The Top 3 Benefits of a Faux Brick Fireplace Makeover
There’s nothing like a real brick fireplace to add a rustic, welcoming vibe to any indoor living space.
While well-placed, genuine brick is beautiful, it’s also a chore to obtain. It’s messy and labor-intensive to work with, and it requires advanced expertise and tools in order to properly install.
There is a better way to bring the look of real brick into your home. Faux brick panels from GenStone are made using molds taken from real brick, and they look so similar to real brick you’ll hardly be able to tell the difference! Yet, GenStone faux brick panels are ultra-lightweight, very affordable, and downright easy to install.
It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that you could completely reface your fireplace, adding the look of real brick, all in just a few hours. It’s that simple!
If you haven’t thought about using faux brick as part of your fireplace makeover, this article is serving up the three top benefits of picking faux brick over the real thing.
Benefit #1: Your Fireplace, Your Style
The first benefit you’ll get when using faux brick panels from GenStone is the ability to customize the look of your fireplace in ways that simply aren’t possible when using real brick.
While there are numerous brick styles, colors, and shapes available, you can’t really modify the final look unless you use harsh chemicals, lacquers, or other finishing methods. Alternatively, when using GenStone faux brick panels as part of a fireplace makeover, the panels themselves can be touched up with the latex paint of your choice.
We even include the hex-based color key you can use to get the exact paint color you need to make your faux brick look just the way you want it. This opens up a broad range of design opportunities, giving you more flexibility to work your fireplace makeover concept in with the rest of your interior decor.
Benefit #2: Forget the Brick Working Tools
Cutting, shaping, and laying brick is a very messy, highly skilled job that requires a lot of preparation and specialized expertise.
GenStone faux brick panels completely eliminate the need for masonry tools and labor. Instead, each GenStone faux brick panel can be cut-to-size using a simple handsaw, radial saw, or table saw. What’s more, GenStone provides color-matched faux brick corner pieces, corner ledgers, standard ledgers, and trim.
With as many ways as there are to replicate the look and feel of real brick, you’ll wonder why you never thought of using faux brick panels before!
Benefit #3: Low Maintenance, High Durability Fireplace Design Solution
For use on or near a fireplace, GenStone recommends special-ordering our Class A fire-rated polyurethane faux brick panels in the color theme of your choice.
When you opt for this selection, you’ll be using material that will stand up better to the heat that emanates from fireplaces. Keep in mind that you’ll still want to be sure to maintain a safe distance between the faux brick panels and any open flames. However, any of the areas surrounding your hearth can be candidate surfaces for the installation of this kind of faux brick panelling.
One feature about GenStone faux brick panels that you won’t find with real brick is this: GenStone panels are easy to clean. When soot or ash makes its way onto your hearth (which it inevitably will), it won’t affect the surface like it would with real brick. Because real brick is highly porous, it has the tendency of retaining stains, be they from the fireplace itself or from, say, a spilled glass of wine.
GenStone faux brick panels are a breeze to clean. With a little soap and warm water, your fireplace surfaces can be restored to like-new condition. Easy!
With GenStone, the Opportunities are Endless
If you’re ready to get started on the planning phase of your fireplace makeover, the first step is going to be choosing which among the four faux brick color options you’re going to use:
- Chicago—an industrial, weathered-looking brick veneer
- Classic—a nod to the ‘real deal’ in every way
- Deep Red—traditional, high-contrast faux brick
- Multi-color—an artistic approach to integrating the brick aesthetic
Whichever color option you choose, we’re confident you’ll love your new hearth. For more design ideas and to get inspired with some creative ways to use faux brick and faux stone panels from GenStone, head over to our projects page.
With faux brick fireplace solutions from GenStone, you’ll have a rugged-looking, durable fireplace everyone will want to cozy up to, without the hassle and cost of using real brick!
