How To Build a Faux Fireplace





Step 1: Obsess about a blank space on your wall. Try for 5 years to figure out what to put there. Rearrange the furniture in attempts to draw attention to the big arch. Then away from it. Stick art, mirrors, tables, chairs there. Nothing looks right. What the F is supposed to go there? That's right. An F. A fireplace. It's the only answer. 

Step 2: Research the cost of having a fireplace built. The internet tells you that a real, wood burning fireplace with a chimney can cost upwards of $10,000. The internet never lies. Can you build one for around a hundred bucks? Give up all hope of ever having a fireplace. 

Step 3: Build one anyway. It will be faux. It will hold candles and fake bird eggs and that's all you really wanted anyway. A place to decorate. Internal debates of form vs. function melt away. The form is the function if the form makes you happy. And costs less than a hundred bucks. 
Step 4: Decide to make the whole thing as fireproof as possible anyway. You know the whole entire internet will criticize you for making a fire hazard death trap in your living room. But as Aristotle once tweeted, “To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” And as Dwayne Wade would say, "This is my house."
The base is a particular kind of drywall called X board. It has awesome fire resistance properties, which is why it was adopted by Professor Xavier in the first place.
Then you make a frame out of 2x4 studs. No, I don't have any dimensions or real instructions here because I was totally making this up as I was going along and I was trying to do it fast while Jon was out of town. You know those annoying husband questions..."Are you going to burn the house down blah blah blah". 
 Here's the frame sitting on the X board.
Now see what I did? I built an identical frame in front. And then stuck smaller 2x4 hunks between them to screw it all together nice and tight. 
And now look. See that white board that looks like cement backer board? It's cement backer board. Specifically, it's Durock NextGen. Costs about 8 bucks at the store, is very fire resistant, and when you screw it into place, it feels like you're screwing a saltine cracker to the wall. Very crumbly. But, like the X board, it's pretty cheap, offers awesome fire resistance, and cuts by scoring and snapping with a utility knife.
Then I cut a big piece of X board to cover up the front. Screwed it into the studs with drywall screws. The sides were some old panelling that I had in the garage. Starting to look like a fireplace now!
 This is the fun part. Adding molding and trim and tiles. This is where you can go nuts and make it pretty. I'm in love with egg and dart molding. And the tiles were inexpensive, ceramic 12x12 tiles that I cut down to size with a tile cutter. The mantle lifts off and on like a box lid, which is cool, because you have access to the two screws that hold the whole thing to the wall. Did I mention that? Oh yeah. I drilled 2 metal brackets into the interior 2x4 studs and then into the wall studs. The whole thing can be moved around if you ever want. The wall and floor are unharmed (except for 2 screw holes).
Then I "painted" the inside of the actual firebox part black with this stuff. This is also what I stuck the tiles on with. Very adhesive. Spreads on like peanut butter. Yum, tastes like fireproof! 
I grouted between the tiles with regular old Quikrete mortar. 
Are you still reading this? Wow! Thank you! I know these are crappy, vague, figure it out yourself kind of directions. Sorry about that. I just wanted anyone out there who wants to build a faux fireplace to know that it can be done. Just remember: this is decorative. It's not a functional fireplace. Be safe. Use appropriate materials. Don't light a real fire in it other than candles. Never leave burning candles unattended. And most important of all, don't burn your house down and blame me. I am not liable. Sorry if that sounds snappy. I just want you to be safe. And have pretty things. 



Comments

  1. Why are you so awesome?! WHY? This is the best thing ever. You are a genius.

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  2. This is awesome! I also have a faux fireplace, but I just bought a mantle off of Craigslist, painted it white and that was that. http://danandbrit.blogspot.com/2012/11/things-are-coming-together.html

    I love the candles - did you make them? Or buy them?

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    1. Thank you! I bought some birch logs at a local gardening center, cut them various lengths, then used a router to carve out a hole in the top to insert a tea light.

      Your fireplace is gorgeous! What a score!

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  3. I just Love you!!!
    That is all.

    Fondly,

    Michelle

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  4. This is so amazing! and you are so awesome. Seriously. I am going out to buy supplies to build a fireplace to burn my house down. Kidding! This is seriously amazing! Thanks for sharing!!

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  5. Thanks SOOO much for this. My hubs wants to build an oversized faux fireplace and use stone veneer for the outside...to go in his man-cave...your instructions are great. I now have them bookmarked...:)

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  6. Genius...not only am I gonna build this...but. you inspired me to install the dart molding which im Krazy about! love u for this...also that grass planter u have on the mantle? did you make that? if so please share;-) Ur hubby is lucky#Peace n love

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  7. This was not only instructional, it was also super funny! You have a gift both for entertaining and DIY
    So inspired.

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  8. Love it! Now to convince the hubby because unfortunately he never leaves town ;)

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  9. Absolutely doing this today! Thank you!

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  10. Are you kidding?! You are incredibly talented and funny. Love ya. And the husband comments...so funny, so true. Thank you!!

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  11. I am building this...changing it up a little tho...by using the fireproofing materials, spackle and tiling the inside as well so I can use the electric (SAFE) insert I bought. MUCH cheaper than the already made electric ones at Lowe's shhhh our secret :) Thank you for the inspiration and visual of framing!!

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  12. This is awesome!! I'm not a builder, but I sure do know a few. I will have this built ASAP! It beats paying $500 for one at the store.

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  13. thanks for the information. I'm going to try something similar. And by the way this was a very entertaining read thank you.

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  14. What paint color are your walls? I love it with the white fireplace!

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  15. I love your DIY "fireplace".. I am going to make it, when I find one free side in my wall... wish you a very mary Christmas..

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  16. I moved and don't have a fireplace now, but in just a while I'll have one like this. Your instructions were so simple and love the way you write. Thanks so much.

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  17. Can you give me a little direction on how to make the "top"?

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  18. I wanna make this so badly!! I need one!!! I've never done any project like this though and I sooo don't think I could figure out measurement myself, lol :(

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  19. Where did you buy the fireplace mortar? I can't find it anywhere!

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  20. This is absolutely spectacular. This goes in my bucket list.

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  21. Hi this is fabulous, well done. I'd love to make one. Can you tell me how you went around your skirting board to make the fireplace fit flush to the wall as it seems to and this is the only bit I don't understand. Thanks

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  22. Great job! Looks lovely.

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  23. Fabulous Job.I'm going to do one .My lounge room needs this :) Thanks

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  24. You are awesome! And funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times.

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  25. You are awesome! And funny! I laughed out loud a couple of times.

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  26. You are BRILLIANT! I have been wanting to do this forever and could picture in my mind but not able to actually do it! Now I can, Thank you for sharing...Just Brilliant!

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  27. this is the BEST LOOKING made at home fireplace I've seen on the internet. Congratulations!

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  28. Your articles are very well written and unique.hnninglek/

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  29. I enjoyed that :)

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  30. Good Article.Thank you.
    http://www.fauxfireplacemantel.com/

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