The facade is brick- what are my options for remodeling and how much will it cost? I don’t use it much- is it cheaper to just remove altogether?
Your least expensive option is to have a facade installed over the brick. That is simply tile work. Removing the fireplace can get much more expensive. We have removed fireplaces when clients requested that a sliding door next to the fireplace be expanded from 6’ to 12’, for example. That requires removing the fireplace and chimney stack. There is lots of concrete in there and it requires a lot of work to hammer out and remove. Then you need a header, some roof repair, and possibly a concrete stair if planning to enlarge a door. Tile work can be a couple of days of labor and would be your least expensive option.
Hometree, Inc.
Pleasant Hill, CA.
I would install tile over fireplace, a nice mantle if you like the look if not so go floor to ceiling same tile, should not cost to much.
You have a couple different options, one you can add gas and do a simple log lighter. You can do a log set (decorative and looks like burning wood, operated by a remote wall switch) or a gas insert (furnace-rated appliances that can be used to heat your home). The gas logs are cheaper and the gas insert more expensive. Or what some people do, if you don’t plan on using it at all is just paint it and close the flue.
Most of the time in situations like this, a whole new gas insert would be suggested, but it really does depend on the job.
First we need to know what the owner wants. Do they want a fireplace? Do they want it to burn wood, gas or electric.
If they don’t want a fireplace then they need to decide if they want to remove only the inside or both the inside and outside the fireplace. Obviously covering up the inside only of the fireplace and leaving the outside is easier and more cost effective.
If they decide that the do want a fireplace then we need to know how it is built.
If the fireplace is a solid brick fireplace that has bricks on the face, sides and back all the way out the roof then it would be easier to just reface the inside of the fireplace with tile right over the brick. If the brick is only cosmetic on the inside of the home it would be easier to remove the brick and refinish the inside wall with paint or tile.
Remodeling a fireplace can mean several different things so it is hard to put a cost on it without knowing what your intent is.
It most likely is not cheaper to remove it. Whether it is a masonry fireplace and chimney or a factory built one it will leave a large space and lots of finish work to do. You will also reduce the value of your home, which may not matter to you now but will affect the price when you sell.
The first question to ask is, how would you like to use your fireplace, if at all. Remember it does not have to be wood burning, gas fireplaces are convenient to use with less work than wood.
It depends if it’s a gas or wood fireplace and if the facade is real or artificial brick.
A person could convert the wood over to gas and then reface the brick with a stone facade material.
If the existing facing brick on the fireplace is full brick, it is very likely that we could install new stonework directly over the brick. Now, being that every job is a little bit different, there are questions to start determining a price.
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Size of the fireplace face and returns -
Is there a raised hearth? Is the hearth all brick? What are the dimensions of the hearth? -
Is the existing fireplace wood or gas? -
Is there a return of brick from the facing back to the actual fireplace opening?