The black metal face surrounding the fireplace opening is usually riveted to the the fireplace unit and cannot be removed. brackets were screwed into the wall and covered by pollyfilla. or even crowbar, you can use these tools to help pull away the mantel from the To start removing one of these fireplace surrounds, you will have to chip away the plaster around the edge of the mantelpiece. Old timber fire surrounds were often screwed to wooden battens fixed to the chimney breast. Out with the old, in with a whole new, clean and modern flagstone fireplace. The grate (the centre piece going back into the fireplace) may be fixed to the surround with screws or bolts, but there is no need to separate them as the surround and grate will come out together. Rent a dumpster so you can easily get rid of the bricks. We renovated the kitchen a couple of years Simply removing Carefully remove the filler and clean the screw slots, and undo the screws. The constructional hearth should be left in place and self-leveling compound used if necessary to smooth the top before any floor covering is laid. wall once the sealant has been removed. Modern timber fire surrounds are often secured to the chimney breast using lugs on the side hidden behind the plaster. I should mention this isn’t a functional fireplace, obviously. Parts Of A Fireplace Explained With Pictures And Diagrams, See what I use and my recommended tools here, Do Fireplaces Actually Heat A Room? To remove a fireplace surround, you’ll need If the hearth rests against the front of the surround, it needs to be removed first (see below). If you have any sort of screwdriver, chisel Look online for construction dumpster rentals in your area... 2. a mantle located on its own above the fireplace. Removing a fireplace cover like ours was actually a lot easier than I expected. remove a fireplace surround and mantel: I’ve explained how to remove a fireplace When it comes to renovating an old property, one of the first things which may need to be considered is whether to keep old open fireplaces – with modern central heating systems, an open fireplace can just be an escape route for heated air. caulk can be a sign that the mantel has simply been attached to the wall with removed without professional help or without incurring significant costs. Then you’ll need to uncover the metal lugs that are used to secure the surround to the chimney breast. Look over the surface of the timber to locate the screw heads, they may be covered with filler or possible hidden behind a decorative moulding. The picture below shows what our kitchen The raised hearth is bonded using mortar to a concrete slab (known as the constructional hearth) flush with the floor and projecting into the room. Take away the existing fire surround trim. Insert a pry bar between the wood and the wall along one side near the top of the mantle. Lift the surround away and remove the battens from the wall. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. structures (as shown below) and so can be attached to the wall with metal Look for signs of any glue or caulk where the mantle meets the wall. above the fireplace where the metal brackets were situated. isn’t too difficult, but either one of them without any issues can require an On the other hand, our old kitchen typically be an extension of the masonry material used within the house You can go for thick borders for the surround if you have a large room, or stick to a narrow and elegant border in a small space. This site is owned and operated by Fireplace Universe. fireplace didn’t have a structural fireplace surround, but a wooden one that Structural surrounds and mantels will (And When To Replace). In the case of our fireplace surround, it Remove any inner tiled surround, it is usually fairly light and can be moved by … Removing a tile fireplace surround provides you with a blank slate to upgrade your fireplace wall any way you like. You need to reveal the lugs before you can remove the surround, which means that you will need to chip away a thin strip of plaster all the way around the fireplace (around 25mm should be enough). the open fireplace after removing the surround and back panel. Use a hammer and cold chisel to make a hole in the mortar so that a crowbar can be inserted to lift the hearth – once the mortar bond is broken, it will need a couple of people to carry it outside where it can be broken up in the same manner as a tiled fire surround. Once a fire surround has been removed, the opening can be bricked up, or boarded up over a timber frame built across the front of the opening. Next, measure the width of the fireplace opening, … held in place a cast iron back panel that accompanied a gas fireplace insert. construction, or made from another type of masonry material. Clear the slots in the fixing screws of plaster and if possible remove them. show below. Carefully remove the filler and clean the screw slots, and undo the screws. without first removing a gas fireplace insert then be sure to get a There were two holes located in the wall such as wood burning, gas or electric located in the fireplace along with the This may include removing some or all of the brick,... 2. the pollyfilla from the wall gave us access to the brackets that were held A rubber from a wall you’ll need to figure out Sometimes an insert will be surrounded by something... 3. You will need to remove any glue or caulk from around of the fireplace. In Indoor Fireplaces, Wood Burning Fireplaces by James O'KellyMarch 21, 2020Leave a Comment. mantel as part of the structure, many open fireplaces can be found with simply If you want to separate the grate from the fire surround, the fixing screws/bolts will probably be seized solid and will probably need to be soaked penetrating oil before they can be loosened, this may take several applications of oil over a 24 hours period. To You can remove the fireplace surround yourself with a little knowledge and the right tools. Removing the Chimney 1. may indicate where and how it has been attached to the wall. understanding of how and where they are attached to the wall. Before you can remove a fireplace mantel Look out for any signs of screws or nails either on top of the mantel, Clear the slots in the fixing screws of plaster and if possible remove them. If in doubt, ask an expert – once you've damaged or broken up the surround, it will have little or no value. The covered glass front style design of a modern fireplace also looks great with a stacked stone fireplace surround. stuck. This should reveal the lugs holding it to the wall. Repeat the process until all of the soot is removed. a piece of a wood that is already attached to the wall. Removing the surround or mantel from an Doing the update brick fireplace can be done through its … Today I wanted to share with you exactly how we did that. Saved by Abbey Berry. or nails may be located on top or beneath the mantel. The fireplace should be a focal point of the room, and it can't do that job unless the fireplace surround is as appealing as the roaring fire. Further ReadingHow A Fireplace WorksParts Of A Fireplace Explained With Pictures And Diagrams. help pry the surround away from the wall if it’s stuck in place. You will need a hammer, pry bar, utility knife. To remove these, chip away the wall to free them. The doors and frame are the only thing you can remove safely from the unit without causing any damage. professional to give their opinion. To break up the surround, lay it face down on a firm base and cover it with sacking, or an old curtain. It looks like someone may have colored the grout black, lightening it up might lighten up the entire fireplace for you. The concrete means that the surround will be very heavy, and it is best to have someone else available to hold it steady and help move it away. First cut any caulking that would be at the wall between the wood and wall. In our A fireplace mantle may also be screwed onto the mantle before it can be taken off the wall. 69. and so we could remove it without professional help. Some fireplaces have surrounds and mantels A real brick or stone fire surround needs to be removed brick by brick (or stone by stone). There may be a tiled inner surround which has to be removed separately or a non-inflammable inner surround attached between the sides of the outer surround. Remove any inner tiled surround, it is usually fairly light and can be moved by one person. Once the fixings have been removed, take the weight of the surround, remove the piece of wood supporting the surround and pulling the surround forward, lower on to the floor. A tiled fire surround usually has a concrete backing to which the tiles are fixed and is screwed to the chimney breast through metal lugs, in the same manner as a cast-iron surround. Pry the wood surround off the wall. I created this website to help others learn about all types of fireplaces and how they can make the most of them. professional confirmed that the gas insert wasn’t connected to the mains gas, the surround and insert removed: Although fireplace surrounds will include a That will de-emphasize the surround and give you a more neutral … Hi, I’m James, I’ve been using traditional open fireplaces and wood burning stoves for many years, and I’ve also recently bought an electric fireplace. The price it will cost to remove the surround and hearth is determined by the material used. Use demolition hammer… If a fireplace surround won’t come away from the wall without brute force, then it may still be attached to the wall in another location. If it is just brick or stone facing, removal in the same as for a tiled surround above. Remove all of the trim from around the fireplace insert. Dip the sponge into the vinegar and rub it in circles over the glass. make them more of a focal point for a room. ), Why Open Fireplaces Can Be Drafty (And How To Fix), Do Wood Stoves Wear Out? mallet can also be used to help ease the mantel out of position if it’s See what I use and my recommended tools here. Cast-iron fire surrounds are often top heavy so before starting to remove the fixings, wedge a length of timber between the top of the surround and the floor to prevent it fall when the fixings are released. how has been attached to the wall. Climb onto your roof so you can access the chimney. Removing a Brick Fireplace Tearing out an unused firebox can open up a room and create more space. Wearing protective gloves and safety spectacles,  use a hammer and cold chisel to chip away the mortar to loosen each brick/stone starting at the end of the top course, work your way along and down. But a gas fire … Put the pry bar just under the front of the top shelf and use the hammer to push the pry bar between the shelf and moulding then pry upwards and repeat pulling the rest off off. case, we simply had to unscrew the back panel from the wall in the locations Step 1 Remove the grout from between the bricks on the fireplace surround. Before you start to remove the fire surround or hearth it’s worth asking yourself if they have a resale value – cast iron and old timber surrounds can have a value which makes their careful removal worthwhile -  brick and tile surrounds dating from the 1940’s don’t usually have a resale value. surround, it may need to be removed before the surround or back panel can be If the position of the screws is not obvious, assume that side lugs are used and chip away the plaster down one side of the surround; if this reveals a lug, carry on chipping away the plaster from around the surround and remove the surround as outlined for. A cast-iron fire surround is usually fixed to the wall by screws through metal lugs near the top on each side, often there are also lugs towards the bottom; these will be hidden by the wall plaster. It’s a great way to get the look of a fireplace in a room where there isn’t one. For a single mantel by itself without a surround, look for screws either on top of … If no screw heads are visible, use the chisel to pry off outer panels, or trim on the vertical legs to reveal screw heads and remove them. Removing a Wood-Burning or Electrical Insert 1. Removing an old fireplace involves three main steps - removing the surround (which may be one of several types), removing a raised hearth if there is one, and sealing up the fireplace opening (unless a new hearth/fire surround is going to be fitted). later and removed the fireplace surround and back panel, along with the The pictures below show what our living is slotted straight onto it. As the fixings are removed, get someone to steady the surround to prevent if falling. With the screws removed, the fireplace If the surround has been painted or varnished, this will probably need to stripped off before you have a chance to locate the screw positions. Where individual tiles, bricks or stone are bonded directly to the constructional hearth, wear protective gloves and goggles and use a hammer and cold chisel to chip away the mortar to loosen each individual tile, brick or stone; or chip away sufficient mortar so that they can be individual prised off. wooden pegs or lag bolts. shelf, a fireplace mantel can be commonly attached to the wall with screws or Ours attached from within using a series of 4 clamps to lock it in place (one in each corner), and there were no unsightly … If no lugs are revealed, it suggests that the surround is secured to battens on the wall. For more information about fireplace back panels, you can read one of our other articles here. Today’s homeowners have many options from which to choose: Smooth concrete, new tile, granite, rustic brick, even wood can breathe new life into an outdated fireplace surround. These metal Bolts are screwed into the wall above the fireplace before a mantel I want to remove the brick surround and the threshold, freeing the fireplace of some of its weight and then refinish … fireplace looked liked when we bought the house. surround from a wall will leave a fireplace back panel still attached. If you can’t remove your fireplace surround Step 4 – Removing the Surround Only If you intend to remove the surround only, any backing material, as well as a connecting chimney, will be left in place. against the wall with screws. After removing any wall covering, carefully chip away the plaster all around the surround to expose the fixings and also give clearance when the surround is removed. You can use a screwdriver or chisel to Attach the Support Ledger. Tap lightly on the screwdriver's handle with a … to find what’s attaching it to the wall. Remove your old surround to get the space ready for a surround that better complements the room. Often the mortar used under a tiled concrete hearth will be fairly weak as the weight of it alone will hold it in place. Glass Surrounds To remove soot from a glass fireplace surround, use distilled white vinegar and an eraser sponge, like the one put out by Mr. Clean. Place sticky notes on the wall where the studs are. If the screws/bolts can still not be loosened, they may be removed by either using a nut splitter (which can be hired) or drilled out using a high-speed-steel twist of less than the diameter of the screw shank. was attached to the wall with two metal brackets that stuck up from behind the Where a raised tile hearth is fitted, this will either be resting against the front of the surround, or the surround may rest on the back of hearth. The surround, comprised of marble blocks, will leave a spot in the room that needs to be either replaced with a new surround, or covered over. of wood that’s already joined to the wall. brackets located at the edges of the surround, or even screwed onto another piece After removing any wall covering, carefully chip away the plaster all around the surround to expose the fixings and also give clearance when the surround is removed. In this case any screws removed. Budget-Friendly: Eye-Catching Artwork. paint or treat it, to upgrade it to another surround or mantel, or to remove it © Copyright 2006-2020 practicalDIY.com - All rights reserved. If there was any form of fireplace insert Remove any nails holding the insert flashing to the wood framing. made from concrete, which can’t be removed. The fastest way to cut out the mortar from between the brick is … The last step in the actual demo process is to remove any damage drywall or concrete board. existing fireplace may be required during renovation works to the fireplace, to Once the fixings have been removed, lower the surround with the aid of your helper. Surround and hearth removal costs – brick, tiled and wood. Once you have tiled the surround using a combination of patterned tiles … We removed our gas fireplace insert from Step 1 Place the tip of a flat-head screwdriver over a portion of the tile's grout. Step One: Loosen the Sides – The best way to remove this type of mantel is to start at the bottom and work your way up. Fireplace surrounds are typically hollow  FireplaceUniverse.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. There may be metal ties or nails in the mortar joints and attached to the chimney breast. fireplace insert. Work the pry bar between the edge of the mantel and the drywall, starting at the lowest point, and slowly push the mantel away from the wall. surround. Do you need a flue? room fireplace looks like, and has an integrated hearth, surround and mantle If the fixings cannot be removed, try to carefully prise the lugs away from the wall, be very careful when attempting this as cast-iron is very brittle and can easily break – such damage will lower the value of the surround if you intend to sell it. Wearing protective gloves and safety spectacles, use a sledgehammer to break it up into smaller pieces – there may be some metal strengthening within the concrete which you would need to release by breaking the concrete to release them. If the fixings cannot be removed, try to prise the lugs away from the wall. Tape thin plywood or cardboard to floor around hearth to protect floor from scratches and debris. Many fireplaces have a surround to help If you’re trying to salvage the whole thing, be careful not to pry too hard, as you could damage the pieces. A hearth may consist of a tiled slab of concrete or a number of stone or bricks. The abstract artwork over the fireplace … You can also check out what fireplaces and stoves I’m currently using here. surround can be removed from the wall. In this case the mantle may not be an integrated Once you have cut that away you can start replacing the sections with new boards. A dated fireplace is dressed up with molding and slate tiles. part of the fireplace and so can be removed without affecting any other parts (Or A House? surround or mantel in more detail below. You may find that removing a fireplace If possible, move the surround outside for breaking up. Glue or Once you have found all of the fixing lugs, you can remove the screws holding the surround to the wall. As with many other forms of mantle or Learn how to remove an old brass fireplace surround with these DIY tips. If it’s a wooden or tiled surround, it can be as simple as removing screws and lifting it away. You don't need a flue for an electric fire. Here’s what our fireplace looked liked with lag bolts. Knockdown Mantel, or Surround Step 1 Insert the tip of a chisel behind prominent moldings and pry them off to reveal screw heads. Fireplace Doors Updating House Wood Burning Fireplace Removing Fireplace Clean Fireplace Fireplace Cover Heatilator Fireplace. Gas Fire Surround Removal Tips. Due to the depth we had to use drywall on the upper section of the fireplace surround and tile board on the floor section of the fireplace. And remove the holding screws.

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