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I want to add a mantle with a marble surround to an existing fireplace that has a brick surround. Can I just parge over the brick with thinset, then fasten concrete backerboard to the brick surround? The brick has a rough surface. Any suggestions on what to fasten the backerboard with?
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Skip the backer board and thick set marble if space allows otherwise remove the brick then parge the surround, then thin set the tile
*Not my specialty, but my opinion nonetheless...I'd use a backerboard (well fastened, screwed into mortar joints) only if you thought you might ever tear out the marble and want to go back to the brick. That wouldn't be the best way, though.Other then that, I'd parge the brick for a flat, slightly combed surface. One cured, then thinset the marble to the parged skimcoat. Careful with matching the thinset to the marble if the marble is a light color.If depth is not a consideration and you really want the backer, you could just thinset the backerboard to the brick, then thinset the marble to the backer.
*Charlie,Thanks for the great advice. One question - what exactly is "thick set?" Is that mortar or thinset?Jon
*I covered a brick fireplace with a single slab of granite 5 feet by 8 feet high. I used marble mastic, which is a special thin set type compound that will not STAIN some types of marble. I applied large blobs of it all over, and alot of it, and then placed the slab against the brick and gently beat it with a rubber mallet. It gets hot has hell but seems to be ok for 5 years now.
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I want to add a mantle with a marble surround to an existing fireplace that has a brick surround. Can I just parge over the brick with thinset, then fasten concrete backerboard to the brick surround? The brick has a rough surface. Any suggestions on what to fasten the backerboard with?