Do you have an item on your DIY to do list that makes you nervous? Our fireplace was an element of our home that we hated, I mean absolutely hated. So much that we became complacent with it, just because we didn’t know what to do with it and I was nervous to paint a brick fireplace. You know that feeling? When you dislike something so much you ignore it’s existence? Ya, that’s where we were with our fireplace.
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So when we were setting our 2018 goals, the Hubby and I finally decided on a plan of attack. I wanted to try painting the brick white, especially since our original brick had zero character. It was a terrible rust color with no texture like regular brick (see the before pic below). But my hubby wasn’t 100% sure it would look good painted. So we agreed that we’d start with the least expensive option first and paint the brick. And if we hated it, we’d try to reface it. And if that didn’t work we’d demo the whole darn thing and have someone build us our dream mantle and hearth.
Luckily, we didn’t have to do anything extreme or expensive and I’m excited to share how easy it is to paint a brick fireplace in one weekend!
How to Paint a Brick Fireplace
What you will need:
- Wire Brush
- Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
- Gloves
- Drop Cloths
- Primer for Masonry (we used this primer, it’s a sealer and stain blocker)
- Painters Tape
- Paint Rollers and Paint Brush
- Paint Pan
- Masonry Paint in your desired color (we used this one)
The Before
Oh my, isn’t this unsightly? Ugh, I don’t miss this view one bit!
Step 1 – Before you start priming or painting, you’ll want to clean the brick thoroughly with TSP and a wire brush. Wash with a heavy duty cleaner, rinse and let dry thoroughly. Be sure to wear gloves for this step!
Step 2 – Once the brick is dry, apply painters tape around the brick, mantle and fireplace screen. Cover the floor with a drop cloth.
Step 3 – Roll on the Masonry Primer. Let dry per manufacturer’s instructions and reapply as needed. We had some staining coming through so we applied 3 coats of primer.
Step 4 – Once the primer is dry, apply your Masonry paint. Let dry between coats and reapply as needed. We applied 3 coats of paint. Remove the tape and once the paint is dry, stand back and admire your accomplishment!
The After
Isn’t that a HUGE improvement? We are so pleased with the outcome and I can’t believe we didn’t do this sooner instead of overthinking the whole thing (insert eye roll here)!
I hope this little project inspires you to tackle those DIY projects on your To Do List! Be sure to check out our full Family Room Refresh and let me know what you think!
Cheers!
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4 comments
What an amazing difference!! Maybe you and hubby should have your own “Flip Flop” show!!!
Thank you!
Beautiful fireplace!!
Thank you!