How to Paint a Brick Fireplace & Mantle
A few coats of paint can dramatically alter the appearance of a fireplace and mantle. The process is fairly straightforward. The most difficult part of the job is deciding if you really want to do it. Once you have painted your fireplace, removing the paint is almost impossible. Before taking on this project, make sure you really want to cover the brick forever. Once you have made the decision, the rest is easy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Using a hand held scrub brush, scrub the areas between the brick to eliminate as much dust as possible. Use a back and forth motion and moderate pressure.
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Use damp rags to wipe dust and dirt from the surface of the brick. Wipe down the mantle, using a mild cleaner if necessary to remove soot. If the mantle was previously painted, use fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand the mantle to prep it for painting.
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3
Use caulk to fill in holes in the face of the brick. This step is optional if you prefer the rustic look of the holes.
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Brush primer into the mortar between the bricks. Work around each brick getting into each crease. Use your paint brush to get into large holes in the face of the bricks that a roller won't be able to reach. Expect the brick to really soak up primer. You may have to go back over areas a couple of times.
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Use a roller to apply primer to the fronts of the bricks. Allow primer to dry completely.
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Apply primer to the mantle using a clean paint brush. Use thin, even strokes. Apply a second coat if you can still see the previous finish through the first coat of primer.
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Paint the bricks using the same techniques used for the primer. Allow paint to dry. If one coat has not adequately covered the brick, apply a second coat.
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Use a good quality brush to apply a thin coat of paint to the mantle. Multiple thin coats will be more durable and provide a better finished product than one thick coat.
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Tips & Warnings
Because brick fireplaces and mantles are likely to get dirty from soot, use a semi gloss paint for easier cleaning.
