How to Clean & Paint the Fireplace Box

When it is first installed, a fireplace box can really become the cornerstone of a room. However, over time, it may become stained from smoke and soot. This can cause it to transform into more of an eyesore than a centerpiece. Fortunately, a fresh coat of paint can help to rejuvenate a dingy, stained or worn-out looking fireplace box. However, before you slap a quick coat of paint on your fireplace box, you need to learn the appropriate preparation steps that are critical to a durable, long-lasting finish.

Things You Will Need

• Heavy-duty fabric drop clothes
• 80 to 120 grit sandpaper
• Coarse brush
• Rags
• Mineral spirits
• Blue painter’s tape
• 5-gallon bucket
• Paint roller cover
• Roller frame
• Three to four-inch latex paintbrush
• Latex primer
• Latex paint

Steps

1. Make sure the fireplace is cool. Remove all ash from the fireplace before you get started.
2. Scrub away dust and dirt from the fireplace box using a dry coarse brush.
3. Apply mineral spirits to soot and smoke stains on the fireplace box using a rag.
4. Scrub the mineral spirits into the fireplace box using a coarse brush. Allow about ten minutes for the mineral spirits to dry.
5. Cover areas surrounding the fireplace box with heavy-duty fabric drop clothes.
6. Apply blue painter’s tape to areas you don’t want painted.
7. Fill the 5-gallon bucket about half-way with primer. Slip the roller cover onto the roller frame.
8. Apply primer to the fireplace box using the roller. Continue applying primer moving from left to right until the fireplace box is completely coated.
9. Apply primer to any areas that proved inaccessible to the roller using the paintbrush. Fill any tiny holes within the mortar with primer by dabbing them vigorously with the paintbrush.
10. Clean the paintbrush, roller frame, paint roller and paint roller cover using warm water. Remove excess water from the paint roller cover and the paintbrush by shaking them vigorously.
11. Repeat steps six, seven and eight except use paint instead of primer.

Things to Consider

Do not attempt to paint over a fireplace box unless you have primed it first or you may end up with peeling and chipping.

Mineral spirits, latex primer and latex paint are all flammable. So, never attempt to paint a fireplace box without first ensuring that it is clean and cool.