EASY STEPS TO YOUR FIREPLACE

Reclaim your fireplace by installing an electric model in the original recess, then add a mantel and hearth.

Gather your supplies

• Regent electric fireplace

• Timber mantel

• 1200 x 595 x 17mm formply

• 2400 x 450 x 4.5mm fibre cement sheet

• 300 x 300mm white marble mosaic tiles

• 42 x 19mm dressed pine

You’ll also need Utility knife; spirit level; pencil; multi tool; circular saw; score and snap knife; construction adhesive; 20mm clouts; hammer; tile primer; adhesive to suit marble tiles; 5mm notched trowel; angle grinder fi ed with a diamond cu ing blade; stone sealer; light grey grout; grout sponge; fine sponge; PVA glue; 50mm nails; hammer; drill; 60mm screws; gap filler; wood filler; sandpaper; undercoat; white semi gloss enamel paint; painting equipment

For you to note

• Described is the process for installing a fireplace into an old chimney breast that has been plastered over. For the same effect on a standard wall, look for a freestanding fireplace and mantel or build a wall out to take the depth of the fireplace insert.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Using a sharp utility knife, cut a hole in the plasterboard used to cover the old fireplace opening. Use it to determine extent of old opening. Find centre of opening and use a spirit level to draw a plumb line down the centre.

STEP 2 Starting from the centre, draw the opening to suit your fireplace.

STEP 3 Using a powered multi tool, cut plasterboard and skirting along lines for the opening and remove.

STEP 4 Have an electrician install a power connection to suit heater requirements.

STEP 5 Sit fireplace insert in its final position. From this, measure and cut skirting to

suit width of mantel.

STEP 6 Cut formply with a circular saw to suit desired width of your hearth and the depth to suit tiles. Make the width a multiple of 300mm to suit mosaic sheets. Cut fibre cement with score and snap knife to match formply. Glue with construction adhesive, then nail together using 20mm clouts.

STEP 7 Apply tile primer to fibre cement and let dry. Mix tile adhesive. Spread over fibre cement using a 5mm notched trowel. Starting from centre, lay tile sheets, making sure gaps between sheets match those between the tiles on them. At ends, cut single tiles using an angle grinder to fit gaps as needed. Allow glue to dry.

STEP 8 Seal tiles using a stone sealer and let dry. Mix grout with water to achieve a toothpaste-like consistency.

STEP 9 Spread grout over

tiles and force into gaps using a grout sponge.

STEP 10 Use a fine sponge to remove excess grout from tiles. Rinse sponge and change water frequently. Leave grout to dry.

STEP 11 Sit hearth in place with fireplace insert on top. If there are gaps under insert to the hearth, notch the skirting so hearth sits further back. Mark skirting then cut using the multi tool. When ready, glue hearth to floor using construction adhesive. Reinstall fireplace insert.

STEP 12 Cut dressed timber to make skirting to fit around hearth. Make top of skirting 4mm below top of tiles and mitre joins in corners. Using PVA glue and 50mm nails, glue and nail together then glue against edge of hearth. STEP 13 Spread adhesive on back of mantel and press to wall. Drill and screw through mantel using 60mm screws to securely hold against wall.

STEP 14 Fill gaps around mantel using gap filler and screw holes with wood filler. Let dry, then sand smooth. Undercoat and paint mantel. Let dry and sand lightly a er each coat.

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 5 STEP 9 STEP 10 STEP 11 STEP 12 STEP 13