Tile on top of fireplace surround

We bought this house and realized the last homeowner attempted to DIY alot of things- wrong, including all the floor tile. We have replaced that with wood, but he had tiled the same floor tile around the fireplace and I am replacing it. I don't think he used thinset at all, but he grouted heavily between them. it looks like patches of some sort of adhesive and it ruined the drywall completely. My plan is to replace the drywall (not sure if I need a certain type around the surround) and tile over it. The tile will overlap the black top portion of the surround and will be attached also to drywall at the top. What type of adhesive can I use to keep the tiles stuck at the bottom and can I just grout it all the same? The tiles he used were solid 12x12 and it looked like they were just glued on there. I will be using a mesh mosaic and will probably need to fill in pieces here and there.

 

Fire rated sheet rock is 5/8" thick, but match whatever you currently have. Prime and put a coat of paint on the drywall before you tile. You could just replace with cement backer board if you wanted as well. Use Shluter edge pieces if you need a smooth transition from the edge of your mosaic if they are not designed as a finished edge. Use a glass tile mortar as it will be a little stickier and easier to work on a vertical surface.

 

Additionally any surface within 3" of that firebox must be of a non combustible material. I would suggest Durock or an equivalent to make the entire surround, along with replacing any framing members that may be wood with metal studs. You'll be able to see what you have and can post further pictures if you want once you have removed the drywall.

 

Thanks for the response. The current drywall isn't very thick, I will measure it and remove it in the next 2 days. It sounds as if cement backer board might be the easiest installation. Do I need anything behind that or just screw it to the studs? I did not think about edge pieces, I will have to see. All of our wall corners are rounded here and the old tile just had a smooth grout line at the edge of tile which flowed into the rounded corner well. I might have to get a piece of edging and see what it will look like. I don't want it to stick out weird just before the wall curves, but I'm sure it will look more finished, especially since the tile will be thin strips. Also, will the glass tile mortar be ok to use on the metal surround at the top or should I try to use and adhesive on there? The previous owner definitely used an adhesive because it was gummy when I pried it off. Thank you.

 

I'm inclined to suggest that you not tile on the top black portion. I would overlap the edge and call it a day. The black will match and balance the black that is on the bottom of the unit and look natural. You can clean up the top and respray with a high heat grill paint to blend in any imperfections. The schluter edge pieces come in dozens of profiles that you can monkey with to match your rounded corners.

 

Yes I thought about that also, and am considering it. The fact that I see people and pictures of it everyday means I probably will attempt it because I want the square look. I already sprayed the doors with high heat paint so I have it. Thanks