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anyone tried Brick-Anew for painting a fireplace???

182K views 75 replies 47 participants last post by  Scuba_Dave 
#1 ·
Just wondering if anyone has tried this product on a brick fireplace. I stumbled onto the website (http://www.brick-anew.com/) and it almost sounds too good to be true (really easy & quick with great looking results). The starter kit is nearly $200 for 6 not-so-large cans of paint. If the product works as promised, it would be worth the money. I'm just looking for someone who has actually tried it - I know once I start putting paint on my brick fireplace, there's no turning back.
 
#28 ·
Colorwashing a fp

I used 2 paint colors...One a really pale yellow (almost white), and one a classic taupe. You can use other colors, depending on what color your bricks are. I'd choose one color that is the lightest color of your brick, and one that is the darkest. Use flat paint.
Take the light color and mix one part paint to 2 parts water (err on the side of too much water, as you can go up to 3 parts water). Using a cheap brush, brush on to all the bricks, and wipe with a dry rag, as you go to avoid drips.
Then mix half of the light color and half of the dark, and mix with 2 parts water. This gives you the medium shade. Use a sponge or brush, and put on random bricks, and wipe with a dry rag as you do each brick.
Now mix the dark shade to 2 parts water, and sponge on to random bricks, wiping with a dry rag as you go.
It is really easy and quick. The bricks absorb the water so it doesn't look painted. Doing the 3 shades, keeps it natural looking.
 
#3 ·
Brick-Anew for painting a fireplace

I have used brick-anew on my brick fireplace which was an ugly red brick wall. This brick wall was from floor to ceiling which went from my den and into the living room. There's fireplaces in both rooms. I was very nervous at first and after a year of searching brick-anew testimonials and photos I decided to order the kit and do it. It was the best thing I ever did. It involves a 5 step process but once you get the brick covered with the base coat it was fun and easy to use. I only wished that I had done it ten years ago when we bought this house. It's made a world of difference in both rooms and has enabled me to decorate and enjoy the brightness of the rooms. I had to order extra paint, since the area of brick wall which surrounds both den and living room with much more coverage than the average brick walls. For the money it was well worth it. I am 71 yrs. old and if I can do it I'm sure anyone can. I have always done painting myself for many years and am picky about the final aspect of the job. I have recived compliments galore and the beauty of it all is that it's much easier to dust the brick wall which I never was able to clean before. If you would like before and after photos of my project email me and I will email you photos.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Using Brick-anew

I have used brick-anew on my brick fireplace which was an ugly red brick wall. This brick wall was from floor to ceiling which went from my den and into the living room. There's fireplaces in both rooms. I was very nervous at first and after a year of searching brick-anew testimonials and photos I decided to order the kit and do it. It was the best thing I ever did. It involves a 5 step process but once you get the brick covered with the base coat it was fun and easy to use. I only wished that I had done it ten years ago when we bought this house. It's made a world of difference in both rooms and has enabled me to decorate and enjoy the brightness of the rooms. I had to order extra paint, since the area of brick wall which surrounds both den and living room with much more coverage than the average brick walls. For the money it was well worth it. I am 71 yrs. old and if I can do it I'm sure anyone can. I have always done painting myself for many years and am picky about the final aspect of the job. I have recived compliments galore and the beauty of it all is that it's much easier to dust the brick wall which I never was able to clean before. If you would like before and after photos of my project email me and I will email you photos.
I would like to see your photos of your fireplace. Thanks!
 
#6 ·
I would like to see the photos of your project

I would like to see the photos too. I have been doing so much reading about it. Thanks
Did you ever get to see any photos?

Thanks that would be helpful. We are in the process of moving into a new home and it has the fake brick from the 70's on the fireplace and two surrounding walls it's not very nice looking I was just going to paint it but was worried to try.
 
#7 ·
My wife painted our fireplace in our living room...

we did not use this product and did not spend anywhere near $200 to paint it. I will try to get the directions she found for painting it, and what she used as a primer and then paint. It looks fantastic compared to what it looked like when we bought the house. I will try to get a couple of the before and after pictures of it as well. Give me a couple of days and I will either post them on here or email them to whoever wants them.
 
#67 · (Edited by Moderator)
Painting brick black

we did not use this product and did not spend anywhere near $200 to paint it. I will try to get the directions she found for painting it, and what she used as a primer and then paint. It looks fantastic compared to what it looked like when we bought the house. I will try to get a couple of the before and after pictures of it as well. Give me a couple of days and I will either post them on here or email them to whoever wants them.
I know this is 2 years late to be asking, I am helping my daughter paint her fireplace and she is wanting to paint it black. If you happen to still have pics of your fireplace, I would love to see them.
 
#8 ·
I would love to see the directions too; I have the same ugly red circa sixties fireplace problem. Thanks!

I'm still thinking about doing this too ... would love to see any photos or hear from anyone else who's tried it. It's really just the cost that puts me off, I want to make sure it's worth it.
 
#9 ·
Sorry this has taken so long, wife was out of town for a week on work. Here are the directions she sent and anyone who wants a picture send me a PM or post your email address in the thread if you like and I will email you pictures.

Instructions:

We bought TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) from Lowe's.

Follow the directions on the TSP for cleaning brick - I used a minimal amount, as our brick wasn't very dirty, but I wanted to make sure it was clean and free of soot, etc.

I used a grout brush and just dipped it in the TSP mixture and scrubbed the brick - make sure to place drop cloths around the fireplace, as the TSP will ruin floors (don't be scared of using it though - I'm very clumsy and didn't have any problems).

I then just wiped the brick down with a damp cloth and let it dry completely.

Next I primed the brick with Kilz (for our fireplace I only needed a quart of Kilz).

I did one coat of primer and let dry completely (at least 24 hours).

I then painted the brick with a glossy, black latex paint.

It took three coats of paint (but I only needed a quart of paint).
 
#16 ·
Could you send me those pictures of your fireplace? I also have an ugly fireplace that needs some help. I was unable to post a picture, but I would love to see anyone else's before and after pics, thanks

What did it look like before? What did you use? I have been on that brick-anew website and it just seems too good to be true, not to mention expensive. Did you use it?
Thanks for the pictures
 
#19 ·
I've painted a few brick fireplaces. I clean with a wire brush, vacuum the whole area very well, prime, paint the base colour all over, 2 coats (this becomes the grout colour) then lightly roll 2 or 3 more colours on top to give it a brick like look in more desirable colours. I have seen a brick fireplace painted a dark grey,1 colour all over that looked really great. I don't think I'd do it in a light colour. I've attached a picture of one of the fireplaces in my own home that I painted some time ago. We still need to add some wood trim to it.........someday.

Hmmm I guess I won't attach a picture.....I forgot that I need to be a member for a period of time or something like that before I can post.

Sheesh
 
#21 ·
Hi,

We did not use that product which started this thread. All my wife did was to use regular primer and latex paint, with the primer tinted to the same colour as the paint.

The difference was amazing. We had just bought this 20 year old house with red brick with very rough black edging that was floor to ceiling and took over the family room.

In addition to priming and painting the brick below the mantle, above the mantle we had the contractor use fire-retardant drywall, and then painted the drywall the same colour as the rest of the family room's walls.

Really nice job, I have to complement my wife. She said it was no big deal, just took her time, used a 2 inch wide brush for the brick and at times a very, very small left over ceramic paint brush. No special chemicals nor special type of paint. It worked out very well.
 
#22 ·
Ugly huge brick fireplace

I am closing on a wonderful new home on January 31st. I hate the fireplace,
The living room is quite small and the fireplace is huge and gaudy. The bricks are the large uneven kind of slate bricks like Wilma and Barney of the Flintstones. Maybe it is flint stone, I don't know. Has anyone painted such a monstrousity with any luck? I was thinking of simply painting it white. I do not have time to yank the whole thing out before I move in.
 
#23 ·
I am closing on a wonderful new home on January 31st. I hate the fireplace,
The living room is quite small and the fireplace is huge and gaudy. The bricks are the large uneven kind of slate bricks like Wilma and Barney of the Flintstones. Maybe it is flint stone, I don't know. Has anyone painted such a monstrousity with any luck? I was thinking of simply painting it white. I do not have time to yank the whole thing out before I move in.
Hi lovefurlife,

Rather than white, if your fireplace can be seen from the kitchen, you might want to paint it the same shade as the kitchen cabinets. Although this might only work if the colour is an off white.

That is what we did for ours. We drywalled above the mantel and painted the drywall the same colour as the walls around the fireplace. Then below the mantel we painted the brick (prime then paint) the same shade as our off white kitchen cabinets.

Worked out very well. My fear is if you simply paint the brick white, well, if there is no white elsewhere in the room, the fireplace will have a clean look for sure, but sill still stick out astetically.

Hope that helps.
 
#29 ·
Well, thank you so much, I will try this!!!!
Thank you for sharing...your fireplace looks like
a new one, not painted!!
Thanks again!!!!

I didn't see an "after" pic for
the family room....did I miss
it or was there not one???
I also noticed there had been
paneling, did you paint that as well?
If so, what was your procedure
and what kind of paint, please?
I have the same paneling in a room
that I am getting ready to redo!
 
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