Can you paint the interior of a fireplace? It depends...
Before you jump straight in you need to factor in the safety aspect as obviously anything that deals with fire needs to be done safely and correctly or you risk damaging yourself and your home.
Let's cover the different types of fireplaces and whether you can paint the inside of them or not...
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What Type Of Fireplace Do You Plan To Paint?
There are two main types of fireplaces that you can get installed in your home.
You can get a gas fireplace, which is more modern and is seen as ‘not genuine’ although it does the same thing you avoid all the soot and dirt of the alternative.
The other option is a wood burner, the ‘real’ version, which is very aesthetic and provides you with that wonderful crackling sound, but it does come accompanied by soot and dirt, which will affect your preparation for giving your fireplace a makeover.
- Indoor/outdoor
- Rich, semi-gloss sheen
- Superior color and sheen retention after repeated heating
- Do not use in areas directly exposed to flames (e.g., inside of grills or fireplaces)
- 12 oz. Spray
can you paint the inside of a gas fireplace?
A gas fireplace gives you the efficiency and pleasure of watching the flames that come with a wood fireplace.
But you avoid the cleanup. You cannot roast marshmallows in them but they are clean and a convenient source of heat.
They don’t emit smoke and it vents its waste through a tube rather than a chimney.
These are not that different from wood burning, the main difference is how the heat is produced (gas not wood), the lack of cleanup, and the vent through which it releases its waste through.
paint for inside gas fireplace
Using a gas fireplace, or indeed any fireplace, anywhere that comes in contact with a lot of heat, requires heat resistant paint.
You can occasionally get gas fire paints from a hardware store, it is always worth asking about these.
Heat resistant paint products are by far the safest option, they are also the most durable when it comes to appliances like wood burners and metal fire surrounds.
These paints can withstand extreme temperatures and restore the fireplace as well as protecting any metals from corroding.
Do not use any other paint as it will be a waste, some paints may even be flammable, so be sure to use heat resistant paint preferably high heat 1200 degree Fahrenheit paint.
Wood Burning
The more traditional method of burning wood is also paintable. This does come with the preparation of cleaning up, as this type of fireplace leaves behind soot and dirt that needs to be removed before any kind of makeover.
This requires wood to burn and smoke is emitted through your chimney. It gives off a cozy smell and is open, so you can roast marshmallows on it.
If you have this type of fireplace, you will need to do some prep before you paint. It will need a thorough cleanout so that it is spotless before painting.
- Ideal for updating the exterior of barbeque grills, wood-burning stoves, radiators, engines or other metal items
- Oil-based formula designed to renew and protect metal surfaces subject to heat up to 1000°F
- Covers up to 65-130 sq. ft. and dries to the touch in 2-4 hours
- Retains excellent color retention after repeated heating
- Provides a rich satin finish that prevents rust, corrosion and chipping
Paints for a wood-burning fireplace
Just like with gas burner fireplaces, wood burners fireplaces should also use heat resistant paint, you may be able to get specialized paints for this.
But just the same it is recommended to use heat resistant paint for the best results durability, and safety.
We highly recommend a special 1200 degree Fahrenheit high-temperature paint for the inside.
How to Paint the Interior
Cleaning
Whether your fireplace is gas or wood, you will need to give it a clean, removing any dirt from the area.
You should always wear protective eyewear to avoid getting any dust, ash, or soot in your eyes, as well as a pair of gloves.
You can use a stiff wire brush and clean off any loose materials from the brick and mortar, of course, you will also need to sweep up or vacuum any large pieces of soot or dirt, and ash and cobwebs.
Use a rugged scrub brush in some hot and soapy water to aggressively scrub at the bricks and surrounding area.
You want to remove all dirt and this will be a dirty task, so don’t wear your finery while doing this.
Once this is cleaned you want to leave it to dry for around 24 hours. When cleaning this area you may have to do it a few times over, and you may also use TSP (½ cup of trisodium phosphate + 1 gallon of water, soak for 30-60 minutes).
- HEAVY-DUTY CLEANER: The Quick N Brite Gel Fireplace Cleaner cleans tough surfaces like brick, stone, tile, and rock. It removes soot, smoke, creosote, and ash without harsh chemicals or acids.
- GENTLE & EFFECTIVE CLEANER: Our fireplace brick cleaner is tough on grime yet gentle enough that you don’t need to wear a mask or gloves while using it. This nonabrasive surface cleaner is safe for use on all surfaces.
- EASY TO USE: This fireplace cleaning kit is convenient and easy to use. Wet the brush well and then use it to apply the gel. To rinse, spray with water and wipe with a terry-cloth rag.
- EARTH-FRIENDLY: Our cleaner contains a unique blend of ingredients and is planet-friendly, but it’s strong enough for even the worst stains and messes.
- QUICK N BRITE: Quick N Brite has been keeping things fresh since 1952, so we’ve been pioneering the way in earth-friendly cleaners for over 56 years. Our trusted, well-known products are made in the USA.
Painting
Use a roller or paintbrush to apply your paint to the brick, we recommend using black paint, to avoid any unsightliness.
It may not be worth painting the area where the flames will come into contact with the firebox, this is because using black, will likely already be black from the heat but it will also release fumes into the air if the fire touches the paint, even if it is high heat resistant.
These paints are usually oil, and due to their high heat resistant properties, they will smell but are also thick and will provide great coverage. It is worth wearing a mask while you do this.
- This item is a Wooster Brush BR006-9 Acme Roller Frame 5-Wire, 9-Inch
- Purpose of use for Painting Supplies, paint-rollers
- This product is manufactured in United States
- Sturdy 5-wire cage and polypropylene endcaps
- Galvanized 1/4 inch shank
Dry
Let the area dry before you set your fireplace back up, this paint shouldn’t take too long to dry and you will have it all back to normal in no time.
Make sure that you use the correct paint for this job, using anything other than high heat resistant paint will result in it not staying, releasing odors and it will not last as long.
It is up to you whether or not you paint the area that the flames will come into contact with as well but we recommend against it.
Once it is dry, set it up again. Get your house warm and cozy again with your new fireplace aesthetic and show your friends!
Last update on 2023-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
