[Ron6519]

I am having a contractor re-line and tuck point my brick chimney and fireplace. Now that he has tuck pointed the firebox, he wants to paint it black. Is there are any reason for doing this, aside from cosmetic? I'm not too crazy about painting the bricks, even though they don't look pristine after 85+ years. Thank you!

When you build a fire, what do you think will happen to the paint?
Seems like an odd project.
Ron

 

[jane99]

I think it will melt, or bubble, and look like crap. I've tried to find info about it on the net and there are "heat-resistant" paints that some sites recommend, but it sounded like a bad idea to me. I really couldn't fathom painting brick, but just wanted to make sure it wasn't for the purpose of sealing the bricks and mortar, or something like that, since this isn't my area of expertise. It doesn't bother me that it looks obvious that the firebox has had many fires burning in it over the years, so to do it for cosmetic reasons, is pointless.