My husband and I just bought a house and have been working on some renovations before moving in. We tackled our fireplace yesterday and tried to brick over the existing outdated tile with thin bricks. Initially, it went well, but things took a wrong turn when we started filling in the joints. The mortar got everywhere and the process was super messy! We used a grout bag but didn't realize we needed to let it become 'thumbprint dry' before smoothing it out. Now, it looks pretty rough. I'm wondering if there's a way to clean it up and fix the joints, or if we need to start the whole project over. I'd really appreciate any advice or product recommendations, and I've attached a photo of how it looked last night!
3 Answers
Oh no, it happens to the best of us! For the mortar that got messy, I suggest using a wire brush to scrub it off gently. If that fails, you might have to resort to a hammer and chisel to redo some parts. You know what they say, lessons learned the hard way can be the most educational! Always good to check out tutorials too!
What kind of mortar did you use? If it was brick mortar or something like Type S or N, you might want to mix some diluted muriatic acid or sulfamic acid and scrub the surface with a stiff nylon brush. Just be super careful not to get any on the metal parts of the fireplace, as it can etch them. And definitely avoid using a wire brush!
Honestly, I wouldn't have thought to brick over tile either. Usually, it's better to take the old tile out first. If you're looking to remove the grout, you might want to try a Dremel tool to carefully grind away the excess. Just take your time with it, and you might save the project!