Fireplace makeover-Phase two: An easy to follow, DIY tutorial on how to build a raised fireplace hearth.
****Please Note: This hearth is intended for an electric fireplace. Not recommended for a wood burning or gas fireplace. I am not a professional and recommend that you seek professional advice before building around a gas or wood burning fireplace. Be sure to check local building codes before starting a project around a gas or wood burning fireplace.
A raised fireplace hearth adds a lot to a room: aesthetic appeal, a space where you can add more decor, or a bench seat for when you need more seating options.
Phase one of my fireplace makeover is finished (check out the faux-beam mantel here). We’re ready to move onto phase two…the raised fireplace hearth. Remember how dated my fireplace was….
Yes, definitely in need of an update. And an update she received….
Isn’t that amazing!? All with 3 simple phases! So let’s move into phase two….
HOW TO BUILD A RAISED ELECTRIC FIREPLACE HEARTH
****Please Note: This hearth is intended for an electric fireplace. Not recommended for a wood burning or gas fireplace. I am not a professional and recommend that you seek professional advice before building around a gas or wood burning fireplace. Be sure to check local building codes before starting a project around a gas or wood burning fireplace.
Note: Here are the dimensions I used for my space…
Length: 80 1/4″
Width: 25 3/4″
Height: 9 3/4″
Materials Needed:
Hammer
Flathead screw driver
Crowbar
Box cutter
Kreg Jig (Affiliate link)
Drill
Caulk
Nail Filler
2×4’s (quantity is dependent upon project)
3/4″ plywood (quantity is dependent upon project)
1.5″ nails
2.5″ pocket hole screws
2.5″ screws (these are my favorite for most all projects) (Affiliate link)
Step One: Clear your space
The first step is to get rid of any trim work along the floor in the space where you will be building your fireplace hearth. As you can see in the picture below, I had quarter-round trim outlining my fireplace…
This is a very simple step. Using a box cutter knife, cut the top of the quarter-round (the part where it meets the fireplace). Then, take a flathead screwdriver and hammer it behind the quarter-round (between the wall and the quarter-round). Gently pull the quarter-round away from the wall, until you have removed all of it….
Step Two: Build support base outline
Once the quarter round has been removed, you’re ready to start building the support for your electric fireplace hearth. Measure the space where you want your hearth to be and begin cutting 2×4’s to outline that space. Drill 2 pocket holes on both ends of your 2×4’s and attach your outline together with 2.5″ pocket hole screws….
Step Three: Finish support base
Now that you have the space outlined, cut 2×4’s to fit perpendicular to your outlined boards…spacing them apart about every 8-10 inches….
Drill two pocket holes into each end of your perpendicular 2×4’s and attach them to the outline boards, with 2.5″ pocket hole screws….
Step Four: Add support risers
Now you’re ready to build up your electric fireplace hearth. Determine the height you want your hearth to be and cut 2×4’s to that height. Note: Be sure to take into account the 2×4’s on the base and the 2×4’s you will be adding for the top. For example, my hearth is 10 inches tall. Therefore I cut all of my 2×4 risers to 7 inches. Math: 1.5″ (2×4 base) + 7 inch (2×4 riser) + 1.5″ (2×4 top)=10 inches.
Place a 2×4 riser at the end of each 2×4 base. On your long base boards place a riser every 10-12 inches. Basically, you want to outline your base 2×4’s (as shown below)….
Drill 2 pocket holes on one end of each riser and then attach to base with 2.5″ pocket hole screws.
Step Five: Add support top
Time to put on the top layer of your support. To do this, think of it as a mirror to the base of your support. Wherever you have a 2×4 for the base, place one for the top. Attach using 2.5″ screws….
Step Six: Wrap with plywood
Can you see it coming together? Isn’t it exciting?! Let’s wrap it up with the plywood. Literally! Cut your plywood sheets to fit onto each section of the support, using a nail gun (1.5″ nails) or Drill (1.5″ screws). Starting with the sides first…
Then the front…
And finally the top…
This is where I got a little carried away and couldn’t wait any longer to catch a glimpse of just how much I was going to love this new addition….
But we’re almost done!! All that’s left is adding the trim (oh and of course nail filler and paint 🙂 ).
Step Seven: Add trim
Using 1×2’s add the trim with a nail gun and 1.5″ nails. This is the design I went with, but of course, you can go with any design you like….
Step Eight: Finish work
Caulk, fill the nail holes with nail filler and paint. 🙂
That’s it! Step back and look at what you just built!! The transformation is amazing!!
Isn’t she lovely all decked out for Christmas too?
Be sure to check out phase three of the fireplace makeover–Covering up the old tile.
Until next time,
Happy Building, Friend!!
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Hey there! This looks great!! Not exactly related haha but what color is your farm door that is to the left of your fireplace?? It’s pretty!
Thank you! It’s Sherwin Williams Peppercorn. 🙂 One of my most favorite go-to colors!!
Hi! How did you attach the hearth to the floor? It’s the one step I’m unable to figure out! Thanks!!
Hi Brandi! Great question! I actually didn’t attach it to the floor or the wall, for that matter. With all of the caulking that you do and how heavy the entire piece is, it is highly unlikely it will move. Mine has not budged after nearly a year. It is solid, with no give at all. Hope this helps. 🙂
Thanks so much!!
Love it! Can you tell me what color stain you used?
Thank you! I’m glad you like it!
I used MinWax Jacobean stain for the mantel.
Hi Ginny,
I haven’t had any issues at all with any aspect of the fireplace makeover. It’s been a year now since I completed this project and I’m happy to say, it has held up great! Thank you for your question. Let me know if I can answer any more for you. 🙂
Just now came across this project and it looks amazing, enough so, that I saved the photo of the finished product and am going to try and duplicate it. My question is what kind of paint did you use and did you roll it, brush it, or spray it? Thank you in advance!!!!!
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your question. I used Behr Marquee Ultra Pure White (semi-gloss) paint and brushed it. Best of luck with your project!
Hi Terri,
Thank you for your comment and concern. I will look further into this and unpublish this particular post, while I do more research or change up the pictures to not include pics of a gas fireplace.
Thank you,
Nicole
What color do you have on the top part of your wall? I see that the paneling on the bottom half is white and I thought at first the top was too but I now see it isn’t. Fun fact: I remodeling my entire den based on this picture alone. Thank you!!!
Hi Kayla, That is awesome! I love hearing things like this! It reaffirms why I do this.:) Thank you!
I used Peppercorn by Sherwin Williams for all of the paneling. The white is Behr Marquee Ultra Pure White and the Black (tile) is Tricorn Black.
Hope that helps. Best of luck on your project! Would love to see it when you’re finished!!
~Nicole
Looks fantastic, great job. I plan on making a very similar hearth, and will use your tutorial as a guide. I have one question regarding the construction of the hearth. Did you anchor it to the wall or floor? If so, how?
Thank you.
Hi Robert,
I actually did not anchor it. Two years later and it has not budged. We do have carpet around it, so that probably plays somewhat of a role. If you feel like it might slip, I would for sure anchor it. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you,
Nicole
Hi. Are you able to tell me the final dimensions of it? Thank you!!! This came out beautiful.
Hi Ana,
Thank you! Great question! I’ll go ahead and add these to the post too. But here they are for easy reference:
Length: 80 1/4″
Width: 25 3/4″
Height: 9 3/4″
Have a great weekend!
~Nicole
Beautiful stuff, glad I found it. Is there a code on the fire rating of the wood/material used? Thanks
Hi John,
Thank you!
I recommend not building this around a gas or woodburning fireplace. It should be built around an electric fireplace. In which case, no code on the fire rating of the materials used.
Thank you for your question.
Have a great day!
~Nicole
Nicole this looks awesome, I wanted to ask you, Did you use a Brad Nailer or regular nail gun?
Hi Nuno,
Thank you! I used a regular nail gun. 🙂
~Nicole
Hi Nicole, Beautiful work!! I am about to remodel a fireplace and really appreciate the details you’ve added here. I, too, have the tan tiles around my fireplace (like your original picture). Did you paint them, or how did you get them the darker color? What product did you use? I’m sure I’ll be asking more questions in the coming months!
Hi Michelle!
Thank you for your kind words. I painted my tiles with Rustoleum Charcoal chalk paint. It requires no primer. Just paint it on. So easy!
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. I would love to help!
~Nicole
Can you share what fireplace it is that’s in the picture,please?
Hi Crystal,
Unfortunately, I don’t have that information for this particular fireplace. But I highly recommend this electric fireplace…https://amzn.to/3riGNLc .
You’ll also find the for it in my article: Easy How to DIY an Electric Fireplace Surround. https://repurposelifeblog.com/easy-how-to-diy-an-electric-fireplace-surround/ Hope this helps.
~Nicole