Okay, so I finally got around to putting in that brick panel insert in my fireplace. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but it definitely took some elbow grease.
First, I measured my fireplace opening. I mean, you gotta make sure the thing’s gonna fit, right? There are some standard sizes, but with my old house, nothing’s ever standard. I took those measurements down to the store and got them to make sure I was getting the right size.
Next, I picked out the brick panel I wanted. They had a few different styles, from a more traditional red brick to some that looked like they were whitewashed or even a bit more modern. I went with the classic red. Seemed right for the style of my place.
- Choose the style you want.
- Measure the size of the fireplace.
Then came the fun part – actually putting it in. Now, I’m no professional, but I’m pretty handy. I gathered my tools, cleared out the fireplace, and gave the existing firebox a good cleaning. You don’t want any old soot or debris getting in the way. The panels themselves were pretty straightforward, there were just a few pieces that make up the back and sides.
I started with the back panel. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but I managed to wedge it in there. Then I did the side panels, one at a time. They kind of interlocked with the back panel, which made it a little easier. I had to do a bit of tapping with a rubber mallet to get them to sit just right, but nothing too crazy.
Main Points
The panels are made to withstand the heat, which is obviously important. You don’t want your fireplace insert falling apart after a few fires! I read online that regular brick can deteriorate under high heat, but these firebricks are designed for it. Makes sense.
Once I got all the panels in, I stepped back to admire my handiwork. It definitely looked a lot better than the old, beat-up firebox. Gave the whole living room a bit of a facelift, actually. And it wasn’t even that expensive, especially compared to getting the whole fireplace redone. Plus, I heard these inserts can actually make your fireplace more efficient, so that’s a bonus.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a good weekend project, and it’s nice to know I did it myself. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, I’d say go for it. Just make sure you do your measurements right, pick a style you like, and don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty!
