Fireplace Tile Remodel in Upstate, SC
Fireplace tile remodel in Upstate, SC — red square surround replaced with a herringbone finish for a brighter, calmer focal point in the room.
Before & After
Drag the slider to see the transformation. Same space, stunning results.
About This Project
The Bittner family wanted to refresh their fireplace without doing a full fireplace replacement. We documented the existing condition — a bold red square tile surround and hearth — then removed the old tile and rebuilt the surround and hearth with a light herringbone tile finish around the firebox opening. The new herringbone tile brightens the wall, calms the room, and works with the existing mantel and hardwood flooring, so the room reads as completely refreshed with a small, contained tile project. A useful reminder that not every remodel has to be a full bathroom or kitchen — a focused tile update in the right spot can change the whole room.
Bittner Family's Goals
Refresh the fireplace as a focal point of the room without doing a full fireplace replacement — keep the mantel, swap the tile, and let the new color do the work.
Scope of Work
- Documented existing fireplace surround and hearth condition
- Removed existing red square tile from surround and hearth
- Installed light herringbone tile around the firebox opening and hearth
- Brightened and modernized the focal wall to work with the existing mantel and hardwood flooring
- Cleaned and protected the surrounding room throughout the install
Frequently Asked Questions
Will new tile work with an existing mantel and hardwood flooring?
Yes, if the tile finish is chosen to complement the existing materials rather than compete with them. In the Bittner project, the light herringbone tile was selected specifically because it picks up the warm tones in the hardwood floor and reads as calm next to the dark mantel — so the update looks intentional, not grafted on.
How long does a fireplace tile replacement take?
A focused fireplace surround and hearth tile project like this one typically runs two to three days — one day to remove the old tile and prep the substrate, and one to two days to set and grout the new tile. There's no major demo, no plumbing, and no drywall, which keeps the timeline tight.
Is the hearth tile replaced as part of the surround project?
Usually yes. The surround and hearth are one continuous visual unit, and replacing just the surround while leaving the original hearth tile can make the mismatch more obvious. In this project, we replaced both the surround and the hearth so the finished result reads as a single, cohesive update.
Project Details
- Location
- Upstate, SC
- Category
- Tile Work
- Completed
- October 2025
- Duration
- 2-3 days
- Homeowner
- Bittner Family
Materials Used
- Herringbone tile (light finish)
- Fireplace surround tile
- Hearth tile finish
- Tile-appropriate thinset and grout
