Hi,
I am working on refacing my brick fireplace. I have removed the old hearth and bricks under it. I need to build up the surface under the fireplace opening which is currently jagged bricks and old mortar. I will make a new hearth at floor level so I am concerned now about the area between the floor and the firebox which will be about 8 or 9 inches high and about 5 feet wide. I need to build up a smooth flat surface for the new layer of tiles or stone, in some places to a thickness of say an inch and a half. What type of mortar can I use and can I apply it all at once? Can I use modified thinset? I am not in a big hurry so I can apply several layers if necessary. What do you recommend? The original bricklayer who built the fireplace used very thick mortar in some places so I'm hoping I can do something similar. Thanks for any suggestions.

Hi,
I am working on refacing my brick fireplace. I have removed the old hearth and bricks under it. I need to build up the surface under the fireplace opening which is currently jagged bricks and old mortar. I will make a new hearth at floor level so I am concerned now about the area between the floor and the firebox which will be about 8 or 9 inches high and about 5 feet wide. I need to build up a smooth flat surface for the new layer of tiles or stone, in some places to a thickness of say an inch and a half. What type of mortar can I use and can I apply it all at once? Can I use modified thinset? I am not in a big hurry so I can apply several layers if necessary. What do you recommend? The original bricklayer who built the fireplace used very thick mortar in some places so I'm hoping I can do something similar. Thanks for any suggestions.

Hey you need ,to use , the mesh to hold the cement ,in place , skim coat it, then a second coat, then the top coat , use a 3/ 1 mix ,but because it fire place , don't over do the thickness, or it will crack... when it wet use a sponge to smooth it out...

hey you need ,to use , the mesh to hold the cement ,in place , skim coat it, then a second coat, then the top coat , use a 3/ 1 mix ,but because it fire place , dont over do the thickness, or it will crack .... when it wet use a sponge to smooth it out ...

Thanks for the reply.
Could you explain a bit further?
Do you mean a 3:1 mix of mortar and water? Or do you mean something like ready to mix concrete?
If you mean mortar, what type of mortar do you advise?
Can I use modified thinset rather than concrete?

Again, thanks.
Jim

hey you need ,to use , the mesh to hold the cement ,in place , skim coat it, then a second coat, then the top coat , use a 3/ 1 mix ,but because it fire place , dont over do the thickness, or it will crack .... when it wet use a sponge to smooth it out ...
Ok try this , you building up the where the floor tiles are going?
Build a frame, then you can use 3/8 ready mixed concrete, comes in 80lb sacks
Very easy .mix it up , pour it in , level it off.
I would not use ,thin set , as it very near the heat of the fire. So stick with your concrete, a smooth ,frame work will be much better to work with , easy to tile too