How to Paint a BBQ Pit

Usually constructed of brick, cement or cinder blocks, a BBQ pit is an area where charcoal or wood is burned to create a bed of hot coals suited for barbecuing vegetables or meat. You cannot paint the interior of a barbecue pit; as the intense heat will lead to paint failure. You can improve the appearance of the exterior of the pit by refinishing it with an exterior paint. Because barbecue pits tend to heat up, ordinary paints may not prove durable in the long term. Choose a paint made to resist high temperatures, or the finish may wrinkle and peel.

Things You'll Need

• Degreasing cleanser
• Coarse plastic brush
• Pressure washer
• Edger
• Canvas dropcloths
• Latex primer
• Roller frame
• Nap roller cover
• Nylon paintbrush
• Garden hose
• High-temperature paint
• Metal-etching primer

Instructions

1. Scrub the exterior of the BBQ pit with a degreaser, using a coarse brush. Rinse the pit, using a pressure washer. Let the pit dry for about three hours.

2. Trim grass away from the BBQ pit if necessary, using an edger. Cover the ground next to the exterior of the pit, using canvas dropcloths.

3. Coat the BBQ pit with latex primer, using a roller. Touch up skipped areas of the pit using a nylon brush. Use a dabbing motion to fill inundated areas between bricks or within porous cinder blocks. Let the pit dry for two hours.

4. Rinse primer from the brush, using a garden hose.

5. Paint the BBQ pit as you primed it. Ordinary latex paint isn't resilient enough for exterior conditions. Acrylic latex paint will prove durable on exterior surfaces; however, it may not stand up to high temperatures. For best results, choose a high-temperature paint. Let the pit dry for two hours.

6. If you need to prime metallic portions of the BBQ pit, use a metal-etching primer.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not paint the interior of the BBQ pit, as the high heat will eventually lead to paint failure.