Paul, you would be amazed at what baking soda media can clean. With some experience, They use this a lot in airplane painting as they can blast all the paint off, hose the plane down and all the media simply melts away so no issue with stuff getting into the control surface areas. Simply mask off the windshield and because its so forgiving the paper on the masking tape is not even damaged.
Kelly, some fireplaces look great painted. The big issue most people have, including myself is
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that if you do not like it, or at some time later decide you want to change back. Its almost impossible to accomplish and in some cases cannot be done.
I see people all the time painting the outside brick on their homes, although a completely different animal then a indoor fireplace, they quite frankly destroy the ability of the brick to breath and allow for trapped moisture that gets behind the brick to ventilate out and spalling is oftentimes the result. Of course this should never happen to a indoor fireplace but once done, you really can never go back again.
Kelly not only does natural brick look good but I have seen may houses with painted brick where the brick has failed because the paint traps water behind it and the brick never gets to dry out again. Currently I have a home where someone painted the brick fireplace to make it look like brick. That house is 80 years old and this was done long ago. So you can paint it with any high quality paint and it would hold up but in my case I would rather see the natural brick. That fireplace looks
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like it is fake, you know painted on the wall instead of real. But like Woodbridge just said changing it back is such an ordeal it is not worth it. That would be your question to yourself, will you, or anyone, want to change it back to brick anytime? Consider the long term consequences of what you are planning to do and then just do what ever you decide. It is, after all, your house.
Like I said the brick looks fake as is... so it wouldn't be removing the natural charm of the old brick... believe me I would leave as is if it had any. we live in a 1880's house but the fireplace I think is from the 30s or 40s. Here is a close up of the ugly brick.
Paint is a quick relatively inexpensive, but have you considered taking it up a notch with tile overlay? some marble, granite, or slate could give it a completely new look.
yes, we have considered it... but want to keep it brick. Have you painted a brick fireplace that is used as a primary heat source? do you have any advice for me based on that experience? Thanks, Kelly
I have not but I have ripped out some brick veneer that was painted....poorly mind you....brick with all of its nooks and crannies is a very tough paint job (unless it is sprayed)
If you have your heart set on painting (which seems apparent from this thread) got for it. Having it "sprayed" will give the best result. A good cleaning will ensure the paint will adhere properly , keep in mind the final results are only as good as the prep.
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Here is an article I wrote on Networx about good prep.
Thanks KMS. I wouldn't say my heart is set on painting it... I will not paint it if I hear from someone who has gone through the experience and advises against it. I'll then look into resurfacing the fireplace... its just that if it can be done successfully (keeping in mind that the the fireplace is used all the time in the winter and the bricks get very warm... can't leave your hand on them for too long) then I would prefer to paint cause I like the look of painted bricks and it would be
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the least expensive option...and I can't lie that is appealing!
Ok Kelly you got me that is some weird looking brick. It sort of looks like a pile of worms. I don't think you would go wrong with any good oil based paint. That is what someone painted my fireplace with and it has been on there for at least 50 years. Just use a good primers sealer like Kilz first, the oil based stuff, and you should be fine.
Thanks Patsy, I saw mike's project and have posted a question for him... It does look like a bunch of worms, Paul, do use the fireplace that has been painted for at least 50 years?
Any kind of paint that is light colored, regardless of heat resistance or not, will darken slightly when heated. The brick although it gets warm and perhaps to hot to touch, which by the way should not be happening, can be painted.
On the topic of getting hot, you stated that there is a wood stove insert in the opening. Has the brick face surround been checked by a professional chimney person? If your experiencing the heat
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build up from the insert, there are some very strict rules that apply to the clearance of the brick to the frame structure that surrounds the original fireplace.
The brick should not be in direct contact with the wood framing at all. Heat that can be generated by an insert can travel through the brick face and cause charring of the framing members within the wall. As wood chars so does its ability to ignite into flame.
Also a proper wood stove insert should not be conveying any heat back towards the wall surface. Its very design is that to deliver the radiant heat out and away from the wall.
I would suggest that you check on the installation and underwriters laboratories approval for this appliance to be sure your not risking your home due to fire.
The purpose of the brick face is to eliminate any materials that are prone to combustion next to the fire box. The brick if done correctly should be kept about one inch away from any combustible materials unless the entire structure is make of cement, brick and blocks. When free standing wood stoves are installed and a brick wall is constructed to act as a heat shield codes require a one inch air gap between the back of the bricks and the wall. Not all fireplace fronts that have inserts installed meet these requirements.
For your safety, please check this out. We want you to be around for some future questions.
no worry, Its all to code... we made sure of that and it was professionally installed. and the fireplace is all brick no wood! The bricks above the insert get hot because the air is being brown back into the room and the air naturally raises thus heating the bricks. That being said we have thought of pulling the stove insert out about five more inches so that the blower isn't blowing right on the brick (which to be honest has always seemed a bit strange to us.) But moving it out five
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more inches would mean that it would sit some on the hearth... is that a good idea?
Ideally no, your hearth is not designed to hold any real weight nor is it really how a fireplace insert is designed to be installed.
I am glad you had this issue addressed. I cannot tell you how many homeowners do not do this and they suffer damaging results because of this.
If the heat is rising up and washing on the front of the brick, have you thought of having a
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small metal shield made from local HVAC contractor perhaps out of 18 gauge steel that can be placed along the top and have it bent in such a way to direct the heat out from the wall? It can be bent not quite as much as a L shape and insert the bottom of the L into and between the top of the insert and bottom of the fireplace box. Paint it black to match the stove and this should cure your excessive heat going up the wall.
Yes it is used as a primary source of heat every winter. I did get the fire part out of it and have an unvented natural gas log fireplace in there now. That thing puts out 40,000 BTU when it is turned all the way up, so it does get very hot. I have not had any problems with the paint in the time that I have had this house, 17 years or so. It just looks like a normal oil base paint to me but I could be wrong. I definitely does not look like a latex type of paint what ever it is and
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considering its age I know for sure it is nothing that was not available 50 years ago, that is why I am pretty sure it is just an oil base paint with nothing special about it.
Kelly W- We did this a few times on DTS and Taniya always made sure to use a good primer on the bricks prior to painting them. Be careful of a project like this one too for resale. People seem to be split over whether or not you should paint brick. If you're planning on staying in the house, GO FOR IT! If you may be moving in the near future, think long and hard about it and make sure you don't cut corners. You don't want that paint to be chipping/peeling when trying to sell. GOOD LUCK!
Hi Shane, Thanks for the info... if you take a look at the brick (A little way up the page) I think you will agree that covering up this brick will not harm the resale value. It is ugly, ugly ugly brick.
Shane you really should look at the picture. I don't like painting brick but I don't know what you can do with this. I have never seen any quite like this, it does look like a pile of worms.
Kelly another option along the lines of Woodbridges idea of a heat defector. Would be to swap out the insert with a free standing woodstove...inset more into the room. This would require a bit of rework with the chimney pipe and a Hearth extension / rework (code requires 18" in front of the firebox opening).
As an owner of a insert with a blower and a pair of free standing stoves ( one in the bedroom and one at our cabin ) the heat output from a free standing stove is much bigger. We also burn a lot of wood (5 -6 cords) a season. I wish we had our insert as a freestanding. The reason I installed a freestanding in our bedroom is we often get power outages...without power the insert is pretty worthless (no blower). When the power is out we can keep that part of the hosue very comforatble even when it is well below zero. The quiet of a free standing is another benefit...that blower can be annoying some times.
.
A few years back I converted a fireplace insert for a client into a freestanding in an alcove...this alcove was skinned in black granite. The freestanding soapstove stove here + the 100's of pounds of IR absorbing thermal mass made for a great install.
Hey Kelly, I am sure you are ready to put your" Brick to bed"...I was intriqued by the close up of the brick which looks a lot different than the overall picture...the only thing I found was " Brookhaven Brick by Acme" with a "wormy look" ...I wonder if you have a rare brick that might be better Not painted, sort of like Old Tiles from an early era! I am no expert, and if you have lived in an 1880's house for 17 years, you are!. Best of luck & send pics!
Hey Kelly, I just did a web-search for "wormy brick". The Acme wesite is www.brick.com .Just thinking you could remove a couple of the "interesting" bricks and replace...keep them as bookends or something...and just paint the thing, since that is what you really want! This has been a very informative thread for all, keep us posted!!!
Kelly, some fireplaces look great painted. The big issue most people have, including myself is ...»
I see people all the time painting the outside brick on their homes, although a completely different animal then a indoor fireplace, they quite frankly destroy the ability of the brick to breath and allow for trapped moisture that gets behind the brick to ventilate out and spalling is oftentimes the result. Of course this should never happen to a indoor fireplace but once done, you really can never go back again.
Paint is a quick relatively inexpensive, but have you considered taking it up a notch with tile overlay? some marble, granite, or slate could give it a completely new look.
If you have your heart set on painting (which seems apparent from this thread) got for it. Having it "sprayed" will give the best result. A good cleaning will ensure the paint will adhere properly , keep in mind the final results are only as good as the prep. ...»
Here is an article I wrote on Networx about good prep.
http://www.networx.com/article/four-painting...
On the topic of getting hot, you stated that there is a wood stove insert in the opening. Has the brick face surround been checked by a professional chimney person? If your experiencing the heat ...»
The brick should not be in direct contact with the wood framing at all. Heat that can be generated by an insert can travel through the brick face and cause charring of the framing members within the wall. As wood chars so does its ability to ignite into flame.
Also a proper wood stove insert should not be conveying any heat back towards the wall surface. Its very design is that to deliver the radiant heat out and away from the wall.
I would suggest that you check on the installation and underwriters laboratories approval for this appliance to be sure your not risking your home due to fire.
The purpose of the brick face is to eliminate any materials that are prone to combustion next to the fire box. The brick if done correctly should be kept about one inch away from any combustible materials unless the entire structure is make of cement, brick and blocks. When free standing wood stoves are installed and a brick wall is constructed to act as a heat shield codes require a one inch air gap between the back of the bricks and the wall. Not all fireplace fronts that have inserts installed meet these requirements.
For your safety, please check this out. We want you to be around for some future questions.
Bob
I am glad you had this issue addressed. I cannot tell you how many homeowners do not do this and they suffer damaging results because of this.
If the heat is rising up and washing on the front of the brick, have you thought of having a ...»
Thanks Paul, oil base it is!
. ...»
As an owner of a insert with a blower and a pair of free standing stoves ( one in the bedroom and one at our cabin ) the heat output from a free standing stove is much bigger. We also burn a lot of wood (5 -6 cords) a season. I wish we had our insert as a freestanding. The reason I installed a freestanding in our bedroom is we often get power outages...without power the insert is pretty worthless (no blower). When the power is out we can keep that part of the hosue very comforatble even when it is well below zero. The quiet of a free standing is another benefit...that blower can be annoying some times.
.
A few years back I converted a fireplace insert for a client into a freestanding in an alcove...this alcove was skinned in black granite. The freestanding soapstove stove here + the 100's of pounds of IR absorbing thermal mass made for a great install.