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You are here: Home / building project / How to Build a Raised Fireplace Hearth

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How to Build a Raised Fireplace Hearth

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….

fireplace makeover before pic

Yes, definitely in need of an update. And an update she received….

Fireplace with decor

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. 

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…

fireplace makeover

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….

Quarter round removed from bottom of fireplace

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….

base of support for hearth

base of support outline

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….

support for hearth

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….

pocket holes for hearth support

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)….

base to fireplace hearth

 

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….

Shell of fireplace hearth

 

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…

2x4's jigged together with plywood facing

 

Then the front…

hearth being built

And finally the top…

hearth with trim

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….

fireplace makeover with decor

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….

fireplace hearth with trim

 

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!!

family room with coffee table and farmhouse decor

Isn’t she lovely all decked out for Christmas too?

Christmas decor and tree

 

PIN IT FOR LATER….

PINTEREST PIN

 

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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Latest Posts:

How to Build a Faux Wood Beam Mantel

Fireplace Makeover from Contemporary to Modern Farmhouse

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15 Comments

« Easy How to Build and Attach Ceiling Beams
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Comments

  1. Farmhouse hopeful says

    January 7, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Nicole Nigg says

      January 8, 2020 at 8:55 am

      Thank you! It’s Sherwin Williams Peppercorn. 🙂 One of my most favorite go-to colors!!

      Reply
      • Brandi says

        February 3, 2020 at 4:13 pm

        Hi! How did you attach the hearth to the floor? It’s the one step I’m unable to figure out! Thanks!!

        Reply
        • Nicole Nigg says

          February 3, 2020 at 5:48 pm

          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. 🙂

          Reply
  2. Farmhouse hopeful says

    January 9, 2020 at 9:41 am

    Thanks so much!!

    Reply
  3. Rylee says

    February 9, 2020 at 3:10 pm

    Love it! Can you tell me what color stain you used?

    Reply
    • Nicole Nigg says

      February 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad you like it!
      I used MinWax Jacobean stain for the mantel.

      Reply
  4. Nicole Nigg says

    March 5, 2020 at 11:49 am

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Paul Whitehead says

    April 28, 2020 at 9:48 am

    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!!!!!

    Reply
    • Nicole Nigg says

      April 29, 2020 at 11:25 am

      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!

      Reply
  6. Nicole Nigg says

    May 28, 2020 at 10:27 am

    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

    Reply
  7. Kayla says

    November 29, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    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!!!

    Reply
    • Nicole Nigg says

      November 30, 2020 at 1:25 pm

      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

      Reply
  8. Robert King says

    February 17, 2021 at 8:23 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Nicole Nigg says

      February 17, 2021 at 10:07 pm

      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

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Nicole

nicole

Through the changes of life and home, God remains the same. I am a mom, wife, blogger, builder, home designer, D.I.Y.er and inspirer.

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