To paint an interior brick chimney, follow these steps:
- Place a drop cloth at the base of your fireplace to prevent ruining surrounding areas.
- Apply a latex, high-temp block filler primer across your fireplace and chimney brick structure.
- Once dry, open your box of paint and start painting the brickwork.
- Add final touches to the brickwork.
A brick fireplace can be cleaned and freshened up with a coat of paint, which lightens up its imposing look and helps it blend with other design elements in the room. Premium Benjamin Moore paints like Aura ® Interior, Regal ® Select Interior, or Advance ® Interior are recommended for this process.
To paint a brick fireplace, brush out debris, clean the brick fireplace, prime the brick, paint the brick, and prime the mortar. Clean the surface of the brick thoroughly, using painter’s tape to mask any areas you want unpainted. Prime the brick by applying tinted primer to the mortar, then paint the face of the brick.
The process takes a little prep work, a few tools, and brick fireplace paint rated for high temperatures. In most cases, you will want to prime the area (1-2 coats) so that the paint will stick better and last longer. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1 is a great option for primer.
In summary, painting a brick fireplace is a simple and impactful way to refresh your living space and complement your home’s style. With the right attention to prep work, you can easily give any room with a fireplace a new look.
📹 How to Paint a Brick Fireplace | Benjamin Moore
With the right attention to the prep work, you can easily give any room with a fireplace a whole new look. Updating an old brick …
How do you paint old interior bricks?
A microfiber roller should be used to gently roll brick faces, with care taken to avoid cutting marks between the brush and roller by working in small sections.
What kind of paint do you use on interior brick?
For advanced painters, using a paint sprayer is the easiest and quickest method. Acrylic latex paint, specifically formulated for masonry, is the best choice for both exterior and interior brick due to its resistance to mildew and moisture. Semi-gloss or gloss paint is also suitable for both surfaces. For fireplaces, use heat-proof paint. Apply a second coat if needed and admire your work.
Staining brick is an alternative to painting, working best on good-condition bricks. It allows the natural texture of brick to shine through. Avoid painting damaged, dirty, or wet bricks, as it can damage the brick more. Clean the brick before painting, using acidic cleaners to prevent disintegration. Repair small cracks with acrylic caulk before applying primer or paint, as larger cracks may require professional help.
Can you paint a brick chimney?
The application of paint to a brick chimney can result in a perceptible alteration of its appearance. However, it is essential to take into account the porous nature of brick, as it can absorb moisture from minute holes.
Do you have to prime bricks before painting?
Priming is a crucial step in painting a bare surface like brick, as it acts as a glue to allow paint to adhere easily. Primer comes in a thin, milky liquid that can be applied using a paint brush or roller. For rough exterior surfaces like brick walls, long-pile rollers are recommended due to their long fibers and ability to reach all nooks and crannies. A masonry brush can also be used for better application.
Apply a thin, even layer of primer to the brick and let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This should take around 3-5 hours in normal temperatures, but may vary in colder or warmer weather.
Next, paint the brick, ensuring it is not painted in conditions below 5°C as it will impact the ability of the masonry paint to dry. Oil-based masonry paint like pliolite can be used in cooler conditions, but it is not recommended for the average DIYer.
What kind of paint do you use on a chimney?
Select the right colour for your chimney: choose a latex-based paint or primer for limited use, or a high-temperature primer for regular use. For galvanized chimneys, the shades may be restricted with high-temperature paint application. Use a primer, either latex-based or high-temperature, and let it dry completely. Paint the chimney with your chosen paint, using a spray for effective results and allowing it to dry. A lighter color requires double coating.
What is the best color to paint a brick chimney?
For a contemporary look, consider neutral shades like cream, tan, and beige for your chimney. Off-white shades provide a soft appearance and help cover up dirt. Full white colors enhance the beauty of the place and blend well with any house color. Contrasting colors, such as a dark tint for the exterior chimney with a lighter shade of the house, can also give a modern feel. Monochromatic colors, where the house and chimneys have the same shade, can be used to separate shutters or trim with a different shade. These colors are simple, reasonable, and can be used to create a harmonious and visually appealing look.
Is painting a brick fireplace a good idea?
Painting brick fireplaces is a popular project for homeowners looking to brighten up a room. This can be done by painting the old fireplace or focal wall a lighter color, or by painting all the bricks one color to minimize imperfections and create a clean and modern look. Painting interior brick can be cost-effective and can be done in any color or with a whitewash or lime wash finish. A painted surface is easier to maintain than an unpainted one, as bricks are porous and can hold dirt, dust, moisture, and grease buildup. Proper cleaning, prep, sealing, and painting make it easier to keep clean.
Can I paint the inside of my chimney?
Painting your chimney is possible both inside and out, but it is not recommended due to potential safety concerns. The interior brick of your chimney needs a layer of block-filler masonry paint before applying the chosen color, as brick is porous. Painting the outside of your chimney is not safe as it may lead to moisture concerns, which can cause cracks and mold in the masonry, affecting its long-term operation.
On the inside, moisture concerns are less of a concern as the outside of your chimney is exposed to various elements from nature, which do not affect the inside of your chimney. Therefore, the concern for moisture is less due to one of the chimney’s components. In summary, while painting your chimney may not be a quick and safe solution, it is essential to consider the potential risks and benefits of painting your chimney.
What kind of paint is safe to use inside a fireplace?
Rustoleum heat-resistant paint is suitable for gas burning fireplaces and metal fireplace inserts due to its ability to withstand high temperatures. It is safe to use on various surfaces and can be found in home improvement stores, online platforms like Amazon, or on Rustoleum’s official website. Stove paint is a suitable option for metal fireplaces, but it should be specifically designed for heat resistance. Rustoleum heat-resistant paint can be found in various online retailers and on Rustoleum’s official website.
Do I need to seal interior brick before painting?
Before painting brick and cement, apply a layer of masonry sealer using a roller, which typically takes four to 12 hours for the surface to dry. After the sealer is dry, use a masonry primer to cover the entire area, which may take more than one coat to fully cover the brick. Use the correct masonry paint for outdoor brick projects, as it provides extra protection from cracking, peeling, and blistering, and is mildew-resistant, preventing mold and surface stains.
📹 HOW TO WHITEWASH A BRICK FIREPLACE | DIY MANTLE
HOW TO WHITEWASH A BRICK FIREPLACE | DIY MANTLE. Come along and let us show you how to paint brick white, with this …
Wow! What an amazing work. I love the fireplace. The mantel is gorgeous. Jason is a hoot. My dad had dementia. He was a carpenter in his younger years. His past time almost until the end for him, was building. I have pieces I would never ever part with and will be handed down to my children and their children. Sickness doesn’t mean we have to stop living, we just learn to adapt. I have chronic COPD. My life has changed drastically, but I still feel, bleed and get hungry for life as well as the next person. You and your family are so blessed. I’m so happy I found your articles. My mom past away last August and my dad last Christmas. It will be hard to have it without them, but we will thank God for the blessings we still have.
I’ve just recently found your website, and I absolutely love ALL of your content! I love your personality, your talents (gifts), but most of all, your sweet spirit! I’ve watched several over the past week, and I am anxious to see all of them. I admire your love and respect for your husband, as I know from my own Father having Alzheimer’s and trying to care for him, and your patience with him as well. May God bless you and equip you for all your days in the future.
I want to do this to the outside of my house. It’s part brick. I think it would go better with the light grey and dark blue paint that’s on the rest of the house. I’ll have to do a little more research since it would be an exterior project, but thanks for making this article. It looks great and your family and doggie are so sweet! 🥰
Wonderful! (I love your relationship with your daughter btw – beautiful!) Question… I saw you sealing the mantle and paused to see you’re using something called Pall X 96. I’ve been searching that online but can’t find one that looks like your bottle. Can you point me in the right direction? I recently stripped and sanded some cabinets, purposely trying to make them kind of roughed up and country kitchen. Looking for the best way to preserve that and love that the sealant you used seemed kind of milky. I’m new to DIY, thanks for the advice!!
This was best whitewash article I have seen yet. I subscribed because you showed a LOT of images of the finished product so we could really see how it turned out. Too many articles drag you through endless talking of common sensical “tips”, and then show you about 2 seconds of the finished project so you can barely see how it actually turned out. I LOVED that you showed so much of your finished work. THANK YOU. I thought this turned out great, and the Mantle was really stunning for $12!!!! Great job!
I love the mantle and wow, it looks like reclaimed barn wood. Jason, you did an awesome job. How special to make that for your daughter and I know she feels proud. My dad is 82 and i tell him now and then I hope that by the time I can ever but my own place I hope he is still doing good health wise to build me a glass cabinet or a mantle like he did both for my brother and my sister. My brother was in the hospital for many months after his brain injury. He left one house to go to work and fell 10 feet off a ladder. When he finally returned home after the rehab facility he walked into a house he had never slept in only bought before his injury. Everyone pitched in to make the house perfect and like your daughter the fireplace surround had a little brick mantle so my dad made a wider deeper one out of old wood he had and stained it nice. For my sister years ago he made a large glass courior glass cabinet. Your a wonderful dad and my dad is wonderful too. Since I have been following your story I think of you and Leslie everyday and pray for you too. My dad is a pastor and he visits a man with the same disease you have but he is much older. I never heard of the disease until I started following you over a week ago. God bless you and Leslie, Rebekah from Arlington, VA
Wow; you did a fabulous job! I’m trying to get up the nerve to whitewash my fireplace! May I ask if painting the fireplace doors rather than spraying the doors created any brush marks? I have a lot more gold that will have to be covered so I’m wondering if it will “look” painted if I use a brush. Obviously, brushing will be easier and cleaner than using black spray paint. Thanks very much for your help as well as for the great article!
Beautiful results Im definitely going to try this method. Btw, I was shocked to hear you are a mother and daughter team. You look like sisters, Very young sisters! thanks for sharing your work. Sorry, I forgot to post my experience with the dreaded coated brass metal. I actually lightly sanded mine with 220 sandpaper, wiped down with water let it dry and then coated it with latex paint. So far it has maintained its look for a couple of years