How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Fireplace?

Average Cost to Remodel a Fireplace

What Is a Fireplace Remodel?

A fireplace remodel is an upgrade of your existing fireplace that can be as simple as repainting the existing fireplace or as complex as refacing or replacing the existing fireplace surround. Hearth extensions, new mantels, and firebox replacements are all potentially part of a fireplace remodeling project. 

You can increase the size of the surround and hearth to create a grander, more luxurious fireplace that draws the eye and acts as a central feature of your living space. Or you can touch up and preserve an original, antique surround and add a new mantel to breathe a bit of new life into the space. 

Cost of Fireplace Remodel by Surround Material

If you're refacing your fireplace, it's most likely that you'll replace the material of the old surround with a new one. If you're ripping out the old surround, expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 in addition to the cost per square foot for the new material.The type of surround material you choose has the biggest impact on cost during a fireplace remodel but is still less expensive than the cost to install a new fireplace.

Concrete

Concrete fireplace surrounds cost between $3 and $25 per square foot. The least expensive types are poured and precast concrete. If you want textured, dyed, or stamped concrete, you'll pay more. To get concrete textured and colored to look like fieldstone or other natural stone, expect to spend around $25 per square foot, including installation.

Wood

For a wooden fireplace surround, you'll pay between $9 and $75 per square foot. A budget-friendly option is a prefabricated surround made of pine, cedar, or another common wood. For luxury and a higher price tag, look to exotic hardwoods, such as Brazilian cherry or Ipe, and custom-built surrounds with intricate carving and custom carpentry. 

Metal

Metal fireplace surrounds cost between $10 and $50 per square foot. Copper and stainless steel are the two most common options, as they have a high melting point, are strong and durable, and create a beautiful, contemporary look. Metal surrounds tend to sit flush with the wall for a modern aesthetic. 

Tile

Priced between $10 and $125 per square foot, tile fireplace surrounds are pretty labor-intensive. The large price range is due to the wide variety of tiles available, although porcelain, ceramic, stone, and glass are the most common, with ceramic and porcelain being the most budget-friendly. 

Mosaic tiles are costly because they're so time-consuming to install. Some homeowners like to use vintage or antique tiles for a unique, historic appearance. Because of their rarity and scarcity, these tiles can easily cost $100 or more per square foot. 

For a truly unique design, you can opt for hand-painted tiles in your choice of design. These are expensive, as the artist individually hand-paints each tile. But the design is a one-off; to create a standout fireplace while keeping costs down, some people choose to have just a handful of hand-painted tiles surrounded by plain ceramic or porcelain tiles.

Stone

A stone fireplace surround can run anywhere from $10 to $500 per square foot. Installing a stone veneer fireplace costs $10 to $100 per square foot. This is more affordable than stone and weighs less, so reinforcement may not be necessary. 

Choose from marble, granite, limestone, fieldstone, slate, or many other natural stones. While the stone itself varies considerably in price, the way it incorporates into the surround also impacts price. Single, carved blocks of stone are usually the least costly, while mosaic stone tiles and hand-stacked stone surrounds cost the most. 

Marble

One of the most popular high-end fireplace surrounds, marble costs $20 to $300 per square foot. Marble tiles are among the most budget-friendly options, while custom hand-stacked marble surrounds are among the most costly. Polished marble exudes elegance and luxury. Tumbled and antiqued marble are popular choices for a more rustic or old-world look.

Brick

Brick fireplace surround prices range from $25 to $50 per square foot. If you're ripping out the old surround, you can build up the area around the firebox using masonry techniques. This is the most cost-effective solution. However, if you don't have room for a new, full-size brick surround but just want to reface the old one, you can use brick veneer, which installs like tile. Veneer installation costs more because it's a more time-consuming job.

Cost to Remodel a Fireplace by Mantel Type

The mantel is one of the key focal points of your fireplace. It should be decorative as well as functional. You can choose from classic, rustic wood to contemporary metal, luxury marble, or retro tile.

Wood

Wooden mantels cost anywhere from $50 to $5,000. Natural wood, such as preserved driftwood, is an increasingly popular choice because of its rustic charm. As are logs and distressed timbers that give a rustic or farmhouse vibe. Pine and cedar are solid, affordable options, while walnut, oak, and exotic hardwoods cost more but are resilient, beautiful, and long-lasting. 

Marble

Marble mantels range in price from $750 to $11,500. You'll pay toward the upper end (or maybe more) if your wall or foundation needs reinforcement to hold the huge weight of a marble mantel. To reduce cost and weight, you can opt for thin marble tile installed over a wooden mantel. 

Metal

Metal mantels cost between $500 and $1,500. Brushed copper or stainless steel brings a unique, contemporary look to a fireplace, and they're fairly affordable, too. Metal mantels, however, need to be a safe distance from the fireplace, or they can get too hot, posing a burn risk, and can ruin anything that isn't heat-safe if you sit on top of them. 

Tile

Tile mantels cost between $50 and $500. Your contractor will place the tiles over a wooden or metal mantel to produce the finished mantelpiece. You can choose from low-cost ceramic to high-cost glass or stone. Creating interesting patterns and contrasting color combinations is a great way to make a bold statement. 

Fireplace Remodel Cost Breakdown

The costs to remodel a fireplace fall into two categories: materials and labor. The split varies depending on the job. For example, refacing a fireplace surround with hand-cut glass mosaic tiles costs considerably more in labor than materials because it's an intricate, time-consuming job. However, installing a stacked stone fireplace costs more in materials than labor, while a prefab wooden surround is split fairly evenly between the two. 

Materials

How much you'll pay for materials depends on what tasks are involved in the remodel. For example, simply painting the fireplace—which is a great way to give it an instant facelift—only costs a can or two of heat-resistant paint, priced at around $12 to $30 per unit. On the other end of the scale, you can pay upwards of $200 per square foot for rare or particularly sought-after stone. 

Labor

Depending on what you're doing to your fireplace, a handyperson may be a good choice. Handypeople charge $60 to $65 per hour. You can also hire a fireplace installer and, if you're making any changes to an electric fireplace, you'll need to call a local electrician. Some jobs only take an hour or two, but larger, more challenging jobs can take several people up to a week. 

Installing a prefabricated mantel, for example, will take an experienced handyperson up to 4 hours, for a total cost of $200 to $300. Installing a custom surround or a significant hearth extension can take two people four days or more and cost around $1,000. You'll also need to pay between $500 and $1,000 in labor and debris removal costs if you plan to remove the old surround or fireplace.

Other Fireplace Remodel Cost Factors

Aside from remodeling the surround and updating the mantel, many other factors can influence how much you'll pay for your fireplace project.

Hearth Extension

The hearth of your fireplace can cost anywhere from $3 to $200 per square foot to extend. The larger the fireplace and firebox, the larger the hearth should be for the sake of safety. Plus, extending the hearth can increase the grandeur of your fireplace. Often, a hearth includes brick, concrete, or concrete overlaid with tile or stone. 

As a general rule, a hearth must extend at least 16 inches in front of the firebox and a minimum of 8 inches to each side. But, of course, you can go bigger than this. And, instead of an extension, you can rip out the old hearth and install a new one, although removing the existing hearth will cost an extra $500 to $1,000 in labor. 

Here are some typical hearth material costs, installed: 

• Tile: $3–$20 per square foot

• Concrete: $4–$8 per square foot

• Slate: $5–$20 per square foot

• Brick: $6–$15 per square foot

• Steel: $15–$40 per square foot

• Stone: $30–$50 per square foot

• Granite: $40–$60 per square foot

• Marble: $50–$200 per square foot

Fire Safety Screen

Fire safety screens range in cost from $50 to $1,000 or more, with most people spending $50 to $250. They're often made from mesh or a combination of mesh and glass, and they can be as plain or ornate as you want. A plain metal mesh fire safety screen can cost less than $50, while a large multi-pane fire guard with a hand-cut central motif, an enameled design, or a custom-forged wrought iron design can run you $250 or more. 

Firebox Replacement

Repairing or replacing a firebox costs between $160 and $3,500. The firebox is the inner portion of your fireplace that's open to the room, and where the fire sits. In general, remodeling your fireplace does not include replacing the firebox. However, if it's damaged, you'll need to repair or replace it for safety and efficiency. 

If you're converting your fireplace from wood to gas, you may need to replace or remodel the firebox. So, on top of the cost of the gas fireplace insert, which ranges from $2,300 to $13,500, you'll need to account for the $160 to $3,500 for corrections to the firebox. If this is the case, you may also want to remove the chimney, which costs $4,000 to $10,000, at the same time. 

Fireplace Repair

Fireplace repair typically costs $180 to $975. If your pro finds problems with the fireplace or firebox, you'll want to have them taken care of alongside the remodel to make sure your fireplace is safe and efficient. Alongside fireplace repair, you may also have to pay for chimney repair, which can run you up to $15,000, if your pro also finds significant issues during their inspection.

DIY Remodel a Fireplace vs. Hiring a Pro

You can make minor upgrades, such as repainting the surround or, if you have the skill, tiling an existing wooden mantel yourself. But larger or more complex remodels should be carried out by a fireplace professional. Any significant change to the firebox or the fire itself must be undertaken by a pro because of safety, whether you're dealing with a wood burner, an electric fire, or a gas or gel one. 

Any materials you use in or close to the firebox must be non-combustible, and you'll need to use high-heat paint. Remodeling your fireplace isn't something to undertake lightly; if you doubt your abilities, you should hire a local handyperson or fireplace installer to take care of it for you.