How to paint your fireplace surround
Painting a fireplace has the potential to improve the esthetics of a room dramatically. During the hot, humid summers, homeowners in the Washington DC Metro Area tend not to use their fireplaces. The lack of use makes the summer the ideal time to paint their fireplaces. Painting has the affect of giving your fireplace a facelift. Many of our Washington DC fireplace repair customers paint their fireplace surround after getting their fireplace fixed. You can find additional ways to beautify your fireplace and hearth here.Â
note: These instructions are for painting the exterior fireplace surround. You must follow a different process for painting inside the fireplace firebox.
Get the right paint supplies for your fireplace surround
There are some supplies that you will need to paint your fireplace. This includes some safety equipment such as gloves and safety goggles. You should also get such things as:
Step 1: Check out the Surrounding Materials
You want to be sure you paint the right materials around your fireplace. Materials such as limestone, river rock, and sandstone can be painted, but it’s going to be harder to change the color once you go through with it.
It’s best if you have a brick surround.
Step 2: Prepare the Surface
The paint isn’t going to adhere to the surface very well if it’s dirty. This means you need to have some TSP (trisodium phosphate) that doesn’t create suds as well as a wire scrub brush to do some cleaning. Be sure you wear your safety goggles and gloves while you’re doing all of the cleaning.
Clean all of the brick with the wire brush and TSP and then wash with a heavy-duty cleaner. From there, let it all dry before you tape off the areas you want to keep unpainted.
Step 3: Prime Your Brick
It’s important to prime your brick so you don’t experience soot stains on the paint later on. An oil-based primer that is stain blocking should be applied to the entire surface. Follow the instructions on the can to ensure that you are adhering to manufacturer specifications.
You should also have a drop cloth down so that primer doesn’t damage your floors as you work.
Step 4: Start Painting
Allow plenty of time for the primer to dry before you start to paint. You can choose any kind of indoor latex paint – gloss, semigloss, or flat. This is a personal preference, though many people opt for a semigloss or flat. Just be sure that the paint is capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 200°F. If you decide to paint your mantle, you could always choose to go with a glossier version up there.
The roller you choose should be designed for textured surfaces. It will allow you to get into all of the nooks and crannies of the brick. You are only painting the outside of the fireplace. If you want to paint the interior of the firebox, you will need a special heat-resistant paint.
With the right supplies and some patience, you can have a great looking fireplace. Follow the instructions on all of the paints and primers you buy, too, so that there are no safety issues. Many homeowners touch up the paint on the fireplace every year after their annual chimney sweep.