DIY Faux Cast Stone Fireplace (Part 3) - Mounting our TV

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Alright here we go, the last installment of this fireplace build!

To recap, here are parts 1 and 2:

Building The Mantel and Fireplace Surround

Now we can focus on the area above the fireplace. I really wanted to build that area out to give it some dimension and to create a single focal point. Prior to this, we had an ugly TV unit on one wall and our fireplace on the other.

It was mostly just a matter of framing out the area with 2x4s and adding drywall.

How I built a bump-out area with an ethernet port and electrical box wired behind our new OLED TV mount. We had an electrician wire them into the wall. I built the studs and framed it in with drywall. Our new, faux cast stone fireplace complete with TV mount!

The TV Bumpout: Tools and Materials

2x4 studs
Miter saw
Kreg jig
2 1/2" pocket hole screws
Drill
(2) 4'x8' sheets of 1/2" drywall
Joint compound mix
Drywall T square
Utility knife
Drywall screws
Drywall tools: mud pan, joint knife, sandpaper
Latex paint in Eggshell, Chantilly Lace
TV Mount (the one we purchased is out of stock 🙁
65" OLED TV

Fireplace bump-out construction

Before anything else, we needed to secure the TV mount and center it on the wall above the new mantel. Once we did this, I was able to build out the surround with 2x4s. I secured the 2x4s to the ceiling joists with 3" screws; the 2x4s were secured to each other with pocket hole joinery.

Building a bump-out area with an ethernet port and electrical box wired behind our new OLED TV mount. How I built the studs and framed it in with drywall. Our new, faux cast stone fireplace complete with TV mount.

The last step was to enclose the area with drywall. I used a T-square to mark a straight line across the surface, then scored the line with a utility knife. Once I scored the line I just snapped it across my knee like a kid looking for punishment!

Next, I secured my drywall to the studs with drywall screws. I applied metal corner braces to the outside corners.

The last step was filling in all the seams with joint compound mix and to sand, sand, sand until everything was nice and smooth. Then I added a coat of Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace in an eggshell finish.

And that was it! The hardest part was sanding and all the drywall dust created by the sanding.