How to Resurface a Fireplace
Like many people with a brick fireplace, at some time point you realize that you want to know to resurface a fireplace. It could be because your brick is looking a little dated or you may just want a change of decor for your living room. Luckily doing the resurfacing isn't the least bit challenging and there are several inexpensive options for doing it yourself. On this page we'll take a look at how to resurface a fireplace from beginning to end.
Decorating Ideas for the Summer Season
Candles are a great way to redo any room simply by choosing a few good colors. Pier 1 is currently running big sales where you can buy a lot of great candles for under $10. Take a look at the Aspen Flower Candles for something to accentuate your home decor.
If you have a brick fireplace in your home, I always like to recommend the Brick-ANew fireplace cleaner to take off all of the soot that may have gotten on your fireplace over the winter. With a little effort you can bring out the true beauty of your brick or stone and even get it ready for a coat of fireplace paint.
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How to Resurface a Brick Fireplace
Choosing whether staining or painting is right for you
The first thing that you will want to do is decide on how to prepare the surface. If you have large amounts of plaster that hang over the brick you may want to consider attempting to take some of this extra material off in order to create a more even surface. This is especially important if you are planning on painting your fireplace and the results will be much more desirable. Take a sturdy screwdriver and chip off small pieces if possible. If it is an especially large amount of mortar you will want to consider sandblasting the brick surface. If you choose to go this route you will want to lay down some plastic to avoid getting the fine sand all over your living room. This may sound a little complicated but you can generally rent machines for less than $50 at many equipment rental shops and its a great feeling to do it yourself.
After you finish with your preparation of the surface you will want to decide on what sort of finish is appropriate for your fireplace. The two most common types of resurfacing involve either staining or painting the brick. Staining is a popular option if you want to preserve the natural look of your brick. Stain is available from any home supply store and can be easily spread with a paint brush or simple sprayer. Over time, however, stain tends to fade, making it a more temporary option. For this reason painting is the more popular choice, allowing for a wide range of color choices that will match your living room's decor. Fireplace paint is widely available online and you can buy inexpensive fireplace paint kits that will allow you to easily apply the colors you want with a brush and a couple hours of fun.
With either technique that you choose to use you will want to make sure that you protect your flooring from any paint or stain that may drip down as you paint. At any supply store you can buy tape and plastic to seal off any areas that you think may get splattered. Most people generally do not worry about the mortar either, tending to paint or stain over the entire fireplace, mortal and all. This makes either technique fairly simple and can be accomplished on a free afternoon.
How to Stain a Brick Fireplace
Begin by laying down your plastic and putting some tape to hold it securely in place. Pour your can of stain into the pan and swirl your brush, making sure to soak the brush and mix up the stain a little bit. Begin by testing how the stain will look on a brick in a spot out of sight. Allow the stain time to dry to make sure you achieve the desired resurfacing effect.
Once you are sure the stain is going to meet your standards begin painting the fireplace in up and down strokes, making sure to coat the bricks evenly. You can continue to apply stain to achieve a darker effect or allow each layer time to dry to gauge exactly how the fireplace is going to look. Stain will sometimes dry lighter so keep this in mind in determining the appropriate amount for your bricks.
How to Paint a Brick Fireplace
As with staining it is a good idea to test the paint on an area that is not highly visible. Allow it to dry on the brick to make sure that it will be the color that you want before painting a larger area. You can even paint over the mortar so you can avoid the hassle associated with having to tape it up to protect it. Lay down plastic to avoid paint splashing on any carpet or on the mantel.
For more pointers take a look at on my other article on fireplace refacing ideas.
Cleaning off a Fireplace Mantel
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norbridgeantiques wrote...
This is very informative, and will help many of us who just wouldn't know where to start!
fulltimehockeymom wrote...
Please leave a comment if you want me to check out your lens!
My Other Lenses
If you are searching for more great fireplace decorating hints then you may want to take the time to read my other lenses. I have several years of interior decorating experience so I am positive that you can find something that will suit your home and its decor. Please see my main lens on decorating mantle for more great ideas!











