A new stucco facade within an old fireplace surround can change the appearance of the whole room. Stucco is a cementitious product generally found on house interiors and exteriors from the American southwest. Brick and concrete block are excellent substrates such as stucco, and both are common fireplace surrounds. When the blocks or bricks are painted, strip the paint off before applying stucco. Though stucco is cement-based, you shouldn’t apply it inside the fireplace except under the advice of a licensed professional contractor.
Wash the fireplace surround with nonresidue cleaner and a scrub brush. Rinse the surround with a huge sponge and plain water, then let the surround dry.
Apply painter’s tape on the wall around the borders of the fireplace to protect them out of stucco.
Brush concrete bonding agent on the fireplace surround with a large, broad paintbrush, and wash it in with a stiff-bristle wash brush. Scrubbing helps the binding representative penetrate brick and concrete block.
Let the bonding agent dry until it reaches the tacky stage before blending the stucco. Stucco must be applied to tacky bonding agent, and quick-setting stucco hardens in 10 to 20 minutes.
Add dry stucco mixture and water to a bucket, with the mixing ratio recommended by the stucco manufacturer. Blend the material with a heavy-duty paint stir stick until all the stucco particles are wet and the mix becomes a uniform, thick paste.
Distribute a 3/8-inch-thick layer of stucco on the surround with the flat, right edge of a 1/4-inch, square-notched trowel. Work in the bottom of the surround to the top.
Clean up accidental stucco drips and smears with a rag or metal scraper.
Let the first layer of stucco rest about ten minutes, then scrape or drag the square-notched border of the trowel throughout the stucco to make horizontal ridges through the material. Fast-setting stucco might dry than 10 minutes, so drag the trowel throughout the material until it becomes too hard. It is prepared for scratching as soon as the surface feels cold, moist and firm, but not dry.
Clean out the bucket and mix a new batch of stucco.
Apply a 1/4-inch-thick layer of stucco within the first layer with a flat trowel. If you want a smooth appearance, pull the trowel throughout the stucco to flatten it as far as possible and work out any lumps or ridges. Mist water onto the stucco to help the trowel glide.
Eliminate the painter’s tape following which the applying the next coat of stucco.