painting brick

[Deleted User] · May 2012

Thinking of painting my brick fireplace. This seems to be a controversial topic in the world of internetland.

Thoughts?

ErinG93 · May 2012

What color are you thinking? I'm going to need pictures, for judging.

Loopyseven · May 2012

We painted the brick backsplash in our kitchen. It looked SO MUCH BETTER when we were done, but painting it was seriously a PITA. We used at least 2 coats of primer, maybe 3, and two coats of paint. the brick just sucked it right up. And we wrecked like 3 paintbrushes dabbing the primer/paint into the crevaces. Bricks are not smooth themselves, and then the mortar in the middle. There's nothing a roller will do for this. But if you're up for the work, I don't have an issue with it

.

ErinG93 · May 2012

Oh yes, one time H and I painted a cinderblock wall. That was the biggest pain, EVER. I had forgotten about that. Be prepared for the bricks to just suck the life out of the paint. You'll have to do quite a few coats. My aunt has a brick fireplace she painted and it looks awesome.

Bonzo2011 · May 2012

I love brick. Normally I would advocate against painting it. But, I have seen it done very nicely too, so if it will be more your style to paint it then go for it. I believe there are special brick primers that will reduce the amount of paint sucked up by the brick. Look into that at Home Depot, Lowes or a paint store.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · May 2012

My current thought is that regular brick fire places look kind of dated, and paint can make it look fresh and light without having to actually re-do the fireplace. I usually don't like painted brick, but if it's at all what I'm picturing, I'm for it.

ahhhitsshannyn · May 2012

I had the weirdest fireplace known to man when I moved in. It was a wood mantle, white stucco, and red brick. Ugly as all hell. I left the mantle, covered the stucco with rock, and the brick I painted white. It looks a million times better. I say go for it, I think red brick is a little outdated.

mica178 · May 2012

I used to have a painted cinderblock fireplace. The only thing to do with it at that point was cover it with slate or some other stone because we couldn't go back. Just make sure that you're okay with having a painted brick fireplace for the duration of your stay at this house.

[Deleted User] · May 2012

Sorry, this ended up being a P&R because I fell asleep. Whoops.

This is the only photo I have of the fireplace, from right after we moved in and painting was in progress (the walls became the dark red that's on the edges). We took out the ugly brass screen and replaced it with something nicer, but the brick itself is still the same.

Was thinking of painting it an off-white, something like this:

My thoughts are similar to Mery's, that the brick looks dated (and it looks terrible with the red walls), and that the white would really freshen and brighten it up. I actually really love the look of painted brick. But on another board I frequent, this topic has come up in the past with some other people and the overwhelming response is that you're an idiot if you paint brick.

Just wondering what the consensus here is. I welcome any more responses!

RupertPenny · May 2012

I like painted fireplaces. I have no experience painting brick, but I think it would look nice.

LDYGTR13 · May 2012

Paint it! I think standard brick fireplaces look dated now. I'm sure that in 20 years or so, that'll change again, but yes. Paint. I guarantee that's what they'd do on HGTV.

[Deleted User] · May 2012

Yep, it would be an off-white. The walls are the dark red you see on the edges of the walls in the first photo.

Habs2Hart · May 2012

Paint it. I'd rather painted brick than traditional and dated brick for sure. If you can't afford to give it a makeover with some stacked stone or some other type of masonry, paint it.

Make sure you use the right product. Wall paint doesn't cut it for this type of work. You need a much thicker paint with a gloss or a semi-gloss finish. Tremclad anti-rust paint does work well for this purpose, but there are products out there designed for this.

Snippylynn · May 2012

I think it could probably really lighten up the overall look of your room. It also will create a really intense focal point.

Habs2Hart · May 2012

Also, you can spray paint the insert black, which will also update it.

[Deleted User] · May 2012

Thanks for the opinions! It's interesting how much the opinions here differ so wildly from my other board. But they're mostly all dudes so what do they know?

Habs2Hart · May 2012

Dudes don't get it. lol. We are pretty good with design and style on this board I think.

[Deleted User] · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_painting-brick?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6fcc855a-7089-4031-ad38-d9e5d91f7513Post:4f431d53-3713-4ae0-92a3-42f6b58b54d1">Re: painting brick</a>:
[QUOTE]If you can't afford to give it a makeover with some stacked stone or some other type of masonry, paint it.
Posted by Habs2Hart[/QUOTE]
Yeah, this was my original plan, to give it a stone makeover. But it's just going to be so costly, and I'd be almost as happy with the painted brick, I think. Much happier than the brick as it is currently. I just hesitated because I kept being told that painting brick is a baaaaad thing to do. It's just so ugly though. Thanks for the tips on materials, that'll be the next step, to figure out how to do it.

Also, by insert, do you mean the ugly brass thing? Because that's gone, and there's a pretty black scrolly screen thing there now that I'm happy with.

calixtine · May 2012

I agree with PPs, I think you should paint it. I think brick painted white with the red walls will look awesome. And I think you are right, it looks kind of dated as it is right now.

FutureMrsFezz · May 2012

I like the painted brick.

Young House Love painted their brick in their old house and new house and it looks great!

http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/fireplace-happenings/

[Deleted User] · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_painting-brick?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6fcc855a-7089-4031-ad38-d9e5d91f7513Post:3a18c555-fd81-4753-8f82-529f1334d4de">Re: painting brick</a>:
[QUOTE]I like the painted brick. Young House Love painted their brick in their old house and new house and it looks great! <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/fireplace-happenings/" rel="nofollow">http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/fireplace-happenings/</a>
Posted by FutureMrsFezz[/QUOTE]
Oh I like theirs! Yeah it looks so much fresher than the plain brick. Also good to remember that I'll need heat-rated stuff because our fireplace is very much operational. I do have some black stuff for the interior of the box that I know is specifically for fireplaces, but for the exterior I'll need to figure it out.

Meegles4 · May 2012

I was going to come in here and be all "don't paint red brick, it's classic!"

And then I saw your photos. And I think the painted brick photo looks good. My grandfather, the bricklayer, is likely shaking his head at me from heaven at this moment.

Anyway, I think the biggest issue with your fireplace is the screen and the design of the fireplace (i.e. the huge hearth).

I actually really love red brick - houses, exposed walls, blah blah. But brick fireplaces and their design can be really dated, so I think this is an exception to my "don't paint brick" rule.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_painting-brick?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6fcc855a-7089-4031-ad38-d9e5d91f7513Post:78db17a2-dac4-4761-abcd-2fb37fbff884">Re: painting brick</a>:
[QUOTE]I was going to come in here and be all "don't paint red brick, it's classic!" And then I saw your photos. And I think the painted brick photo looks good. My grandfather, the bricklayer, is likely shaking his head at me from heaven at this moment. Anyway, I think the biggest issue with your fireplace is the screen and the design of the fireplace (i.e. the huge hearth).<strong> I actually really love red brick - houses, exposed walls, blah blah. But brick fireplaces and their design can be really dated, so I think this is an exception to my "don't paint brick" rule.</strong>
Posted by Meegles4[/QUOTE]

Same! I love exposed brick walls and red brick houses, but Jill, that's what I was picturing, and I think it will look great painted. I love your red walls, too!

painting brick

Re: painting brick

Choose Another Board

Search Boards