In this video, This Old House paint expert Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner tackle a controversial project: painting an exposed brick fireplace.

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Paint expert Mauro Henrique takes us on a house call to tackle a somewhat controversial project. The homeowner and her husband want to update their beautifully-kept home, and they plan to paint exposed fireplace bricks-a taboo for brick purists.

Opinions vary about whether to paint exposed brick. While the finished product can look clean and modern, there is no going back. When a homeowner asks paint expert Mauro Henrique for help painting her fireplace, he first checks that she’s positive that she wants to do it before helping her take this project on.

Difficulty: ⅕
Cost: Around $30
Time: An afternoon

Where to find it?
Mauro upgrades a 1920’s fireplace by painting the fireplace facing with a high heat paint.

To clean out the fire box, Mauro vacuums it out with a HEPA vac [https://amzn.to/3m6IJcI]. Then, Brenna wipes down the facing with a multi-surface cleaner [https://amzn.to/40C1sMh] and clean rag [https://amzn.to/3nJrSx3]. To paint the fireplace, Mauro uses a 1200 degree high heat paint in flat black [https://amzn.to/3K6nDD9]. To apply the paint to the fireplace facing and hearth, Mauro uses 4” stiff bristle brushes [https://amzn.to/40lOEJN].

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Materials:
Rag [https://amzn.to/3nJrSx3]
Respirator [https://amzn.to/3zzJDRY]
All-purpose cleaner [https://amzn.to/40C1sMh]
Painter’s tape [https://amzn.to/3KfrRIH]
High-temp paint [https://amzn.to/3K6nDD9]

Tools:
Screwdriver [https://amzn.to/3MuO9bY]
Wet/dry vacuum [https://amzn.to/3m6IJcI]
4-inch stiff bristle paint brush [https://amzn.to/40lOEJN]
Paint tray [https://amzn.to/3FRlJF6]
Drop cloth or rosin paper [https://amzn.to/3z8RvJQ]

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About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Paint a Fireplace and Hearth | Ask This Old House
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