Home Improvement projects really can be as easy as simply painting on a new and updated look. Like our Easy Brick Fireplace Update. The project does require a little more labor than actual handywoman (or handyman) skills. But it’s easy enough that you can do it with a friend or with the family. And if you do it together, it’s a project that can be finished within a weekend. For us, it always feels special to do it ourselves.
Items needed:
- Blue Painters Tape (for masking off areas)
- Tarp or drop cloth
- Paint (Kelly Moore Acry Shield Low Sheen)
- Small Paint Brush (for painting in-between the bricks)
- Wide Paint Brush and/or a Paint Roller (note that the paint rollers should have a larger nap to handle the brick).
- acrylic caulk (to fill any cracks)
- optional: Kilz Low Odor Spray Primer or Paint on.
- optional to pain the fireplace inserts: high heat spray paint
- optional: if your fireplace needs more than a light cleaning there are cleaning products and brushes that help make the cleanup easier.
Directions:
Step 1: Clean the area, including in-between the bricks, from built up dust and cobwebs. Simply brush and vacuum. (There are products to buy designed for cleaning fireplace bricks but between staying on budget and time, we thought a simply cleaning our fireplace was enough.. and it was.) And also fill any cracks with the acrylic caulk. Let it dry thoroughly before painting.
Step 2: Using blue tape and drop cloths, protect all areas from paint. This part takes a little time but it really makes the painting process go so much smoother and faster, especially when you are working near the edges.
Step 3: Spray (or brush on) a generous layer of primer on the bricks and let dry. We are using a low odor spray on primer since this is an indoor project. Please note that primer is not required. But you will need more paint without it. The bricks are porous and absorbs the paint. So an extra coat might be needed. Start out light and work your way darker just in case you love the look of the lighter coats.
Step 4: We started by painting in-between the bricks with the smaller brush. Then, painted the bricks with a roller. Followed by touchups with the wider brush. Followed by more touchups … and a few more. The coats of paint will depend on the look you want. If you want some original brick colors to show, you’ll need 1to 2 coats. More will be needed if you want a more solid color.
Step 5: Let area thoroughly dry. Decorate and ENJOY your beautiful updated fireplace!!
We love how it came out. It really was an Easy Brick Fireplace Update. That’s the way we like it! Looking for more easy home improvement projects, we’ve got lots to share with you. We hope you will stay awhile to look around our blog.
Carol and Randi, the FruGirls, are home stagers and decorators who love to share through our blog ~FrugElegance is where Frugal and Elegance come together.
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