We have a wood-burning fireplace which is operable and in relatively good condition. The firebox and floor surround are brick, and were painted long ago. The brick floor surround is an ugly shade of deep red. Our GC/handyman suggested rather than painting the floor surround, we should just re-tile it. Any suggestions on a suitable material and supplier?

Thanks!


Comments

  1. DIBS, is stripping/removing the brick a job for our regular handyman/contractor, or should we seek out a specific fireplace contractor?

  2. I’d either have the brick stripped or remove them and lay a solid marble or granite slab…honed, not polished. Ceramic tiles on a hearth don’t really look good but look great on the vertical surface between the firebox and the surround.

  3. Yes, we’re thinking of tiling both the floor surround and the fireplace surround. I presume the brick is actual fullsize/depth brick and not tile, so we’d have to tile over it. If so, would the mortar and tile protrude too much from the mantle/floor? Has anyone else done this?

    Thanks!

  4. I don’t know much about this, but that won’t stop me.

    I’d match it to something. Either tile floor surround to match fireplace surround (yes, Heath tiles very pretty) or floor surround to match firebox (I just did mine in soapstone firebrick from Teixeira). If you’re not doing either one of those things, I probably wouldn’t introduce a third element. I’d just paint over again in dark color.