How to Fix an Ugly Brick Fireplace
- 1). Wipe down the brick fireplace with the dust mop. This will remove dust and cobwebs from the brick so that you do not accidentally paint the dirt into the fireplace permanently.
- 2). Clean the bricks.. Use a solution of warm water and 4 drops of mild dish soap. You can mix it in the bucket. Scrub down the bricks and mortar with the wire brush to remove soot, grime and any loose mortar. Once you are done you need to let the bricks dry completely before you move on. This could take up to 24 hours.
- 3). Prime the brick. This will keep soot stains from coming through the paint. Use the rollers to apply an even coat of primer, then fill in any thin spots and crevices using the paint brushes. You can apply two coats of primer, waiting two hours between them. Once you are done, let the primer dry overnight.
- 4). Paint the fireplace with semi-gloss latex paint. As with the primer, use the rollers to apply even, thin coats. You will generally need two coats but you can apply as many as three. Use the paintbrushes to fill in and even out areas that the rollers did not hit evenly.
- 5). Let the fireplace dry. This could take up to 48 hours. Once it has dried, then you can start enjoying your new look.
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