Fireplace Mantle Makeover
Step 3: Covering the Brick Step “The Hearth”
Many folks cover the hearth with granite, marble or tile. Our client disliked the brick look, and did not want a stone hearth. They chose to make a wooden hearth to cover the brick step.
To build this hearth cover, we first installed 2-1/2″ trim on all tree sides of the hearth. this trim was fastened to the brick and floor with construction adhesive and some 16d nails pre-drilled into the hardwood floor. Furring strips were then added to the top of the brick step, and at the same height as my vertical trim. the furring strips were fastened to the brick with construction adhesive.
The next step was to make the hearth top. I joined 2 pieces of 1″x 12″ poplar with biscuits and glue securing with several pipe clamps. When joining two panels like this, ensure that the panels are flat before applying clamping pressure. This can be accomplished with a framing square, level or other flat edge. We let the glue set overnight, filled the seam with wood putty and sanded it smooth.
We routed the edges, sanded and installed on 2-1/2″ poplar trim to hide the front of the brick. The wood sat perfectly over the brick and we nailed into the trim with 1-1″4 finished nails. We filled all the nail holes with wood putty and hand sanded smooth.
