Do you need to pepare fireplace before painting?

Maribeth
by Maribeth
  7 answers
  • Debi53 Debi53 on Mar 06, 2018

    Instead of painting, use solid color masonry (concrete) stain. I am assuming your fireplace is brick. Paint sits on top of the brick and can flake off. Stain soaks into the brick and will never flake off. I have stained both the outside of my house and my fireplace over 7 years ago. Even the stain on the outside still looks new. If you stain you only need to make sure the brick is clean. If you paint, you will need to prime first. No primer needed for stain.

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Mar 06, 2018

    It will definitely require a good cleaning and the best product for the job is muriatic acid but you have to take a lot of care when using this product since it is an acid. Other than that, a good scrub with Dawn and vinegar or household ammonia and then rinse off, prime and then paint. Be careful as to what kind of paint you use as there may be a lot of heat.

  • Liv Liv on Mar 06, 2018

    Not usually.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Mar 06, 2018

    Yes, check with your fire department about that. It's important to do this job right. You don't want to breathe fumes.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Mar 06, 2018

    P.S. check with a chimney sweep

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Mar 06, 2018

    The muriatic acid will work, but take care, very good care, to protect your lungs from the fumes, where really good masks, eyewear, gloves, etc. If you have pets, like birds, cats and dogs, make sure you have them out of the house, or somewhere they will not be exposed to the fumes, esp. birds. Have a fan running and windows open until the fumes are gone. Muriatic acid works well on porcelain tubs and toilets also, but take the same precautions.