Fireplace Accent Wall, Part II
Thanks for coming back to check out Part II of the fireplace update! (If you missed it, you can check out Part I here.)
Well I did it! I did the smear!
It was much, much messier than I anticipated. This is the lovely "after" picture, but there was a ton of mess, scrubbing, and touching up before I snapped this picture.
I wish I had some in-progress pictures to show you, but frankly my hands were so dirty during the whole process I didn't want to pick up my camera.
I used a container of thin-set premixed mortar in white. First I brought grout on accident and had to go back to the hardware store and exchange it. Smooth, Maggie.
I started off on the left side of the fireplace so that if I didn't like what was happening it would be as hidden as possible. I grabbed a bucket of water, a large sponge, a wide spackle knife, and stiff bristle brush, and started messing around.
Initially I started by using the spackle knife to smear gobs of mortar onto the brick, then wet the sponge and spread it around, which created a nice haze on the brick where there wasn't a direct application of mortar. However, it was looking a little too densely white for me.
I wound up just using my hands to smear the mortar onto the brick in a really patchy way, focusing on getting it over the old mortar in between the bricks. Then I used the damp sponge across the whole area to cover most of the color of the brick, and ended by using the stiff bristle brush roughly over the top to add a bunch of texture.
I love how it turned out! Frankly, pre-smear, the family room was looking a little too red, white, and blue for my taste. Nothing against our wonderful country, I just don't need my house looking like the American flag.
The German smear brings a hint of rusticity without being country. It got rid of that bad red-orange brick while leaving the texture and character that I wanted.
I'm very glad I did it, but I learned several lessons the hard way that I would like to pass along to you so you have an easier time than I did.
1. Dropcloth the heck out of the area you're smearing. I laid down some old sheets and towels, but didn't stick them in place in any way. It worked okay, but mortar still managed to get everywhere. I'd also advise using disposable dropcloths, as old towels and sheets will have mortar stuck to them for eternity.
2. You can tape off, but be careful. Taping off with painter's tape would certainly help control the mess, but the mortar starts to dry quickly so you would have to remove the tape as quickly as possible. Once the mortar is dry, your tape will be stuck under there permanently.
3. The damp sponge creates a lovely haze on the brick, and an unlovely haze on everything else it touches. Including my slate floors.
4. Should you get mortar all over your floors (as I did) you can clean it up with a steam mop and ton of elbow grease. I put my steam mop on the highest setting and just worked it over the dirty areas over and over, while my wonderful husband followed behind me with a damp microfiber cloth. His elbow grease picked up whatever mortar was left.
5. It's obvious you'll want to wear grungy clothes, but be aware the mortar is also virtually impossible to get off of skin immediately. I scrubbed for a good 20 minutes in the shower, and while I got some of it off, I think I may still have small specks of mortar clinging to my knees. Obviously it'll all come off eventually, but maybe don't do this if you're going on a date later in the evening.
I touched up the walls around the fireplace with paint and ta-da! For the moment, the fireplace accent wall is done!
We have big plans we're working on for a natural wood accent, and I'm not planning on hanging any decor until that's done. Might be awhile before we tackle that one.
In the meantime I get to stare at this beauty on the daily. Love it!
Well I did it! I did the smear!
 |
| Check out my inspiration here. |
It was much, much messier than I anticipated. This is the lovely "after" picture, but there was a ton of mess, scrubbing, and touching up before I snapped this picture.
I wish I had some in-progress pictures to show you, but frankly my hands were so dirty during the whole process I didn't want to pick up my camera.
I used a container of thin-set premixed mortar in white. First I brought grout on accident and had to go back to the hardware store and exchange it. Smooth, Maggie.
I started off on the left side of the fireplace so that if I didn't like what was happening it would be as hidden as possible. I grabbed a bucket of water, a large sponge, a wide spackle knife, and stiff bristle brush, and started messing around.
Initially I started by using the spackle knife to smear gobs of mortar onto the brick, then wet the sponge and spread it around, which created a nice haze on the brick where there wasn't a direct application of mortar. However, it was looking a little too densely white for me.
I wound up just using my hands to smear the mortar onto the brick in a really patchy way, focusing on getting it over the old mortar in between the bricks. Then I used the damp sponge across the whole area to cover most of the color of the brick, and ended by using the stiff bristle brush roughly over the top to add a bunch of texture.
I love how it turned out! Frankly, pre-smear, the family room was looking a little too red, white, and blue for my taste. Nothing against our wonderful country, I just don't need my house looking like the American flag.
 |
| Remember this? |
I'm very glad I did it, but I learned several lessons the hard way that I would like to pass along to you so you have an easier time than I did.
1. Dropcloth the heck out of the area you're smearing. I laid down some old sheets and towels, but didn't stick them in place in any way. It worked okay, but mortar still managed to get everywhere. I'd also advise using disposable dropcloths, as old towels and sheets will have mortar stuck to them for eternity.
2. You can tape off, but be careful. Taping off with painter's tape would certainly help control the mess, but the mortar starts to dry quickly so you would have to remove the tape as quickly as possible. Once the mortar is dry, your tape will be stuck under there permanently.
3. The damp sponge creates a lovely haze on the brick, and an unlovely haze on everything else it touches. Including my slate floors.
4. Should you get mortar all over your floors (as I did) you can clean it up with a steam mop and ton of elbow grease. I put my steam mop on the highest setting and just worked it over the dirty areas over and over, while my wonderful husband followed behind me with a damp microfiber cloth. His elbow grease picked up whatever mortar was left.
5. It's obvious you'll want to wear grungy clothes, but be aware the mortar is also virtually impossible to get off of skin immediately. I scrubbed for a good 20 minutes in the shower, and while I got some of it off, I think I may still have small specks of mortar clinging to my knees. Obviously it'll all come off eventually, but maybe don't do this if you're going on a date later in the evening.
I touched up the walls around the fireplace with paint and ta-da! For the moment, the fireplace accent wall is done!
We have big plans we're working on for a natural wood accent, and I'm not planning on hanging any decor until that's done. Might be awhile before we tackle that one.
In the meantime I get to stare at this beauty on the daily. Love it!
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