Easy Way To Paint Red Brick Fireplace
Outdated red brick fireplaces can make a room feel dark and dated. Painting the brick is an easy, budget-friendly way to give your fireplace a fresh, modern look without the hassle and expense of tearing it out and installing a new one.
Painting transforms an ugly red brick fireplace into a lovely focal point that brightens up the whole room. With some simple cleaning, priming, and painting, you can update your fireplace in a weekend. Learn how with this step-by-step guide to prepping and painting brick fireplaces.
Why Choose Painting Over New Construction
Installing a brand new fireplace or doing significant structural work to alter an existing one costs thousands and requires contractors, demolition mess, and lengthy construction. Painting cleverly disguises less-than-ideal features for a fraction of the cost and effort:
- Easy weekend DIY project versus major rebuild
- $100-200 in supplies versus $5,000-10,000 for new fireplace
- No demolition dust or significant structural alterations
- Avoids waste by repurposing rather than replacing
Painting checks all the boxes for affordability and approachability with stunning transformational results.
Benefits of Painting a Red Brick Fireplace
Painting an aging red brick fireplace offers many benefits:
- Transforms an outdated fireplace into a lighter, fresher, more modern look
- Much more affordable than installing a new fireplace or structural changes
- An easy DIY project achievable in a weekend
- Enhances the aesthetic of the whole room by brightening up the space
- Prevents an ugly fireplace from detracting from other lovely decor
With a simple coat of crisp white or soft gray paint, you can update a dark dated red brick fireplace to feel clean, bright, and modern. The transformed fireplace will beautifully complement room decor instead of clashing.
How to Prepare Brick Fireplace for Painting
Proper prep before painting ensures long-lasting, professional-quality results. Follow these key steps:
Deep Clean the Brick Surface
Scrub every inch of brick and mortar grout lines with an abrasive brush and cleaning solution to remove soot, dirt, stains, efflorescence, and loose debris. Rinse thoroughly. Vinegar dissolving and power washing also help deep clean.
Repair Holes, Cracks, & Missing Mortar
Use a masonry chisel to remove loose material, then fill all cracks and gaps with new mortar compound for smoothing and sealing. Allow a full 72 hours to cure before priming or painting.
Sand Rough Areas
For remaining uneven spots, smoothen the surface with 120-220 grit sandpaper so paint coats sit flush and even against the brick rather than getting spotty over grooves and bumps.
Properly preparing the brick surface takes more time upfront but saves work and improves results later. The painted finish will only be as smooth as the layer beneath it.
Choosing Paint Colors & Sheens
The right paint transforms dingy brick into a welcoming focal point. Consider these factors when selecting:
Wall Color Compatibility
Choose a fireplace color that complements the wall paint for a cohesive look. For light wall colors, white or light gray fireplace bricks keep things ethereal. Against deeper dramatic walls, opt for contrast with black or charcoal fireplace bricks.
Light Reflection
The shinier and smoother the paint finish, the more imperfections it will showcase. Flat or matte sheens better disguise flaws. High-gloss enamel exaggerates uneven textures and repairs. Satin or eggshell finishes offer soft compromise.
Hiding Power
Darker paint shades conceal flaws and repairs better than light colors. But if maximizing brightness is key, use primer tinted close to the topcoat color for opacity.
Consider all factors from wall compatibility to light reflection and hiding power when selecting the perfect color and sheen for your newly painted fireplace.
Step-by-Step Painting Process
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly painting a red brick fireplace:
Prep the Space
Cover floors, furniture, mantels and surrounds with drop cloths. Mask baseboards and walls with painter's tape to prevent splatters and oozing under the edges.
Apply Specialty Primer
Use high-bonding primer formulated especially for masonry materials like brick and concrete to improve paint adhesion. Allow to fully dry overnight before painting.
Paint the Fireplace
Using quality exterior masonry paint, apply two coats with angled brush and roller, allowing proper drying time between coats. Carefully cut-in paint at edges and corners with angled brush first before rolling large expanses of brick.
Remove Masking & Admire!
Once paint has fully cured 72 hours later, gently remove all masking materials. Stand back and appreciate your freshly painted modern showpiece!
Alternative Finishes for Painted Brick
Basic blocks of white or light gray instantly freshen up an outdated fireplace. But consider these special finishes to take the transformation even further:
Dimensional Effects
After paint cures, add hand-painted wood grain for authentic old barnwood planks or color-wash a stone pattern like travertine marble for texture.
Distressed Details
Chip away bits of paint post-application with coarse sandpaper or steel wool for an worn timeworn appearance.
Stenciled Storytelling
Use crystal clear stencils to layer intricate shapes, designs or dimensional patterns on top for personalized panache.
With limitless colors and endless finishing technique options, what story will your painted fireplace tell?
Frequently Asked Questions
What about staining or whitewashing instead of painting?
Stains soak into porous masonry for transparent hues allowing some original texture to show through. Whitewashing coats surface-level only for a light opaque speckled effect.
Painting fireplace bricks truly conceals their every flaw for a smooth cohesive look. Prep properly and use bonding primer so the paint adheres tightly despite the heat.
Will paint hold up to fireplace heat?
For actively used fireplaces, choose high heat-resistant paints that withstand temperatures exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit inside the fire chamber. The surrounding hearth and outer facade only warm slightly during use.
Standard masonry paints handle minor ambient heat well. Properly prep and prime the brick first so paint bonds securely to stay beautiful for years.
Painting an outdated red brick fireplace is an easy, affordable way to give your room a modern facelift. Transform an outdated eyesore into a lovely decorative asset with simple cleaning, prepping, priming and painting using specialty bonding masonry paint. Express your personal style with endless colors and finishing techniques. Then stand back and enjoy the dramatic, brighter new focal point!