How to Finish Fireplace Boxes

Refinishing the fireplace box can dramatically affect a room.

Fireplace boxes are exposed to more dirt and grime then the rest of the house put together, and as such, they require repainting and maintenance more frequently than might be expected. While a tarnished fireplace box may have a rustic charm, eventually the exposed brick or mortar surface may become damaged due to a lack of protection from the grime. Periodic cleaning and finishing of these fireplace boxes may help prevent future problems while brightening and improving the appearance of the entire fireplace. For this project, a careful, thorough job of painting is required to protect the firebox.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Wire brush
• Rags
• Mineral spirits
• High temperature primer
• Brushes
• High temperature paint

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Instructions

1. Put on a pair of work gloves. Scrape the entire fireplace box vigorously with a wire brush. Get into the small cracks in the front to remove all ash buildup, but be careful about chipping or gouging the interior fireplace brick, as long-term exposure to fire can make this brick delicate. Scrape until all pieces of creosote or ash have been removed.

2. Soak one section of a rag in mineral spirits and rub it vigorously over the fireplace box. Reapply mineral spirits to the rag as needed and work to remove the dark buildup of ash and soot on the fireplace bricks or stones. Continue until the brick is no longer getting cleaner. Allow fifteen minutes for the fireplace box to dry.

3. Apply high temperature primer using brushes in even, smooth strokes. Fill even the small gaps in between cracks with primer so that the surfaces are completely sealed. Allow primer to dry for six hours.

4. Apply a coat of high temperature paint to the fireplace box using even, smooth strokes, painting whenever possible in the same directions as the previous coat. Ensure that the paint enters even the smallest cracks, penetrating areas that may not have been coated thoroughly before. Allow paint to dry for six hours and add another coat. Allow second coat to dry 24 hours before having a fire in the fireplace.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the entire fireplace if desired, but know that the interior of the fireplace will darken quickly and blacken again, which will show very clearly if using a light paint. For dark paints that are similar in appearance to the soot, color this is not an issue.

• Wrap brushes tightly in plastic wrap while waiting for the paint to dry rather than washing them, as this will save time and paint.

References

• Real Simple: Makeover Your Fireplace Tile Surround with Paint
• TLC: Trading Spaces - Painting a Brick Fireplace
• Young House Love: Painting a Brick Fireplace is an Easy Way to Makeover Your Entire Room