The fireplace is the decoration of the whole interior. It gives the design coziness, creating a comfortable homely atmosphere. And it does not matter at all whether it is a real fireplace or its decorative versions. The portal for the fireplace barks the style of the composition. It is quite possible to create it yourself. This will give the design of the room an original look. How to make a fireplace portal with your own hands will be discussed later.
Selection rules
The do-it-yourself fireplace portal (a photo of the finished work is presented below) is a relatively light structure, so it does not need a foundation.
If a brick fireplace is being built, its base is necessarily strengthened. But for artificial framing, you need to add weight purely visually. It should look natural to blend in with the interior.
It is important to arrange the portal in accordance with the existinginterior style. At the same time, they also take into account the appearance of the hearth, with which they create a single image. Some fireplaces are sold with a portal, which can be quite simple in design. To decorate it, add originality, you can create additional decor for an existing portal.
Some fireplaces have no decoration at all. This is an insert hearth that can become the basis for a portal in any style. Without registration, electric fireplaces are often made. For them, you need to create a decorative facade separately.
Making a portal for a fireplace with your own hands is not difficult. It can be assembled from different materials that are at hand. At the same time, the appearance of such a frame will be spectacular thanks to some of the techniques discussed below.
Before you start blunting the work of creating a frame, you will need to buy a fireplace. Otherwise, the finished frame will not match it perfectly, and the work will have to be redone. Therefore, they first acquire a fireplace, the surfaces of which should not heat up. Also, such equipment must have appropriate certificates that confirm the safety of its operation.
Varieties
The portal under the fireplace with your own hands can be made in different configurations. The choice of model should be made in accordance with the characteristics of the room. If the room is spacious, you can create a classic version of the frame. The fireplace is located on one wall below. The frame will be installed on the floor. Such a fireplace requires sufficient space in front.
If the room is small, it is better to give preference to the model built into the wall. It will be located at some distance from the floor. Also, the fireplace can be hinged. The choice depends on the features of the interior.
The fireplace can also be straight or angled. Mounting both varieties with your own hands is not difficult. Direct fireplaces are often installed in a proportional, spacious room. If the room is elongated, it is better to make a corner portal for the fireplace with your own hands. So the room will look more harmonious.
Portals can be created for both a real fireplace and its decorative versions. There is a false fireplace, which can be made from a variety of materials. It has no flame. For example, you can create a woodpile or bookshelf inside the fireplace instead. Electric fireplaces look more realistic, the screen of which can imitate a real flame.
The portal can have an upper shelf on which you can put different items, as well as side cabinets. Design can be the most diverse.
Materials
Traditionally, fireplace surrounds were made from stone. But even when using artificial varieties of materials, the weight of the structure is significant. If a decision is made to make a portal for a brick fireplace with your own hands, you will need to create a foundation for it. This makes the job much more difficult.
It's much easier to do light framing. To do this, today applydifferent materials. For example, it can be drywall. From it you can make a portal that will look like it was created from stone. At the same time, drywall is easy to process.
You can make a wooden portal for the fireplace with your own hands. This material looks noble, is environmentally friendly. If it is properly processed, the wood will take on the desired appearance. A cheaper option is MDF, chipboard and plywood. Of these, it is better to make false fireplaces, which only create a semblance of such an interior element.
Plaster, matte and glossy paints can be used as finishing materials. Wood can be stained to create the desired shade. Then it is varnished.
You can create an imitation of brick, making facing much easier than with real blocks.
Style
Wishing to create a portal for a wood-burning, electric or other type of fireplace with your own hands, you will need to create a design project.
On paper, you need to work out all the decorative elements, the configuration of the hearth, etc. Only after that you can start working. The style of the fireplace may be different. It must match the interior:
- Country. This is a small design that is suitable for a room with modest dimensions. The portal can simply be painted or varnished. If the room is large, it is better to overlay the frame with decorative bricks or plaster the surface.
- Victorian. You will need to make a portal from solid wood. She can bedecorate with gilded decorative elements, moldings and monograms. You can use plates that imitate natural stone. Their color should be dark.
- Classic. The design is necessarily symmetrical, may have a marbled finish. You can plaster the frame, decorating it with stucco. It is recommended to create columns or at least mark them by making vertical stripes on both sides. You can create such a portal from polyurethane or plaster.
- Hi-tech. The portal looks light, has a modest design. It is best to use metal or painted glass for this. The fireplace must be compact at the same time.
- Chalet. This is a romantic style that welcomes the presence of a bulky design. It is recommended to overlay it with a stone, and make the shelf from solid wood of a rich shade.
Gypsum board portal
A do-it-yourself decorative portal for a fireplace is easiest to make from drywall. To do this, you will need to prepare the necessary materials, tools. Actually, drywall will need quite a bit to work. The scraps remaining after the repair will come in handy. If you plan to tile the portal, the drywall must be waterproof.
The frame is made of galvanized metal profile. It is easy to process, allows you to create different geometry of the structure.
If you plan to build a portal for an electric fireplace with your own hands, it can be tiled or covered with a layer of plaster. In both cases, you will need to purchaseprimer designed for drywall. To finish with plaster, you will need a gypsum-based finishing mixture, a reinforcing tape (serpyanka). You will also need to cover the surface with a layer of paint of the appropriate shade.
To finish the surface with tiles, you need to purchase tile adhesive. You can also fix the tiles with liquid nails. Ceramic tiles are chosen in medium or small sizes. You will also need grout for the joints of the appropriate shade.
The tabletop can be made of drywall, but a massive board looks more spectacular. You can use MDF or plywood for this. In this case, you will need to purchase an additional special tape. She pasted over the edges of the panels.
Creating a frame
A portal for a false fireplace with your own hands must be created on a frame made of a metal profile. To do this, a drawing is first created. Based on it, the amount of required materials is calculated.
According to the drawing, markings are created on the wall and floor. For this, chalk or pencil is used. Next, you need to cut the metal profile with metal scissors. A profile is installed on the floor, which has the letter "P" in cross section. It is necessary to check the horizontal level of the rails.
The profile is fixed with the help of self-tapping dowels. Next, the same horizontal parts of the frame are mounted on the wall.
After that, you need to screw the vertical strips from the wall profile. They are additionally fixed on the created base of the structure. Next, the top harness is created.
Racks need to be additionally connected with stiffeners. their stepshould be no more than 60 cm. The podium also needs to be strengthened. To do this, install short vertical sections of the profile on the mounted frame. They are installed in increments of 20 cm.
Where the firebox will be installed, you will need to make a horizontal strapping, then the vertical guides are fixed. They will frame the screen.
Gypsum board finish
After the frame is mounted, you can start covering it with drywall sheets. This material is easy to cut, so there are no difficulties during installation.
Sheets of material are fixed on the frame with self-tapping screws. They are sunk slightly into drywall. Each self-tapping screw must be screwed into the center of the profile. When assembling the fireplace portal with your own hands, you should glue the corners with a sickle. In this case, a gypsum mortar is used.
If things are planned on the top shelf of the fireplace, it is recommended to strengthen the corners with an appropriate profile. Next is finishing with decorative material. If it is a putty, you will first need to treat with a solution all the recesses remaining in the places where the screws are screwed in. Next, the entire surface of the portal is treated with a layer of finishing putty. When it dries, the mortar is sanded and covered with paint.
If it is planned to finish with tiles, it is mounted on the appropriate mortar. The seams are treated with grout. It is best to use tiles that imitate natural stone or brick for these purposes. In this case, the fireplace will look natural, as if built from bricks. After thatit will be possible to install a countertop.
Wooden portal
A portal made of wood for a fireplace with your own hands will be no more difficult to build than from drywall. But when using natural material, it should be noted that its weight will be greater. At the same time, wood is a combustible material that is susceptible to pest attacks. It will need to be properly processed before installation. For this, fire retardant and antiseptic are used. Also, natural materials are thicker than drywall.
This feature of wood is an advantage if you need to install a heavy electric fireplace or additional equipment. For example, it will be possible to install a TV on a shelf, make bedside tables for storing things on both sides of the fireplace.
To assemble such a structure, you will need to prepare the appropriate materials. It can be a beam with a cross section of 50x50 cm. Also, plywood with a thickness of at least 12 cm will be needed for the frame. Materials are fixed using wood screws.
To cut natural wood or plywood, use a jigsaw. Assembly is much more convenient with a screwdriver.
Finishing is done using different materials. Lacquer allows you to emphasize the natural beauty of wood. You can change the shade of a natural array with a stain. If it is planned to paint the wood, a primer is used. You need to choose a special paint. It should be resistant to high temperatures, should not emit an unpleasant odor. Existspecial compounds that can be used indoors.
Applied decorative elements (if any will be used for finishing) are fixed with wood glue.
Fireplace assembly
First you need to make a drawing. In accordance with this scheme, you will need to cut the timber. From it collect the supporting structure. Previously, all structural elements are treated with a fire-fighting compound and an antiseptic. The assembly starts from the pedestal. Next, the back wall of the fireplace is mounted.
When assembling, it is important to check whether all elements are assembled evenly. If everything is done correctly, you can start cutting plywood. Assembling the fireplace portal with your own hands should be done carefully. For this, self-tapping screws are used. Beforehand, the places of their installation must be countersunk so that cracks do not go on the surface of the plywood sheets.
Finishing
After assembling the fireplace portal with your own hands, you need to complete the finishing. The panels are treated with sandpaper. Next, you can walk on the surface with a stain. This will give the material the desired shade. When it dries, you can cover the surface with two layers of varnish. You need to take a break so that the first layer is completely dry.
You can also cover the fireplace with a layer of interior paint. The shade is chosen in accordance with the style of the interior. The surface is primed first. After that, you can apply a decorative coating.
