How To Paint Fireplace Mantels

Decorating features may come and go, but fireplace owners know that nothing surpasses the romance and warmth of a beautifully appointed fireplace. Hearths are optional these days, but mantels are known to turn an ordinary fireplace into a striking focal point that serves as home to art and family photos during the year, before being lavished with Christmas stockings during the holidays. If your mantel could use a makeover, nothing costs less and makes a more dramatic change than stripping and painting it. Follow this guide to give your fireplace mantel a new and more beautiful lease on life that needn't wait for winter to get attention.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Murphy Oil Soap or comparable wood cleaning product
• Stripper
• Rags
• Drop cloths or newspaper
• Sandpaper
• Filler
• Primer
• Enamel paint
• Polyurethane sealant or tung oil
• Paint brushes
• Turpentine or mineral spirits

1. Remove all display items you've arranged atop your fireplace. Use a safe washing agent such as Murphy Wood Soap to remove grime, candle residue and other dirt that may have accumulated atop the mantel's shelf. Stow portable fireplace accessories like log holders, screens and tools. Put down newspaper or drop cloths to protect the area surrounding the fireplace.

2. Don rubber gloves, a face mask and eye protection to apply a commercial stripper to the mantel's surface. Carefully remove old paint, varnish and other finishes. If you're working on material that could be damaged by strippers, use sandpaper to tackle the removal of old finishes. Brick mantels require a chemical paint remover and wire brush to do the job.

3. Select from a wood filler, caulk, putty or other product appropriate for filling in holes, damage, cracks and other imperfections that time and use may have inflicted upon the surface of the mantel. Allow the filler to dry thoroughly before using sheets of fine sandpaper to blend and even out repaired areas.

4. Make a final sweep of the fireplace mantel with a damp cloth to remove bits and pieces of filler that may have been left behind, then buff all surfaces with a soft cloth to ready the fireplace mantel for sealing and painting.

5. Choose a primer recommended for use on wood. Begin applying the sealer at the top of the shelf and work your way down the sides to finish at the hearth area. Professionals recommend taking time to apply even strokes to your fireplace mantle to avoid blemishes. You may also wish to take this bit of advice: use several brush sizes to apply the primer, particularly if the mantel is trimmed with dentil molding or other embellishments.

6. Apply your choice of oil-based paint to the mantel. Oil-based paint is used on project like this because the alternative, water-based product, wouldn't adhere to the surface properly. It would fade fast and offer less protection.
   If you're looking for an enameled appearance, use several coats, allowing the mantel to dry after each is applied. The addition of one or more coats of clear polyurethane adds more luster to the refinished mantel. Alternately, apply tung oil if you're seeking a finish that's not highly reflective.

7. Maintain your newly refinished fireplace mantel by undertaking seasonal cleanings with Murphy Oil Soap or another product made specifically for wood. Replace your mantel decorations or add new accents to give visitors even more reason to admire your handiwork.