Faux shiplap fireplace with mantel and candle on accent table
Faux shiplap is an affordable way to update a fireplace surround and give a room a rustic renovation.

When your house has the right size, shape and location, but not the right character for your family, it’s time for a rustic renovation.

At the edge of a cotton field is a subdivision where Trent and Crystal Gatlin live with their three daughters, Madeline, Reese and Hayden.

We’re helping Crystal and Trent add some rustic charm to their family room.

Here are some of the projects we will tackle:

Update the Fireplace

 

Our fireplace upgrades include installing a split brick surround and adding a new maple mantel and corbels.

We cover up the framing on the fireplace and install the split brick surround. We use construction adhesive to secure the bricks in a running bond pattern. The staggered layout is useful for homes with uneven surfaces — because the tiles are not placed in a straight line, imperfections are difficult to spot.

We install split brick around the fireplace and apply a German Schmear finish for an old-world look.
The technique is sort of like whitewashing with latex paint, but you spread wet mortar (and remove some before it dries).

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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