First-time Rehabber
I just bought a condo and I want to do some fix-ups before moving in. The living room has a wall that has faux wood paneling (from the 70s) and a brick fireplace (the bricks extend from the floor to the ceiling). Everything has been painted white. I want to remove the wood paneling and a layer of bricks so I can plaster the wall smooth. Eventually I'd like to add a mantel over the fireplace. Has anyone had experience removing wood paneling? And how easy is it to remove brick from a fireplace?
Paneling - just tear it out, and replace with drywall, you will have an issue with any baseboards that meet the base boards on this wall, and any electrical boxes since drywall and paneling are not the same thickness. Easy stuff to overcome.
Brick fireplace - is the brick structural or a facade? If it is structural you are out of luck removing it, if it is a facade, then rip it out. If you hate the brick and can't remove it you can cover it with what is called cultured stone. It is a thin veneer of stones that you mortar over the brick face, available in many, many different looks.
Mantel - pretty easy, they make premade ones or you can make something yourself. Most difficult part is installing a system that will make it secure. Usually a ledgerboard system would be the best, nailed into framing, or expansion bolted into brick face, then hang and nail the mantel onto the ledgerboard.
[ Edited by The-Rehabinator on Date 03/02/2004 ]
If the fireplace is structural you could also place fire rated sheetrock over the brick. You would drill into the brick or mortar and place anchors to support the sheetrock. Just an idea.