Is your fireplace clashing with the rest of the room? Do you have trouble trying to figure out how to make the old brick fireplace in your home match with the new style you are trying to put in? One of the best ways to fix that is to paint your brick fireplace. But brick fireplaces are pretty hard to paint and touch up, but we are going to help you figure out how to paint your brick fireplace.
It’s not that hard to get your fireplace looking really good, and with a little elbow grease you can get your brick fireplace up into the 20th century.
What Will you need to Paint A Brick Fireplace?
In order to properly paint your brick fireplace, you will need these supplies.
- A Short Handle Wire Brush
- An industrial vacuum
- A set of concrete or mason primer
- A Paint roller
- A Paint Brush
- Indoor Latex paint
If you don’t have an industrial vacuum or an attachment that allows your vacuum to suck the dirt out of small crevices, then there are a few options that you can use instead. You need to clean the bricks before you paint them and find a way into the crevasses.
One alternative to using a vacuum is to use a sponge and drip pan. Just wipe the bricks and use the sponge to dig into the crevices, and the drip pan can catch the water and any excess dirt that falls off. I recommend the sponge over the vacuum, as it’s a bit easier to handle and control for those smaller crevices and cracks between the bricks.
Instructions for Painting a Brick Fireplace
Step 1: Clean the Fireplace Exterior
First, take the short handle wire brush and go through the bricks, dragging the brush through the spaces between them and shaking loose any dirt or grime that has accumulated over the years. Once the brush has done its job, you can then use the vacuum or the sponge for a deeper clean.
Clean the fireplace bricks as best as you can, and once you are sure that the bricks are clean and dry, you can start step 2.
Step 2: Apply The Primer
If you want to make sure your paint stays nice and bright even if you use your fireplace, then you will need to apply the primer. Dip your paint roller into the bucket of primer and then apply a coating of paint to the fireplace. Make sure to cover every inch of the fireplace surface and then use the smaller brush to get the primer into any cracks that the roller missed.
Once the primer is painted, then leave it to dry for a night, and make sure to clean your paintbrush and roller.
Step 3: Apply the Paint
Once the primer has dried, then prepare the paint and dip the roller into it. Coat the bricks evenly with paint and make sure to apply an even coating. Once that is done, then use the short paintbrush and paint any awkward areas or any nooks and crannies. After every single brick has been coated in paint, then you should leave it all to dry.
Afterward, you will have a perfectly painted brick fireplace that doesn’t only look good, but also will stand up to years of use.
FAQ
Do I need to clean the fireplace before painting?
While cleaning the fireplace might seem like a waste of time, a clean fireplace will help make sure you have a clean and glossy surface when you paint. No one wants muddled paint or clumpy paint that is covered in dirt or hiding chips of debris in the paint because it makes the fireplace look rough.
Does my paint need to be heat resistant?
If you plan to use your fireplace and not just have it be a decorative piece, then you could be asking this question. For the outside of the fireplace, where it does not get hot, you can go without having your paint be heat resistant. If you are painting the inside of your fireplace, then that paint would need to be heat resistant.
Can I paint the stone?
Some fireplaces are also made of stone along with brick, and you might want to see if you can paint the stone. However, while bricks are very easy to cover with paint and primer, rock is much harder to paint and is more beautiful in its natural state.
What does primer do?
Primer helps to keep the bricks of the fireplace protected against soot and damage when you use your fireplace. It also can get into the brick’s surface and hold any loose materials together, so applying the primer correctly is a step that you should not skip. Without the primer, then your paint can get damaged if you use the fireplace.
How should I clean my brushes?
If you want to clean your brushes, either to remove the primer or the paint, then there’s a proper way to do it. For oil-based primers, you should use turpentine, while water-based paints can be cleaned off of brushes with warm water and soap.
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I hope that this tutorial is helpful for you when you decide to paint your brick fireplace, and I hope that you enjoyed it. As someone who does a lot of home renovation, it’s really easy to mess up a fireplace if you go through the steps out of order, but on the other hand, the steps are quite easy if you do follow them correctly.
Whether you want to make your fireplace pop with bright colors, or just touch it up, a good coat of paint for your brick fireplace will help to make your house even better looking. If you want to have a better-looking fireplace, then those three steps are the best ways to get things started!
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