Hello,

What type of product should I use to level/smooth out the face of my brick
fireplace prior to installing ceramic tiles on it? The brick is pretty
bumpy. I've read other posts that talk about using mortar. Is this the
same mortar that you find next to cement bags, the kind used for laying
bricks? I've never used this before, so I don't know how well it works on
vertical surfaces.

I've already tried using some Mapei Planipatch, which was recommended to
use. It sets too fast for this type of job I'm finding, and the 10lb box
doesn't spread too far.

Secondly, the hearth of the existing fireplace sticks out about 18" from the
wall and is about 3" high. It had lousy broken tiles that I removed this
morning. Now there is an uneven surface (looks like mortar) left. What
should I use to level this? Again, I think the Planipatch will set too fast
and it's coverage will be poor. I've never used a leveling mortar/compound
before and I'm not sure it's suitable for this. It seems to me that a
self-leveling mortar would run off the edge of the hearth and onto my
hardwood floors.

thanks

telus wrote:
Hello,

What type of product should I use to level/smooth out the face of
my brick fireplace prior to installing ceramic tiles on it? The
brick is pretty bumpy. I've read other posts that talk about using
mortar. Is this the same mortar that you find next to cement bags,
the kind used for laying bricks? I've never used this before, so I
don't know how well it works on vertical surfaces.

Just using plain old thinset mortar and combing it out with the proper notch
trowel for your tile should be fine.
_______________________

Secondly, the hearth of the existing fireplace sticks out about 18"
from the wall and is about 3" high. It had lousy broken tiles that
I removed this morning. Now there is an uneven surface (looks like
mortar) left. What should I use to level this?

Hammer and chisel. Or, if not too thick, same as for the brick (above).

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
____________________________

Done.

thanks


"dadiOH" wrote in message
...
telus wrote:
Hello,

What type of product should I use to level/smooth out the face of
my brick fireplace prior to installing ceramic tiles on it? The
brick is pretty bumpy. I've read other posts that talk about using
mortar. Is this the same mortar that you find next to cement bags,
the kind used for laying bricks? I've never used this before, so I
don't know how well it works on vertical surfaces.

Just using plain old thinset mortar and combing it out with the proper
notch
trowel for your tile should be fine.
_______________________

Secondly, the hearth of the existing fireplace sticks out about 18"
from the wall and is about 3" high. It had lousy broken tiles that
I removed this morning. Now there is an uneven surface (looks like
mortar) left. What should I use to level this?

Hammer and chisel. Or, if not too thick, same as for the brick (above).

--
dadiOH
_____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.0...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
____________________________

telus wrote:
Done.

thanks

What's done? The hearth area or the brick face? If the latter, I hope you
also applied the new tiles as you were applying/combing out the thinset.

dadiOH
______________________

"dadiOH" wrote in message
...
telus wrote:
Hello,

What type of product should I use to level/smooth out the face of
my brick fireplace prior to installing ceramic tiles on it? The
brick is pretty bumpy. I've read other posts that talk about
using mortar. Is this the same mortar that you find next to
cement bags, the kind used for laying bricks? I've never used
this before, so I don't know how well it works on vertical
surfaces.

Just using plain old thinset mortar and combing it out with the
proper notch trowel for your tile should be fine.
_______________________

Secondly, the hearth of the existing fireplace sticks out about
18" from the wall and is about 3" high. It had lousy broken
tiles that I removed this morning. Now there is an uneven
surface (looks like mortar) left. What should I use to level
this?

Hammer and chisel. Or, if not too thick, same as for the brick
(above).

--
dadiOH
_____________________________