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What color to paint an ugly brick fireplace?  

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Tulipman
(@tulipman)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 576
15/01/2008 12:39 am  

I have a brick fireplace which was painted over by the previous tennant in my apartment.It's presently UPS (or dogs**t)Brown.I am planning on painting it over to breathe some "life" into the room.After all,it's the architectural focal point .Presently,I have Phillipe Starck wood/leather Chairs circling a round table by Lane, Danish modern Lane credenza,Herman Miller Saucer Lamp and vintage Rya(Green/Cream) rug and the walls are a pale Salmon.Curtains on the other end are a Coppery solid silk which pick up the wall color.ALso over the credenza,there is a vintage Nelson Sunburst Clock with walnut and an ivory face.Natural hardwood floors.(Sorry-no pics)AM I crazy?I am thinking of painting the brick in the terra Cotta or Pumpkin color which comprises the triangular minute hand of the Nelson clock.Any thoughts?? I think Cream ,Beige or White is too stark,cold,and boring.(Besides,my conservative landlord has his (identical fireplace) painted white.


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SDR
 SDR
(@sdr)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 6462
15/01/2008 2:08 am  

A
shame that it was ever painted. Sigh. OK, I'm over it. How about saving a LOT of work by not repainting the mortar joints, just the face of the brick ? Let the brown stay as the "background." Start with a very evenly-coated but "dry" short-nap roller. Depending on the texture of the brick you may get lucky and get some flecks of brown on the faces, too. If that doesn't look good, add a little more paint to the roller.
Color: how about a coppery color, or mustard or ochre ? Or a lighter version of the brown, maybe a little closer to the salmon ? If you go with a very dry roller, it won't be too late to modify your choice if you don't like it. Black, or charcoal ?
This method will take a lot less paint than fully coating the surface. It depends on fairly well recessed mortar joints, though.


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2649
15/01/2008 2:11 am  

STRIP THE PAINT OFF
Before you decide on a color, I'd strip off the paint.
Among the nice painted colors I've seen is a beige and a copper red.


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SDR
 SDR
(@sdr)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 6462
15/01/2008 3:30 am  

Strip
a brick fireplace ? There's been lots of discussion of that elsewhere; the consensus was that it's either very difficult, or impossible. The topic below contains a successful recipe, however. . .
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9932&highlight=brick


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barrympls
(@barrympls)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 2649
15/01/2008 4:57 am  

Can't it be
sandblasted?
There's got to be a method of removing paint from brick.


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HP
 HP
(@hp)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 636
15/01/2008 5:12 am  

.
I would use an angle grinder with a wire brush attachment or an orbital sander with an 80 grit pad , angle grinder will get it off fast, but you will need eye protection.


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SDR
 SDR
(@sdr)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 6462
15/01/2008 5:21 am  

You will
choke on the dust, and the brick wall will look like shit. Don't even think about it.
Read the article. Read all the threads on LL about it. You'll end up painting the brick over -- after you Bondo all the damage you did with the angle grinder.
Really.
The brick and (especially) the mortar will never be the same after they are painted. The wall is ruined. Move on.


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azurechicken (USA)
(@azurechicken-usa)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 1966
15/01/2008 8:46 am  

.
All "natural" brick is not beautiful...but you can paint it a color you like...Subtle, is the way to go, I have rarely seen brick painted a vivid color that works...


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azurechicken (USA)
(@azurechicken-usa)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 1966
15/01/2008 8:49 am  

black/charcoal
How about blackboard paint...


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HP
 HP
(@hp)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 636
15/01/2008 9:11 am  

.
a wire brush attatchment on an angle grinder, not a grinding disc, I use the wire brush for taking rust off steel and it leaves nothing more than scratch marks, and the paint will come off fast, wet the wall to keep the dust down or get a mask.
actually 'shakes head' if you want to paint it, just paint over it, might take a few extra coats cos of the brown but whats wroung with good old off white? or a very very light tint powder blue, cucumber green or yellow?


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James-2
(@james-2)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 472
15/01/2008 10:19 am  

Paint
I like the sound of white if you paint. Is refacing the fireplace, with stone or tile, out of the question?


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James-2
(@james-2)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 472
15/01/2008 10:19 am  

Picture
"Picture Picture Picture"


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azurechicken (USA)
(@azurechicken-usa)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 1966
15/01/2008 6:49 pm  

.
Off white or a "stone" color...charcoal...off black all good choices but tulipman said he does not want white,because the manager has white and thats boring.This suggests to me he wants a "statement" color.I really think thats not the way to go...rarely, is a emphatic color good for painted brick...perhaps because its so far from the natural clay tones of brick?


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SDR
 SDR
(@sdr)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 6462
15/01/2008 7:42 pm  

HP
I'll give it up if you tell me you have cleaned the paint off a brick wall as you describe, and were satisfied with the result ! No paint left in the mortar ? No dust all over the house ?
I guess the fact that it's brown paint now, and not pink, would make the job easier. . .
I think the best paint job will make the fireplace look like masonry of one sort or another. Painted concrete block or even (shudder) stone looks better to me if the color suggests a believable masonry material. So, a color or colors (despite my earlier suggestions) that could be brick (of which there are many many shades) or stone (ditto) would work for me. You want the eye to immediately accept the surface as being what it is: brick.
This means, too, that the mortar should be a different shade and texture (if possible) from the bricks. That's the purpose behind my initial post. And, it's the easiest solution ! Bingo. Why fight it ?
But don't do what my dear departed brother did in this same circumstance: he laboriously painted the bricks almost-bright red and the mortar joints bright white ! Like a cardboard background for a Santa Claus photo.


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NULL NULL
(@sockmonkeygirlgmail-com)
Noble Member
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 249
15/01/2008 8:47 pm  

As I always say...
Keep it simple, naturals tones work the best. White, off-white, sage...you know cool tones.


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