I'm remodeling our front room, and dining room. And one of the biggest projects is going to do the fireplace. It has MEANY THICK lairs of paint, that as I have read, and tryout a few things, this is going to be... Umm... fun!! (NOT) But My first path was Tiling. But I have NEVER done tile before. I'm not intimidated by doing it, I just tend to over think the project at hand, and I'm running short on time. I am open to any alternatives to cover this mess! I welcome any, and all answers, My wife leaves on Fri. and I have to get this done QUICK! (still have 2 rooms of walls to finish to!) any help would be GREAT!

I would like to help but you post seems to be all over the place as to what the clear question.

Are you tiling the fireplace? Is so wonder/cement board tap-coned on the face and tile over that.

Just shooting in the dark here.

Pleas get back about the actual area of your project, and to many rooms in the question.

Tiling what.

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Sorry about that. I am Tialing a fire place to cover the painted brick fire place. It's 76in longx 48 in tall. I have never tiled anything before. We are going to put up a mantel, a surround kit, and a Pilaster kit from Lowe's. Sorry for my babbling on the last post. Any help would be GREAT!!

Vermy

Fist plan on how you are going to attach the mantel either over the new hard board or after the tiling is done. Not exactly knowing what the kit requires on install. Either or glue and tap con a 1/2" hard board/cement board backer. Now you have a perfect solid sub straight to apply tile over. Set tile on cement board.

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Fist plan on how you are going to attach the mantel either over the new hard board or after the tiling is done. Not exactly knowing what the kit requires on install. Either or glue and tap con a 1/2" hard board/cement board backer. Now you have a perfect solid sub straight to apply tile over. Set tile on cement board.

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Hope it goes well.

Tiling is the way to go, but you can get stone 4" high and 22" long that looks like real stone that set on top of each other but you have to cut it with a diamond blade. I use 4" on a grinder for my cuts. Use thinset to glue it to the fireplace but you still need to get rid of the paint, so cement backer board would work well.
I would put mantle on first after the board.

I could show picture of a new fireplace I did with the stone. It looks great and it comes in different colors.

Any questions just ask.
Gerry

Quick side note: If removing the paint, keep in mind that the old layers of paint are likely to be lead-based. Protect yourself accordingly. Have fun!