty Work
- I cleaned the existing fireplace surface. Needed a good, clean base for the new bricks.
- Then came the mixing of the mortar. That stuff is messy! I followed the instructions on the bag, but it still felt like I was making a giant mud pie.
- Time to start laying the bricks! I put a layer of mortar on the fireplace, then pressed the first brick into place. Honestly, the first few were a little crooked, but I got the hang of it.
Row by Row
It was slow going, that’s for sure. Laying each brick, making sure it was level, adding more mortar… my back was definitely feeling it! But, row by row, I started to see the fireplace transform. It was actually looking pretty good! I took my time, trying to space the bricks evenly and keep the mortar lines consistent(That’s the space between bricks.)
The Final Touches
After a couple of days of work (and a lot of breaks!), I finally finished laying all the bricks. The mortar needed time to dry, so I waited.
Once it was all set, I cleaned off any extra mortar and just stood back and looked.
It was awesome! The red bricks completely changed the look of the whole room. It’s so much warmer and more inviting now. Totally worth the effort!
My advice? If you’re thinking about doing something like this, just go for it! It’s not as hard as it looks, and the result is amazing. Just be prepared for some messy work and a sore back. But trust me, you’ll be so happy you did it.
