Hi! Does anyone know how to properly paint brick that is around a fireplace (inside the house)? I need to know if I need to prime it, or if it needs oil based paint, etc... Please give all the information you can. If anyone knows of a good website where this information is at, that would also be helpful. Please answer as soon as you can.


-Trinity

It is usually not adviseable to paint brick. Bricks absorb and release moisture and by painting them you accelerate the aging of bricks and will end up having to do more painting as upkeep.

Here are seven things to know about brick restoration and cleaning...

A specialty paint store would be best able to answer your questions about the exact type of paint to use. Ask Sherwinn Williams

I found a great article on painting a fireplace. It gives you step by step instructions on how to do it yourself.

Painting a brick fireplace

It sure seems like a great way to brighten up a room!

Brick is baked clay, it is porous and will suck in the liquid.

With all of these clean the brick first:

Formulas For Cleaning Fireplace Surfaces:
(Wear rubber gloves to protect hands.)
1. Mix one ounce of soap and one ounce of table salt
with enough water to make a cream. Rub mixture into brick
surface with cloth; allow to dry at least ten minutes
and remove with stiff brush; or

2. Make a thick mixture of soap or detergent, pumice, a
little ammonia and hot water. Paint the mixture on the
surface and let dry. Rub off with a wet scrub brush.
You are using alkali and a mild abrasive to remove
greasy soil; or

3. Dissolve 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) Trisodium Phosphate
or spic&span (TSP) in 1 gallon of hot water. With stiff
scrub brush, scrub brick surface. Rinse with plenty of
warm water. Repeat if soot or greasy stain is not
removed. More TSP may be added if necessary, up to 1 cup
per gallon. This is a very strong solution; avoid getting
on skin, carpet, or fabrics.

If the brick is old it could be easily damaged, test a hidden spot or a far corner with any of these methods. If the brick is 10 years or older you may be simply amazed at how it cleans up.

Painting Brick:

Use a brick/stone/concrete primer first (found in any paint department) Follow the directions for use on the label.

Follow with general house paint.

If the Bricks are cracked, or the grout is cracked then you may have to brush and refill with a grout mixture first.

A second method which opens the door for restoration later on down the line is a clear sealant brushed on and allowed to dry completely. These sealants will prevent the paint from being soaked into the pores of the brick meaning that down the road if you or someone else wants the natural brick look then they can strip the paint far easier.

And yet another alternative, one which you may not be aware of, is stone/concrete/brick stains which are specifically designed to be absorbed by the masonry and give a deep tinting to the brick/stone/concrete. This you apply after you clean the bricks, then finish off with sealing and a high gloss or semi gloss clear coat which will lighten the brick considerably, or make it appear more light.

This is like wetting a stone which when dry looks rather dull, but when wet has an interesting color or pattern. Thus you could change the color of the brick, say red to brown, still have the imperfections of the individual bricks, then bring it all to life with a clear coat.

Hope some of this helps.

Cheers

David