There’s appreciable disagreement about whether or not you want high-temperature paint for the bricks and fireplace or whether or not common paint will work. Benjamin Moore and Behr, two main paint producers, each supply recommendation on-line suggesting common paint is enough. However many different on-line sources say to make use of high-temperature paint, such because the Range Vivid model stocked by many fire outlets. Forrest Technical Coatings in Eugene, Ore, makes Range Vivid, which is available in 36 colours and is on the market in each aerosol cans and brush-on formulation. (On Amazon, a 16-ounce can of brush-on charcoal paint is $27.99 and an aerosol can is $22.71.)
Excessive-temperature paint is rated to carry out effectively as much as 1200 levels Fahrenheit, so it would appear to be the plain, always-safe alternative given the conflicting recommendation. However Leslie Arbgast, a receptionist for Forrest Technical Coatings who typically winds up answering prospects’ questions, cringed when requested if it might work on a tile fireplace in addition to a brick encompass. Excessive-temperature paint dries at room temperature, and as soon as dry it sticks effectively to bricks, tile and plenty of different surfaces and not using a have to prime first. It received’t peel, she stated. However to really treatment and turn into exhausting sufficient to withstand scratches, it wants warmth — round 450 levels. Attending to that temperature isn’t a problem when it’s used to color steel stoves, steel fire inserts, and even barbecues. However brick round a hearth and the tiles on a fire shouldn’t get that sizzling, which means high-temperature paint may simply scratch, particularly on the fireplace, she stated.
So common paint is the higher choice. Benjamin Moore has directions and a YouTube video about the way to rework a brick fire with paint, and the steps ought to work effectively even on simply the one course of bricks in your encompass and the tile fireplace.
Step one, as at all times with any portray challenge, is to get the floor clear and freed from particles. First, cowl the ground with plastic to guard it. For bricks and the mortar joints between the bricks and the tiles, use a stiff brush to clean away any free grit. Benjamin Moore recommends utilizing a wire brush, however the Brick Trade Affiliation, a commerce group, says wire bristles can scratch bricks; they advocate stiff plastic or natural-fiber bristles as an alternative. Since you are planning to color the bricks, although, the kind of bristles in all probability doesn’t matter.
Vacuum up the particles, then clear the bricks and tile. Benjamin Moore recommends its Insul-X all objective citrus cleaner ($27.78 for one quart at Walmart), however you may use a mix of clear hand dishwashing detergent and water as an alternative. The Brick Trade Affiliation says to moist the bricks first with plain water so the soapy water and the soot it picks up keep near the floor, the place you’ll be able to wipe or vacuum them away. Use a masonry sponge, which holds a whole lot of moisture, as an applicator. Wipe off the wash water with a clear sponge or vacuum it away with a store vac (not a family vacuum or an ash vacuum, which aren’t protected to make use of for liquids).
Wait at the least 24 hours for the bricks to dry. Then masks off surrounding surfaces with painters’ tape and ensure there’s plastic protecting the ground. Apply primer — the important thing to getting common paint to stay to each bricks and tiles. Benjamin Moore recommends its Contemporary Begin all-purpose primer ($22.99 a quart at Ace {Hardware}) or its Insul-X Aqua-Lock bonding primer ($17.99 a quart), each of that are acrylic, water-based merchandise. Different manufacturers’ bonding primers must also work.
Use a brush, maybe one with angled bristles 1½ inches vast, to color bricks alongside the masking tape and the mortar joints between the bricks. Then use a curler with a canopy designed for tough surfaces — in all probability with a three-eighths-inch or half-inch nap — or to unfold primer over the faces of the brick. Or, since you are portray such a slim band of bricks, you may wish to use solely a brush for the entire job. Paint the fireplace after you end the bricks.
As a result of brick is tough and porous, you’ll in all probability see quite a few indentations that didn’t get paint. Relatively than attempt to dab primer after which paint into all these divots, wait an hour or two for the primer to dry, then fill the crevices with paintable acrylic caulk, akin to Dap Alex painter’s acrylic latex caulk ($2.99 a tube at Ace).
After two hours, the caulk can be dry sufficient so that you can apply the primary coat of the ultimate paint. Select a water-based paint with comparatively little gloss, akin to matte or eggshell, if you wish to make texture variations within the brick much less noticeable. If ease of cleansing and good mild reflection matter extra to you, go together with semi-gloss.
Wait the time really helpful on the paint label earlier than making use of a second coat. Remember that water-based paints dry shortly, typically in an hour or two, however they take extra time to treatment. Watch out to not scratch the paint, and keep away from washing it for at the least two weeks.
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