Tips On How To Paint Brick Fireplace

Brick fireplaces are beautiful accents of a home. But often, it can look old and feel dark due to its faded color. Therefore, to brighten it up, you\’ve to paint it to transform the look of it just like pictures of painted fireplaces you generally see.

It doesn\’t take much time to paint old fireplaces nor does it need a large fraction of professional tools. The difference in the look of the painted brick fireplace before and after is astonishing and you can get to know about it by painting the fireplace yourself.

Here we\’ve discussed how to paint brick fireplace easily at home without any professional help. If you\’re keen to know how to paint brick fireplace, here you\’ll get all the required information about it.

Materials Required For Painting Brick Fireplace

Before you begin to know how to paint brick fireplace, you need to get the required materials to paint a brick fireplace. Here we\’ve listed the materials and tools that you\’ll need to paint a brick fireplace. These are the bare minimum tools that you need to have before you paint your fireplace.

Wire scrub brush
Drop clothes
Rubber gloves
Small paintbrush
Safety goggles
Paint rollers for surfaces with more textures
Painter tape
Fireplace cleaner
Indoor latex paint
Oil-based priming mixture
Trisodium phosphate solution (TSP)

Painting Brick Fireplace- Steps

If you\’re wondering about the steps of how to paint bricks fireplace, here are all the steps that you need to know to paint your brick fireplace properly.

Clean and dust the bricks using a vacuum. If there are cobwebs and debris, vacuum it up.
Place the drop clothes and apply painter\’s tape as precautions to avoid splatters.
After you\’ve collected all your supplies, apply a tinted coat of primer on the bricks. Leave it for some time and apply another coat.
Use a smaller paintbrush to apply in between the bricks.
After the mortar has received the first two coats of primer, you need to paint the face of the bricks.
You can either use a brush or a nap roller to apply the semi-gloss paint.
You need to apply at least one coating of primer and then three coats of paint one after another. This combination can be easily used to get a smooth and glossy finish.
For sheen, you can apply eggshells to hide the imperfections and give off a warm glow.
You can add finishing touches using a small paintbrush. You\’ve to touch up any blemishes and finish up with the missed spots. Use damp cloths to wipe off splatters.

Mistakes To Avoid While Painting Fireplace

While painting your brick fireplace you should avoid the following mistakes to get a glossy and smooth difference between your before and after limewash wash brick look.

Do not paint on a soiled surface, you need to wash the walls and let them dry before you paint on them.
Do not paint on an unprepared surface as it won\’t provide smooth and full coverage. You need to dust and remove the debris and then apply the primer.
Not using painter\’s tape can leave paint stains on them. Always use Painter\’s tape to protect the built-in area.
Painting without using a primer can end with a rough finish. It\’s important to prime the surface before applying the paint to them.
Using wrong tools can ruin the whole process. Before you start to paint the bricks you must know how to use them.

Best Colour For Painting Brick Fireplace

If you\’re wondering what colours to paint fireplace surround, you should always consider something neutral as they\’re the safest option to go for. As the neutral colors neither leave a warm nor a cool glow, they can go literally with any color scheme.

You can also consider painting the brick of the fireplace warm white to brighten the room. But to get a softer look, you can go for the off-white shades of cream or beige. Colouring the fireplace tan can also highlight the area well.

You can even choose the color the same as your room to let it blend well.

Light gray, soft shades of black are for the contemporary styles that can go well with any kind of decor.

Muted shades like sage, plum, taupe, etc compliments the rich shades of bricks and rust.

Tricks and Tips To Know About Painting Brick Fireplace

To paint your brick fireplace, you don\’t have to be professionally trained but know about the secret tips to do it right. Besides using the right tools in the right way, there are a few other important tips about painting a brick fireplace.

In the list below you\’ll find some valuable tips that you should follow while painting your fireplace to make it look exactly like the pictures of painted brick fireplaces that you usually see.

Wash and clean the wall beforehand so that there\’s enough time to let it dry.
You should not light a fire or use the fireplace between the time you wash it and apply the paint.
You need to always use latex paint that can withstand a high temperature of more than two hundred degrees.
Before you begin, lay down tarps around the area.
Know the right use of all the tools. Rollers can be used almost everywhere, but you must know when you should use a small-sized brush.
You don\’t need to use high-end fancy brushes but just the regular ones as bricks are rough surfaces.
The preparation of the fireplace before painting is important to get the best result.
Cleaning the bricks too hard can damage the quality too, so handle it gently.

Steps To Clean Brick Fireplace

Before you paint your fireplace, you must clean it properly to get a smooth finish. You\’ll be able to notice a major difference in the painted brick fireplace before and after looks, when you clean and prepare the place thoroughly before painting it.

The cleaning needs to be done following the correct steps that we\’ve jotted down below.

You need to use a long dry mop for dusting the place to get all the spots removed.
Use a cloth or rag to apply a cleaning solution of all-purpose or dish soap.
You need to wash the bricks and the mortar gently with a scrub brush.
Rinse the bricks with a fresh rag with lukewarm water after letting it sit for a few minutes.
Check for the left spots and clean them with a solution of boric acid. While using the solution use gloves and safety goggles.
Use a cleaning foam to remove all traces of soots.
At last, check for cracks in the mortar. If you find any crack, fix it before you begin with the whitewashing and painting of the fireplace.

How To Make an Old Fireplace Look Modern?

Old and shabby fireplaces can be decorated and painted to look modern. If you\’re thinking about how to make a brick fireplace look modern, you can try to paint and decorate it to make it look stylish.

As the fireplace is the heart of the home, it needs to look decorated and modern to give the place a beautiful warm vibe.

The easiest way to make the fireplace of your living room look modern is by painting the bricks red. Painting it red will bring a warm glow to the place.

The fresh coat of new glossy red color will make your heart feel modern and beautiful again.

It\’s not necessary to go for neutral colors to paint your fireplace. You can choose both bright as well as neutral colors for your brick fireplace to try something new. To add to the overall look, you can decorate the built-in around fireplace with plants, books, etc. You can also add some finishing touches with vases, mirrors, and candles to top up the look.

Makeover Suggestions For Red Bricks Fireplace

\"red — red brick fireplace makeover ideas

If you want to know about the top red brick fireplace makeover ideas to modernize your red brick fireplace, here are the best that you can apply.

Painting or whitewashing the red brick fireplace can give it a new and different look as well as glam up the bricks.
You can add neutral color tiles around the place to create a more appealing look. Surrounding the fireplace with tiles can also add a dose of rich color to the overall room.
You can even add a new mantle of cement and wood to the existing fireplace. The concrete mantle makeover will turn the look of the fireplace.

Whitewashing Fireplace – Steps

Whitewashing fireplaces is the easiest and the cheapest way to change their look. It may be a messy task but it can turn out amazing when it\’s done following the correct methods and procedure.

If you\’re wondering how to whitewash brick fireplace, here are the steps to do it easily and without creating a mess.

Arrange and organize all the tools you\’ll require.
Start with the surface preparation. Inspect your mortar and check for gaps and cracks. Fix it immediately if you find any.
Protect and cover the area around the fireplace by masking off the mantle.
Spread drop cloths on the floor to prevent color stains on the surface directly.
Clean the fireplace to make it free of dirt and debris.
Rinse the bricks with water and then let them dry completely.
Mix the whitewash properly in the ratio of 2:1 with water. This gives the place solid coverage. You can lighten it by adding some more water.
After testing the solution in a small area, use a brush to apply it on the surface of the brisk. You can add some contrast by using a rag.
Use a chip brush to let the paint get into the nooks and crannies of the fireplace.

Faqs

1.Do you have to prime a brick fireplace before painting?

It\’s necessary to prime your fireplace with at least two coats of primer before you start to paint the surface of the bricks.

2.Is it smart to paint a brick fireplace?

Painting fireplaces can not only make the place look modern but can also protect the bricks from getting damaged. Painting a brick fireplace is a great way to brighten things up in the room as well as conceal the damages.

3.How do you prepare a brick fireplace for painting?

Remove dirt and dust.
Wash the bricks and let them dry up.
Add clothes and tapes to avoid mess and stains.
Apply primer to the bricks.

Conclusion

Painting a fireplace can make it look more modern as well as cover up the damaged bricks. It provides uniformity to the old brick fireplaces by brightening the room.

You can whitewash the bricks of the fireplace to give it a cheap makeover with a glossy finish.

Also, Read-A Guide To Make Your Own Wallpaper For Walls