Easy Mantel Makeover

By: Joseph Truini (Page 3 of 5)

Geoffrey Gross

cover brick ends of firebox with slate tile

Geoffrey Gross

Cover up the ends of the bricks on both sides of the firebox with slate tiles cut 35/8 in. wide.

use a rubber mallet to set slate tiles in mortar

Geoffrey Gross

Use a rubber mallet to firmly set the slate into the mortar. Thin cardboard strips act as tile spacers.

Geoffrey Gross

Press the tiles into the thinset mortar above the firebox. The 1x3 support shelf wedged in the opening helps keep the tiles from sliding down.

Geoffrey Gross

It's in the bag: Fill a plastic bag with grout, then snip off one corner and squeeze the grout into the joints.

Geoffrey Gross

Wait about 20 minutes, then use a wet sponge to wipe off the excess grout from the surface of the slate.

Geoffrey Gross

Screw a 2x3 cleat to the wall above the fireplace. Position it so that the mantel will just slip over it.

Geoffrey Gross

Mark the cleats' positions with tape to indicate where to drive in the screws when attaching the mantel.

photos: Geoffrey Gross

Tilt the mantelpiece into place, making sure it slips over all three cleats and fits tight against the wall.

drill a counterbore hole and screw the mantel into the cleat

photo: Geoffrey Gross

Drill a counterbore hole, then drive a 2 1/2-in. screw through the mantel shelf and into the cleat

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PHASE I: Slate Tiles (cont.)
Once the ends of the bricks are tiled, spread mortar onto the brick facing and set those slate tiles into place. Again, use the mallet to tap the slate firmly into the mortar (step 2).

After applying slate to the left and right sides of the firebox opening, trowel mortar onto the brick face above the opening.

Before setting the horizontal row of tiles on the brick above the opening, erect a support shelf to prevent the tiles from sliding down. Cut a 1x3 to fit across the width of the opening, then wedge it in place with two vertical 1x3s and two shims. Now back-butter the slate tiles and set them into the mortar over the opening (step 3).

Let the mortar cure overnight, then remove the spacers and fill the joints with grout. To speed up this step, I filled a sandwich bag with grout, snipped off one corner and squeezed the grout directly into the joints (step 4).

Remove any excess grout with a plastic putty knife or wood shim (a metal tool will scratch the slate). Wait 20 minutes, then wipe the slate clean with a wet sponge (step 5).

After 45 minutes, buff the slate with a dry cotton cloth.