How do you do a faux used brick on plain red brick fireplace?

Bea
by Bea
I have an old red brick fireplace and I would like to change the brick to look like it's the used brick with patches of white and black on it. Not sure whether chalk or charcoal rubbed onto the brick would be best. Or some sponge painting & what type of paint is recommended to do it.
  7 answers
  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 18, 2014
    Use a stencil brush and dab on your paints. Old ivory-white and a softer gray, charcoal color. A dry brush works best. Test it out first on paper or another brick.
    • Bea Bea on Dec 19, 2014
      @Barbara Thank you for your suggestion. Reading it makes sense to me.
  • Pamela Langone Pamela Langone on Dec 18, 2014
    paint white and wipe off what you don't want as it dries a bit
  • Robin Dowden Robin Dowden on Dec 18, 2014
    I agree with Barbara. Use a stencil (buy or make one, easy) and then with stencil brush or sponge dab into paint, takeoff excess paint and dab on stencil..
  • Bryn Bryn on Dec 18, 2014
    I have Williamsburg brick on my fireplaces. There is no black but chalky-white (I'd do yellowish-white like old chalk), steel-blue, mustard and rust in very small amounts. I'd use 'brush and wipe' even dry brushing with a little more in places. Don't judge it up close - stand back.
    • Bea Bea on Dec 19, 2014
      @Bryn Thank you for your suggestion. I think I'll do the dry brushing and I agree, standing back to look at it will help.
  • Deb O Deb O on Dec 20, 2014
    I did a white wash (watered down paint) on our fireplace. It was also red prior, this toned it down and made it look more modern.
    • Bea Bea on Dec 20, 2014
      @Deb O Thanks for your comment. I've seen the white wash and I like it, but I'd like to have it look like old brick with the white and black rubbed into the brick. If my technique fails which means I don't like the way it turned out, then I'll probably just paint the bricks. Thanks again for your suggestion.
  • Paulette Cook Paulette Cook on Dec 21, 2014
    Bea, I'm not sure of the look you want for your fireplace, I was searching on line for options for my red brick fireplace and wall, found a web site, www.brick-anew.com. You might want to check that site.
    • Bea Bea on Dec 21, 2014
      @Paulette Cook Thank you for the website. I've bookmarked the website and keep it in mind if I don't have any success with the old brick look. Thanks again.
  • Buttrfluttr Buttrfluttr on Feb 09, 2015
    I have used white soft furniture wax in the past and the effect was a softened, aged look over terracotta brick. You could play around with different shades of tinted wax and blending.