Any home improvement experts? I need help redoing my fireplace!

[cjchaps]

So my fiancee and I recently moved into our first house. We are just beginning to taylor it to our needs. In the family room there is a fireplace on one wall. It is currently surrounded by "Face" bricks, which are about 1/2 inch thick bricks. I took one off of the bottom flat part of the hearth, and it appears it is wood underneath. I took a face brick off the wall part, and it appears that the bricks are just cemented/glued to the drywall. We are thinking about replacing the face bricks with slate tiles. Slate seems like it is a pretty "slick" material, will a morter/cement/glue be able to hold it on drywall? Any other tips for doing a project like this?

 

[amdskip]

Pics would help here. These aren't in the actual firebox correct? Is it a wood buring fireplace? What about heat, those tiles going to get warm at all?

 

[Cyberian]

I'm not a mason, and I don't even play one on TV, but I don't think you can glue slate to sheetrock.

 

[Zim Hosein]

This link might help cjchaps: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_fireplaces/0,1796,HGTV_3701,00.html

 

[cjchaps]

It looks like this but it's not in a corner... It is a gas fireplace, and it doesn't seem to get very hot around the outside of the fireplace.

Originally posted by: amdskip
Pics would help here. These aren't in the actual firebox correct? Is it a wood buring fireplace? What about heat, those tiles going to get warm at all?

 

[amdskip]

Does the slate have like groves on the back so that it grips the adhesive maybe? I wonder if something simple like construction adheasive like liquid nails would hold them? If you've never used that stuff, it is very strong and works great.

 

[NEWKILLA]

its basically the same way you do a ceramic tile floor

remove the brick, spread out the morter or mastic

and start placing the tile

Done deal

 

[cjchaps]

Slate tile doesn't really have groves per se, it is just an uneven surface...

Originally posted by: amdskip
Does the slate have like groves on the back so that it grips the adhesive maybe? I wonder if something simple like construction adheasive like liquid nails would hold them? If you've never used that stuff, it is very strong and works great.

 

[cjchaps]

So the ceramic tile mortar/mastic will stick to slate tiles well? I'll have to buy some and give it a dry on a small area to make sure it suits my needs...

Originally posted by: NEWKILLA
its basically the same way you do a ceramic tile floor

remove the brick, spread out the morter or mastic

and start placing the tile

Done deal

 

[Ornery]

Nice link there Zim, but I think most of that info is geared toward real masonry. I believe Casey's unit is a self contained job, without a chimney or anything like that.

IMO, slate doesn't belong on a wall. The look you're going for is probably more of a stone type appearance. Real stone would have to have a good foundation and real mortar holding it together. It would also be anchored with wall ties. You can buy lightweight faux stone like the brick that is on there now. It's expensive, but is the right material for what you're doing. Real slate probably isn't impossible to use, but I wouldn't want to try it.

Here's slate wall cladding, so there must be some way to attach it. This guy managed to do it, but it don't look too great.

 

[cjchaps]

Thanks for the link!

Originally posted by: Ornery
Nice link there Zim, but I think most of that info is geared toward real masonry. I believe Casey's unit is a self contained job, without a chimney or anything like that.

IMO, slate doesn't belong on a wall. The look you're going for is probably.....
Here's slate wall cladding, so there must be some way to attach it. This guy managed to do it, but it don't look too great.

 

[Ornery]

Your only hope is to use the proper cement, and particular trowel for that cement and material. If you're going to have grout between them, you'll need spacers to hold them apart when drying. That cement will not be able to keep them from sliding down the wall. They'll have to rest on the hearth, and each other to carry the weight till they're dry. You sure you want to do this?

 

[T2T III]

I'd get rid of the drywall backing. Home Depot sells Durock (cement board) - 5' x 3' sheets of 1/2" board sells for about $8.50. This makes for the best surface to adhere tile, slate, etc. to.