A beautiful and inexpensive portal for a fireplace with your own hands

What is required to make a false fireplace

For the quick and accurate implementation of the tasks set, you will need certain materials and tools:

• GKL plates. For work, ordinary sheets with a thickness of 9.5 to 12.5 mm are used. If the placement of an electrical appliance is intended, then it is better to choose fire-resistant options that provide ultimate protection.
• Metallic profile. Since the frame assumes the presence of a large number of elements, the entire system can be made exclusively from UD (PNP) or CD (PP) profiles and their combination.
• A set of self-tapping screws. You will need products for fixing galvanized parts and drywall directly.
• Elastic putty. For joints and further processing.
• Reinforcement tape and perforated corner.

For the construction of an imitation of a fireplace, you can use ordinary drywall (GKL), but if you plan to insert an electric fireplace into a niche, then it is better to take fire-resistant sheets (GKLO)

• Electric jigsaw or GKL saw.
• Scissors for metal.
• Screwdriver and drill, a set of drills and nozzles.
• Rack or laser level.
• Ruler, tape measure and corner.

Professionals use a lot of specialized tools, but a minimum set is enough for a home craftsman to build a small fireplace box.

Finishing materials are also being prepared. It can be artificial stone, brick, various types of overlays and stucco moldings. Depending on the cladding product, appropriate tools and compounds for finishing and fasteners will be required.

The most affordable and fastest way to decorate a false fireplace is considered to be staining, followed by homemade gypsum plasterboard tiles, the tile will be the golden mean, and the most expensive, reliable and heat-resistant is clinker tiles

Main element

The fireplace has several functional components, the correct assembly of which determines the overall success of the business. The fireplace consists of the following elements:

• base;
• portal;
• top shelf;
• a device that makes it possible to simulate the fire of a real fireplace.

The fireplace portal, made of plasterboard, is the main component. It represents the external design of the structure. Also, the portal means the "front door" of the fireplace. Those. the portal is an external part of the structure, which looks like a furnace recess.

Fireplace portal

A wide variety of finishing materials can be used to decorate this part of the structure, especially if the fireplace itself was sheathed with plasterboard sheets. Drywall is an excellent base for any type of finish. It is thanks to this quality that false fireplaces are outwardly very similar to real ones and you can make them yourself.

Project work

Before you make a drywall fireplace, you need to draw up a drawing of it.

Structural design requires consideration of the following issues:

• Where will the fireplace be located?
• How big will the portal be?
• What will be the shape and appearance?

Most often, fireplaces are located in the living room: if there is enough space, then this can be the central zone of one of the walls of the room. In small rooms, it is better to choose the option with a corner imitation of a plasterboard fireplace. Due to the external similarity, a decorative fireplace is often combined with a TV area: for example, a screen can be hung over a portal. In order for the false fireplace to play not only an aesthetic, but also a practical role, shelves and boxes for storing small things can be included in its composition. Another option is to use the structure as a TV stand.

Such recommendations are not the rule - sometimes the portal and the TV are mounted on different walls. Having decided on the location of the decorative fireplace, it is necessary to calculate its dimensions and make a drawing of the product.In this case, it is not necessary to achieve structural identity with the present device. The main thing is that it should be outwardly beautiful and harmoniously fit into the overall interior design. The structure is based on a metal profile frame. The profile in this regard is very convenient, since it can be used to build any suitable structure.

Sometimes, when you independently create a drawing of a decorative plasterboard fireplace with your own hands, problems may arise. In this case, you can consider finished projects on specialized sites: ready-made drawings are allowed to be corrected, adjusting them to a specific architectural situation in your home. For example, if it is planned to install an electric fireplace inside a decorative portal, then when constructing a structure, you will have to take into account the dimensions of a household heater. It is most convenient when sketches with several options for the final design of a drywall fireplace with your own hands are attached to the finished project: in this case, the fireplace fits into the interior of the room as organically as possible. A detailed list of the dimensions of each part is also important.

Execution of works

The technology of creating a fireplace with your own hands requires accuracy and constant coordination with the plan.

Frame installation

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Marking is applied. It must be fully consistent with the project.
2. Parts of the required size are cut.
3. The profiles are fixed to the base first, dowels are used for fastening. Everything is checked by level and among themselves.
4. Vertical racks are placed, which are reinforced with jumpers with a step of 30 cm.
5. A niche is equipped. If it is planned to place simulation or heating devices, then it must be made more reliable. For this, metal parts are reinforced.
6. After erection to the main frame, a protruding base can be completed.
7. If the firebox has an arched appearance, then the edges of the profile fragment are cut, after which the element is bent to the desired shape and fixed.

The frame is not in vain called load-bearing, the appearance and strength of the future structure directly depends on the quality of its assembly

The complete assembly order is determined exclusively by the drawn up plan, therefore, the location of the profiles that will be mounted in the depth of the structure are thought out in advance.

Plasterboard sheathing

Step-by-step algorithm of the process:

1. Details are being prepared. For this, the slab is cut to size into elements. If trimming is carried out with a construction knife, then the edges need to be reworked with a plane, so it is advisable to cut out the fragments with an electric jigsaw.
2. Joints are necessarily formed between adjacent parts. It is possible to level the appearance of gaps by joining the joints: each straight seam must have a V-shape. Corner plasterboard fragments are overlapped.
3. If you want to finish the arched niche of the firebox, then the simplest method is to create a stencil. An alternative method involves baiting the GCR part with a contour outlined on the seamy side.
4. The fixing of the material is carried out as standard, the screws are screwed in flush. The step is selected individually, depending on the size of the element.

If the box of metal profiles is assembled correctly, then it will not be difficult to cut and fasten the sheets of gypsum plasterboard to the base.

It is not difficult to sheathe the frame structure yourself. Finishing work is carried out according to the instructions:

1. The joints are primed and covered with elastic putty, and a reinforcing tape is applied on top.
2. The entire surface is treated with a deep penetration compound.
3. If required, perforated corners are installed.
4. A leveling mixture is applied. The layer thickness should be kept to a minimum.

This procedure simplifies the subsequent design of the fireplace by improving adhesion, and also allows you to change the finish without damaging the drywall.

Portal decoration

You can decorate the structure using various options, the choice depends on the style of the interior and individual preferences:

• Artificial stone or brick. For work, it is better to choose aged varieties. Laying is carried out depending on the shape of the structure. To enhance the entourage, the inner part of the firebox and adjacent areas are tinted dark or specially fired.
• Wallpaper. The simplest solution. Products are selected with imitation of natural materials.
• Stucco moldings and various moldings. At the moment, there are many beautiful decorative elements that have a complex structure and geometry. It is preferable to use fragments in the form of columns at the edges, and it is better to revet the protruding parts with curly details.
• Forged items. Products look interesting in the form of a contour or partial limiter for the firebox.

The cover is made separately; it can be of different thickness and shape.

In fact, there are a large number of different materials, which gives room for imagination.

Decor options for false fireplaces

Where to begin?

Preliminary work is mandatory and helps to avoid mistakes in the future. Before starting the basic procedures, you must:

Determine the optimal location for a decorative fireplace in a house or apartment. This design gravitates towards the living room, so the choice is made within this room. The center sections of the longest wall, located away from window and door openings, are best suited. The corner option is also interesting, but it assumes the presence of a sufficient area.

The central location of the fireplace is more suitable for large rooms; in relatively small rooms, it is better to install such structures in the most noticeable corner

• Calculate the size. For this, the overall dimensions of the interior are initially estimated and areas for the placement of the main pieces of furniture and decorative elements are outlined. Based on the data obtained, the parameters of the created structure are determined.
• Choose a design. It should fit the general style of the room. Finishing cladding should be harmonious and in line with existing trends in finishing, taking into account individual preferences.
• Determine the purpose. The finished structure can perform several functions:
  • serve exclusively as a decor in a classic or old rural style or an interior variety that creates an imitation of burning;
  • include shelves for placing figurines, candles or books;
  • play the role of a portal into which an electric fireplace is mounted.

The appearance of the structure directly depends on the design concept of the room
 

If everything is done correctly, then this piece of furniture will become a real highlight of the room.

What materials do you need to have

Plasterboard is very widely used today to create a false fireplace for a country cottage, as in the photo. To perform this operation without the help of specialists, you need to have the following materials.

Advantages of GKL fireplaces

Decorative models of fireplaces are designed for several reasons. The main reasons to make the structure yourself:

1. Security of the premises. A real fireplace, designed for heating, is considered fire hazardous, but in principle, if you install it in an apartment, they have nothing to heat. In this situation, people acquire special devices that operate on electricity and simulate the flame of a burning fireplace. In such fireplaces there are electrical parts, so it is appropriate for them to use a material with fireproof properties.
2. For the purpose of home decoration. A false fireplace perfectly decorates a room; it can act as the main decorative element, which is often accentuated. This option does not emit heat, but looks great next to the laminate on the floor. How to work with laminate, see our article. For the purpose of design, various gypsum boards are used.

For such main reasons, people decide to make a decorative plasterboard fireplace with their own hands. Regardless of the option chosen, the order of work is almost identical.

The reasons why people are increasingly preferring such designs:

1. Fire safety. These options are not capable of operating from direct fire. And even if the fireplace still heats the room using fireproof drywall, the risk of fire is equated to zero.
2. Simple construction. Due to this advantage, fireplaces can be easily constructed independently. And if you wish, you can make a complex design of decorative fireplaces.
3. Large selection of shapes. Since drywall is used for the construction, any form of imitation of a fireplace can be designed. Often they make an imitation with a chimney, so the fireplace looks complete.
4. Dimensions of the room. To design such a structure, the size of the room is not important, because you yourself choose the size of the finished structure.
5. Facing. It is made from any finishing material. This allows it to be combined with any finishing materials in the room. Therefore, if you have already made a self-leveling floor with your own hands according to our instructions, do not worry, the fireplace will fit perfectly with it.

Many, starting from a number of advantages, decide to make a fireplace with their own hands from drywall.

We direct the marafet

Now that the box has been removed, it will be quite easy to cover it with plasterboard sheets.

Particular attention should be paid here to the portal, which must be sheathed very carefully, as it will be the "face" of your fireplace.
You can make the correct skin of the portal as follows:

• first we sheathe the inside with the material, and then the outside;
• try to match the drywall sheets in the corners. In order to make them even, use a special metal perforated corner;
• fastening with a sheet occurs with self-tapping screws. You can choose an arbitrary step for their installation or stop at 10-15 cm;
• avoid the coincidence of the places where the screws are screwed in on adjacent sheets;
• embedding of fasteners is carried out by 1 mm. The protrusion of the caps of the self-tapping screws above the surface of the sheet should not be allowed.

Portal skin

After that, you will only have to putty the surface of the portal until it is even and smooth. Do not forget that before you finally decorate the fireplace, its entire structure should be primed. This will increase the adhesion between the surface and the finishing material.

Step-by-step action plan: how to make a drywall fireplace

Without a clear understanding of what should be the sequence of actions in preparation for arranging a false fireplace in the house and in the direct execution of work, it is very difficult to achieve a reliable and beautiful result in a short time.

Therefore, you need to start with the most important: choose the style of the fireplace, its location and "filling"

Location: In a spacious room, it is best to place a fireplace in the middle of a long wall. In this case, you can at the same time issue a false chimney for greater reliability. In a small room, choose a corner structure. You should definitely not install an artificial fireplace in a hard-to-reach place where it will be difficult to get to it.

The style of design can be thought up by yourself, or you can be guided by photos of similar designs, which can be found in large numbers on the Internet.

Anything can become a filling for a fireplace: candles installed in the portal; stacks of books; electronic photo frame, on which the image of the flame will be displayed; plasma screen or electric fireplace disguised as a real hearth.

A step-by-step plan for creating a drywall fireplace:

• We select the appropriate option and transfer it to the drawing;
• We create a layout;
• We calculate the required materials and make their purchase;
• We mount the frame from the profile;
• We sheathe the frame with sheets of gypsum board;
• We carry out finishing work on the box;
• We design the portal from the inside;
• We carry out work on the decor of the fireplace.

The first step in building a drywall fireplace is a blueprint. It will allow you to see exactly how to place the structure, understand its overall dimensions and detail the project.

Types of plasterboard fireplaces

1. Conditional. An indispensable element of such a decoration is a portal protruding a couple of centimeters from the wall. An electric fireplace or burning candles, flickering lamps are placed on a shelf that imitates a combustion chamber. If the product will stand in the nursery, then several shelves for books, stationery or toys are made in the firebox.

2. Credible. In size and appearance, they fully correspond to the real ones, differ only in the absence of a chimney. A bioethanol burner is installed in the furnace. This type of fuel does not emit soot, smoke, does not form ash and soot, and has a heat coefficient greater than that of firewood. But since the materials from which decorative fireplaces are made do not retain heat well, this element of the furnishings still cannot be a full-fledged source of heating. Such designs are unsuitable for a nursery due to the presence of an open flame, but are appropriate in a bedroom, living room or dining room.

3. Symbolic. A flat image is created from any available materials on the wall - it is not necessary to match the size and appearance of this structure. For this purpose, trims of drywall sheets left after repair are also suitable. They are easy to glue directly to the wall, and then apply the image of the portal and hearth.

Varieties of conditional and reliable options are a corner fireplace or an island fireplace (installed separately, not against the wall). The second is placed in very spacious rooms on a small elevation. Corner is suitable for confined spaces, does not take up much space, and does not look bulky.

Design

Fireplace ideas:

• Plasterboard is faced with ceramic tiles, artificial stone (including flexible), ordinary or decorative plaster, paint. At home, it is easy to make a plaster or concrete finishing stone with your own hands. This will require molds and a special mixture (for example, "Smart Plaster").
• From above, the structure is often decorated with an imitation hood. Looks good with a wooden frame.
• A design option is to raise the combustion chamber, such a solution is especially appropriate in a room with a high ceiling. In this case, the fireplace is placed on the foot (step).
• Shelves built into the firebox or fixed to the walls of the structure will increase the functionality. It is convenient to place decorative details, books, dishes on them.
• A niche is sometimes placed at the bottom. After installation, decorative artificial or real logs are placed in it. Natural ones are treated with an antiseptic, varnished or stained.
• The corner version can be pentagonal or triangular.

Most often it is located near the main wall. There should be free space in front of it for arranging a recreation area. Cannot be installed near a door, near radiators or in hard-to-reach places.

Portal design

Inside the finished portal, you can, of course, install an electric fireplace, but you can also decorate it with various facing materials to give even greater expressiveness. To do this, use:

• ceramic tiles;
• artificial and natural stone;
• brick;
• marble;
• wood.

Decoration of a drywall portal with artificial stone

When choosing a cladding, it must be borne in mind that it should not create additional stress on the body. Also, a false fireplace can be decorated with metal forged elements.
If you decide to use decorative tiles or stone for cladding, glue them to the body using ordinary tile glue. You can also use liquid nails, which will fix the cladding no worse than special compounds.

Niche design options

The resulting portal also allows you to implement many interesting solutions:

• Installation of shelves. Removable or portable options can be made.
• Placement of a painting or a bas-relief. For this, the space is formed more open and the appropriate external finish is selected.
• Illuminated glass insert device. To enhance the effect, a drawing is created on the basis, which is illuminated in different shades.
• Installation of a mirror cover with a decor in the form of electric candles.

The main thing is complete harmony with the style of the room, the fireplace should create an atmosphere of tranquility and set you up for relaxation.

Diy plasterboard corner fireplace

There are several types of homemade corner decorative fireplaces, each with their own advantages:

• symbolic. It is executed in the form of a picture imitating a fireplace portal. This is the simplest version, which has few similar details with the present;
• conditional. In such a solution, in addition to the decorative image of the fire and the firebox, a portal is equipped, which can be made from old furniture, a cardboard box, drywall. Instead of a decorative image, you can mount an electric fireplace, provided that all fire safety rules are observed;
• outdoor bio fireplaces. This is a modern high-tech solution, where a device with an LCD TV, capable of simulating the burning of a real flame, is mounted in a portal, which is installed against a wall in an apartment or in a country house.

For realism, firewood and stones can be laid out in the firebox, and an iron damper is exposed outside, as in real fireplaces.

The cost of organizing a fireplace at home will directly depend on the choice of the type of construction.

The creation of a fireplace, like any other engineering structure, should begin with the choice of location. After that, measurements are made on all planes, after which a drawing of a corner fireplace made of plasterboard with dimensions is drawn.

Important! In order for the fireplace to be as similar as possible to a real one, it is worth observing the proportions in a ratio of 2: 3 (width x height). The depth of the firebox relative to the height should be set in a ratio of 1: 2 .. Another condition that will help create a beautiful and realistic fireplace is the thickness of drywall (optimal if the sheet thickness is from 9 to 12.5 mm), for which you need to select the appropriate metal profile and self-tapping screws for connecting elements into a single structure

Another condition that will help create a beautiful and realistic fireplace is the thickness of drywall (optimal if the sheet thickness is from 9 to 12.5 mm), for which it is necessary to select the appropriate metal profile and self-tapping screws to connect the elements into a single structure.

Photo: the dimensions of the false fireplace

Installation of a frame from a bar or a metal profile

The next stage, which marks the immediate start of construction work, is the installation of the frame. As a rule, a wooden beam or a metal profile is used to create it. It is these two materials that provide the most rigid fixation and are relatively easy to assemble. To create our portal, we will use a metal profile, which must be cut before installation. Its fixation can be carried out using special fasteners or small pieces of the profile, cut with a grinder.

Fireplace portal made of wood

In most cases, fireplace portals have a square or rectangular shape with a kind of platform on top in the form of a shelf. Based on this, the frame should be assembled in such a way that the edges of the geometric figure have maximum rigidity. In turn, it is also necessary to install crossbars between the corners of the building with a step of no more than 30-40 cm, which will ensure optimal building qualities. The profiles are connected to each other using self-tapping screws for metal, which are screwed into them with a drill.