painted-fireplace

22 May 2022 Painting your fireplace [a how-to guide]

Posted at 12:25 PMh in News by

We all know the feeling of wanting to change something about our surroundings. Home improvement can be so much fun, and it’s an area where you can express your personality throughout your property! One easy way to transform a space, whether it be the living room or a bedroom, is to paint a fireplace. If your surround is looking a little tired, or the current style isn’t in line with the décor throughout your home, a DIY project could be on the horizon…

What will you need?

If painting your fireplace is on your to-do list, you’ll need some items to make the process more organised. These items will help you keep your project contained so that paint doesn’t splatter up the walls…

  • Sheets to protect the floor
  • Cleaning equipment(rags, vinegar, soapy water, wire scrubbing brush, a damp cloth)
  • Painter’s tape
  • Brush or roller
  • Painting tray

Before painting, you will need to protect the floor with sheets, laying them under your working site. Separate your fireplace from the alcoves behind it with painter’s tape.

Painting a brick or stone fireplace surround

Painting the brick of your fireplace is easier than you may think. The process will be similar regardless of the material, but you will have to keep their characteristics in mind. These are the steps you must take for brick:

  • Clean the fireplace, removing any soot and dirt from the surface with soapy water and a wire scrubbing brush.
  • Ensure it is dry before doing anything else.
  • Paint your primer onto the stone or brick surface with a roller and use a brush to get into the small spaces. You may need two coats.
  • Use caulking to fill in any small gaps.
  • Paint over the coating of primer with your choice of colour.

Painting a marble fireplace surround

Although marble is a gorgeous, sturdy material, it can wear over time. This can cause your fireplace to look tired and battered – you may want to refresh it with paint. Many people think this is impossible – it isn’t! You could even create a marble paint effect to replicate the style of the stone.

  • You will either need a latex paint or a chalk paint for this to be successful. A 3-in-1 primer will also be helpful.
  • Clean the marble thoroughly so that there is no soot remaining.
  • Fill in any cracks or dents for a smooth finish.
  • Sand the marble with a heavy-duty grit sandpaper. The aim is to remove the gloss so that the paint will stick to the surface of the marble.
  • Wipe down the dust created.
  • Paint on the primer; you may need two coats.
  • Paint your latex or chalk paint onto the primer. Make sure each layer of paint is completely dry before starting the next coat.

It’s important to note that painting a marble fireplace will lose the natural finish of the stone. However, if your fireplace needs a refresh, painting it is more cost effective than replacing it altogether.

Painting a wood fireplace surround

Wooden surrounds are very common. They are also easy to paint, which means that you can alter your fireplace without much trouble! Semi-gloss paints (chalk or something wood specific) are the best for wood, which is the same as what you’d use to paint a door.

  • Sand the wood so that you’re starting with a smooth surface.
  • Clean the surface to rid it of any soot or sawdust.
  • Paint primer on with a roller, or a brush for more precision.
  • After two coats of primer, paint up to three coats of paint in your colour onto the wood.
  • Sand the wood in between each coat of paint so that it remains as smooth as can be.

Important notes!

There are a few things you must remember to ensure a good result…

  • Use heat resistant paints if your fireplace is still functional to prevent your paint from melting.
  • Clean the fireplace. This is so that no soot or dirt comes through and ruins the surface.
  • If painting marble or wood, sand the surface before you paint so that the paint adheres.

If you’d been thinking about giving your fireplace a refresh, hopefully you now know everything you would need to do. You may have been thinking that, perhaps, it’s better for you to replace your fireplace altogether. With the choice of a wood burning stove, a gas or an electric fire, Fiveways Fires & Stoves are bound to have something that suits your home. Give us a call on 0208 127 4747 or email .