How to Seal a Brick Fireplace

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Things You'll Need

  • Towels

  • Bucket

  • 1 tsp. liquid dish soap

  • Stiff-bristle brush

  • Rags

  • Pump sprayer

  • Water sealer

Seal brick fireplaces with a water repellent sealer.

A fireplace surrounded by brick adds warmth and a cozy feeling to a room. Brick fireplaces may require sealing to keep moisture absorption to a minimum. Excessive moisture on bricks may damage the stone and result in a crumbling fireplace. Clean the brick surface first to avoid sealing in dirt and grime. After cleaning, use a water sealer appropriate for brick surfaces to seal your fireplace properly.

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Step 1

Lay towels on the floor in front of the fireplace. Mix 1 tsp. liquid dish soap into a bucket of water. Wet a stiff bristle brush with the cleaning mixture.

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Step 2

Scrub the brick with the brush. After washing, wet a rag and wipe it over the brick removing the soap residue. Press towels into the brick to help remove the water. Allow the brick to dry completely overnight.

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Step 3

Pour a water repellent sealer into a pump sprayer. Pump the sprayer to form pressure.

Step 4

Position the nozzle at the top of the fireplace and 3 to 4 inches from the brick. Start spraying the brick, sweeping the nozzle back and forth, working your way down the fireplace. Saturate the brick completely.

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Step 5

Allow the first coat to dry, approximately one to two hours. Apply a second thin coat to the brick. Allow the second coat to dry completely before using the fireplace.

Tip

Do not add the second coat if you feel the first coat has sufficiently sealed the fireplace.

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