brick wall

How to paint a brick fireplace

house Victoria Sanchez Aug 13, 2020

Looking to upgrade your old brick fireplace to a more modern day look? Here we have a step by step guide on how to get the job done. Before starting this project you'll need to set aside about four to five hours of your time but not to worry this can be finished in only one days of work. Now you're ready to choose your color. A whitewash or gray wash brick fireplace adds beauty to your home or you might want to choose a tan, beige, cream color for a natural look. Soft shades of black and gray work great with present day style rooms. Pick a color that matches the style of your home and the room's decor. Psst keep in mind your holiday decor!

Tools needed to paint a fireplace

  • Wire scrub brush
  • Gloves
  • Cleaning product of choice
  • Paint roller
  • Medium or small paintbrush
  • Blue painters tape
  • Oil-base primer
  • Indoor heat resistant paint
  • Drop Cloth

Step by step instructions for painitng a fireplace

  • Clean the surface

    You will need to thoroughly clean the brick, this ensures any chip off spots due to a dirty surface and also so your paint dries properly. Use a wire scrub brush to remove any dirt or dust. Then apply your cleaning product of choice. Rinse and let dry. You can wipe dry with a towel to speed up the drying process.

  • Prep Surroundings

    Cover your floor with a drop cloth and tape off any areas you want to remain paint free! Taking time for this step is crucial to your final look! I recommend not taking any shortcuts, this step is a tevious one so have patience!

  • Prime the brick

    A latex primer protects your paint against future residue stains from fireplace use, and also makes it easier to wipe clean in the future. Apply primer to the entire surface, following the manufacturers directions. Let dry.

  • Paint the brick

    Now for the fun part! Once your primer is completely dry we can move to the final step! I recommend using indoor heat resistant paint, semigloss or gloss rated to bear up against temperatures created by the fireplace (generally about 200 F) and a roller designed for textured surfaces. The roller helps cover the surface of the brick in a quicker time frame rather than using a simple paintbrush for all around approach. For any spots you can't reach using your roller touch up with a small paintbrush. Apply a second and third coat as needed allowing a good deal of drying time between coats.

    Congratulations! You made it through painting a brick fireplace! I hope your results were as envisioned in your thoughts! Keep in mind if they did not come out as desired we would be happy to come out and take a look!