How to Paint Brick Fireplaces – DIY

All brick fireplaces were not made equally!! Sometimes your perfect room may have a fireplace that has no other word to describe it but ugly. One of the easiest and most cost effective do it yourself home project is to paint the bricks on the fireplace. Fireplace painting can significantly improve the look of your room, if done correctly. Just remember, a painted fireplace is easy to achieve, but removing the paint from a brick fireplace may take a professional.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thin high quality oil-based paint
• Oil-based primer
• Nappy roller
• old paint brush
• sandpaper

1. Wipe down the brick fireplace with a damp rag to remove dirt and soot. If you have a heavy amount of soot, you may have to use a firm brush and scrub. Soot will discolor the brick so make sure you clean them well. If you feel any loose pieces of mortar while you are cleaning, you may want to use a piece of sandpaper to remove them. Allow the bricks to dry thoroughly before applying the paint.

2. If possible, remove the fireplace doors and screen. If they are attached, cover and tape to protect them from paint.

3. Prime the fireplace with oil based primer to ensure no soot stains bleed through your paint. This also helps the paint go on smoother.

4. Choose a high quality, thin oil based paint. Paints are not designed to be heat resistant. A thin paint will be less likely to blister and it will also lay on the porous bricks better. If you do not use your fireplace for a heat source then any type of paint will work.

5. Use a nappy roller meant for textured surfaces to apply the paint. Keep an old paintbrush near by to help you get into the crevices between the bricks and cover the grout. You may need to jab the paint into some of the crevices. Bricks will normally take at least 3 coats to cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Brick is porous – be sure you have more paint then you think you will need.
• Use an old or inexpensive paint brush for this Do it yourself project.
• If you use your fireplace then avoid using water based paint. It blisters in the heat and the thick layer does not adhere well to the brick.
• If your fireplace does not have a large amount of soot, you may be able to skip the primer and start painting. However, this will cause you to paint additional coats to get the coverage you will need.

[hazelknows]

on 8/5/2009 Sorry about the spelling I was in a huge rush:)

[hazelknows]

on 8/5/2009 good tips on hoe to remocve paint from a brick fireplace