How to Paint a Brick Fireplace White

Bricks are somewhat difficult to paint. They are quite porous, which means they absorb paint quickly, necessitating more than one coat. In addition, they have many nooks and crannies, which means that the paint tends to pool in certain areas. These factors not only make bricks tricky to paint, but also make the paint almost impossible to remove. Once you paint bricks, it is hard to get the paint off, so make sure painting them is really what you want to do.

Things You'll Need

• Scrub brush
• Hot, soapy water
• White vinegar (optional)
• Spackle and putty knife
• Caulking and caulking gun
• Painter's tape
• Tarp or other protective sheeting
• 100 percent acrylic universal primer
• 100 percent acrylic interior white paint (water-based)
• Brush and roller

Instructions

1. Clean your bricks. Scrub with a scrub brush and hot, soapy water to get any soot off the bricks. If soapy water is not enough, scrub with straight white vinegar.

2. Repair the mortar or any holes in the bricks. Use spackle and a putty knife for small cracks or holes, or caulking for bigger gaps in the mortar.

3. Protect the area. Use painter's tape to protect nearby walls, and cover the floor with a tarp or old sheet.

4. Apply primer. Use a primer that is 100 percent acrylic. First, use the roller to apply the primer. Work from the top down. Painting brick is different from an interior wall in that you do not have to be as careful and neat with your strokes. Choose a section about 2-feet-square, then work the roller in all directions, covering as much of the brick and mortar as possible.

5. Use a paintbrush to pick up drips and runs, and to fill in the mortar. The roller will not be able to fill in the mortar completely, so use the brush to dab paint into empty spaces. Check the corners of the bricks, as this is where the most mortar will pool. Once you have used the roller and brush on one section, move on to another section, and repeat.

6. Apply the white paint. Again, use an interior, water-based acrylic paint. Use the roller and brush just as you did when you applied the primer. Let dry completely, then add another coat, again following the directions in Steps 4 and 5. You may need to add a third coat, depending on how bright you want the white color to be.

Tips & Warnings

• Many experts suggest whitewashing bricks instead of trying to paint them white.

• Make sure your area is well-ventilated while you are working with the paint and primer.

Resources

• More tips for painting interior brick fireplaces
• Buy painting materials at Lowes
• How to whitewash a red brick fireplace