Things You'll Need:
- Wire bristle brush
- Soap
- Tri-sodium phosphate
- Oil-based paint
- Chip brushes
- Kitchen sponge
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Step 1
Scuff the fireplace surface with a wire bristle brush and get rid of loose mortar to prepare it for painting. You'll want a surface that the paint can soak into. Scrape off bits of loose paint if someone has tried to paint the fireplace previously.
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Step 2
Wash the fireplace surface with soap and water or Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). Rinse off as much as possible. Allow the fireplace to dry completely.
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Step 3
Pick a high-quality oil-based paint such as Benjamin Moore's Satin Oil Impervo.
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Step 4
Combine the oil paint with mineral spirits in an 80/20 mix, with the paint being the 80 percent.
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Step 5
Apply the paint/mineral spirits mixture as a base coat with cheap white-bristled chip brushes. These brushes will allow you to apply the paint to the bricks without getting it on the mortar, but if you want to have a solid color, go ahead and paint the mortar.
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Step 6
Prepare another batch of the oil paint and mineral spirits in an 85/15 ratio. You can even mix several small batches of color to use.
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Step 7
Use a kitchen sponge to dab the colors on the fireplace immediately; you don't have to wait for the base coat of oil paint to dry. If you're using different batches of color, use one color on one brick, then another color on a different brick.
