A dark or heavy red brick fireplace often anchors the living room. But when that brick looks dated, the whole space can feel stuck in an earlier decade. We’re here to help you modernize that focal point without a full rebuild.
At Batchelder & Collins, you can compare full-size brick and stone veneer samples in person, match existing materials, and get guidance from a team that’s been helping Virginia homeowners and builders since 1868.
Start With a Clean, Sound Fireplace
Whatever finish or veneer you choose, it bonds and lasts longer over a clean, solid surface. Start by washing away soot and dust, then inspecting the brick. Next, you can:
- Clean the brick with mild soap or a vinegar-and-water mix and a natural-bristle brush
- Let the surface dry fully before any finish or veneer
- Check for spalling, cracks, loose brick, or crumbling mortar joints
- Note any soft mortar or movement that points to a repair
If you use a stronger cleaner, work in a well-ventilated room and wear gloves and eye protection. Surface marks are an easy fix, but firebox cracks or chimney damage are worth a professional’s eyes first.
Refresh the Look With Paint, Whitewash, or German Schmear
When the brick is sound but simply dated, a finish is the lowest-cost way to bring it current. Each option changes the look differently, so picture the result before committing.
- Paint: solid, even color that fully covers the old brick and reads the most modern
- Whitewash or limewash: a softened, lightly mottled look that lets some brick texture show through
- German schmear: a mortar-washed, old-world finish that smooths and mutes the brick
German schmear uses mortar, which we carry along with the brick, so you can pick up the materials for that finish here even though paint is a hardware store item. You can see how whitewash and paint compare or follow the steps for painting interior brick.
One caution: Paint is hard to remove from brick later, so be sure of the look first.
Reface Your Fireplace With Brick or Stone Veneer
If you want a true change of color and texture, not just a new coat over the same brick, refacing gives the fireplace a different face. Veneer does that without rebuilding the structure underneath.
General Shale's Old Brick Originals Thin Brick
Manufactured Stone Veneer
Natural Stone Veneer
Thin brick and stone veneer go over many sound, prepared surfaces, which makes a reface more approachable than a tear-out. A full structural reface is a bigger job for a contractor or experienced mason.
Color and texture are hard to judge from a screen, so compare full-size veneer samples in person and pick a material suited to our coastal weather. You can also follow the full process for installing brick veneer on a wall.
Match or Replace Dated and Damaged Brick
When a red or 70s-era fireplace has a few damaged or mismatched bricks, a seamless repair often does more for the look than any finish. Swapping out spalled, cracked, or loose brick and blending in a close match keeps the result clean and modern rather than patched.
Matching bricks is where local help makes the difference. Bring a piece of your existing brick to our Norfolk or Williamsburg showroom, and our team can help you find a close match from one of the largest brick selections around. You decide how much you need, and we help you choose and match it.
Why Bring Your Fireplace Project to Batchelder & Collins
Photos rarely capture how brick looks in person, and the right choice depends on your room. That is what our two showrooms are for.
At our Norfolk and Williamsburg locations, you can compare full-size brick, thin brick, and stone veneer side by side and find a close match for the brick you already have. Whether you have a clear vision or are still deciding, our team can help you pick materials suited to a fireplace and our coastal climate.
Client Testimonials
“What an amazing place. I brought in a brick that was from my 10yr old house… they matched it pretty well. They have 2 yards full of brick and stone.” — Jacqueline K.
“Visited to buy tools for my son’s new job as a mason apprentice… Great staff, very helpful. Thank you.” — Victoria L.
“I love this place. They always have what I need and all the staff is so very helpful! Keep up the good work.” — Debra L.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brick Fireplace Makeovers
What Can You Put Over a Brick Fireplace?
Thin brick and manufactured or natural stone veneer are the most common materials to put over a brick fireplace, since they bond to a sound, prepared surface and give it a new face. German schmear or a coat of paint also goes directly over brick. A structural reface is a job for a contractor.
How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Brick Fireplace?
The cost of a brick fireplace remodel depends mostly on the route you choose. A finish like paint, whitewash, or German schmear sits at the low end, while refacing with veneer or replacing brick costs more for materials and labor. To budget, price the specific materials your project needs.
Can You Make Over a Brick Fireplace Yourself?
Many finishes suit a do-it-yourself weekend. Cleaning, painting, whitewashing, and applying German schmear are usually within reach for a careful homeowner with the right prep and safety gear. Refacing, structural changes, and any firebox or chimney work are better left to a contractor or experienced mason.
Find Your Fireplace Makeover Materials in Norfolk or Williamsburg
By the time you have settled on a finish, a reface, or a brick repair, the next step is choosing the materials. At Batchelder & Collins, we carry the brick, thin brick, stone veneer, and mortar these makeovers call for, and we help you match and compare them in person. Stop by a showroom with a photo or a loose brick to see your options in full size.
Visit our Norfolk or Williamsburg showroom, call us at 757-625-2506, or fill out our contact form for a free quote.
