- Tape painter's plastic cloth to the floor and any areas around the fireplace that shouldn't be painted. Clean the fireplace---wood or brick---with a mixture of trisodium phosphate and water. Scrub it with nylon and wire brushes and remove any flaking paint with a scraper and sandpaper. For a brick surround, apply primer ---oil- or water-based---with a brush and a roller, following the drying instructions. Complete the makeover with an interior paint specifically designed for wood or cement.
- Apply stucco to cement, brick or even wood fireplace surrounds. To cover wood, attach felt paper, diamond lath and a base coat before applying the stucco, premixed or your own blend made from Type S mortar and sand. It should have the consistency of pancake mix. Buy several colors of mortar or paint the mortar after it has dried. Apply the stucco mix with a mortar board and concrete trowel, then add a pattern or leave it smooth.
- Apply stick-on stone---man-made or natural---directly to brick or concrete using Portland cement. For wood fireplaces, first apply cement backer board directly to the wall studs with galvanized wood screws. Once the stone---usually an inch thick and 3 to 8 inches in diameter---has set and dried, fill in the joints with Type N mortar and a grout bag. Tool the joints with a joint-striking tool and sweep off with a hand broom. Clean off any dried mortar with a damp sponge or scouring pad.
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