The paint used inside of a fireplace must be heat-resistant.
There is comfort in the glow of a warm fire on a cold winter's night. The flames are even brighter against a contrasting black background. To enhance the experience, apply a coat of paint to the firebox every two years. This process requires a special paint formulated to be heat-resistant and nontoxic.
Brick-Lined Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Wood used as fuel produces soot and creosote, which causes staining.
The firebox of a wood-burning fireplace is usually brick-lined. In this type of application, a paint must be capable of concealing creosote and soot stains and of withstanding extreme temperatures without peeling, blistering or cracking. Brick-anew.com recommends a flat black, heat-resistant paint that will withstand temperatures up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Such paints may contain silicone resins.
The Metal-Lined Wood Burning Fireplace
Some newer fireboxes that burn wood are metal-lined. This type of fireplace requires a heat-resistant paint with a high adhesion capability designed to stick to metal surfaces with various substrates. There are some coatings that require too much equipment and protective gear for the do-it-yourselfer to use safely. Finishing.com recommends stove paint, is often used on wood burning stoves. This product is best suited to the amateur and does not require special tools for application.
The Gas Fireplace
Gas fireplaces need touch-ups too.
Creosote and ash are not present in gas fireplaces. Most of these metal-lined appliances suffer paint loss due to repeated use and require touch-ups to regain the pristine black found in a new firebox. A gas appliance touch-up paint has the proper formula for this application and is available at retailers selling gas fireplaces and inserts.
Other Fireplace Products
Other fireplace products are available to keep the outside of your fireplace looking new. Look in stores featuring fireplace equipment for brick patching compound, hearth cleaner, formulations for the cleaning of fireplace grates as well as paste and liquid polishes to enhance the shine on fireplace doors.
Safety First
Whatever the product used, the homeowner must be aware of the hazards involved in fireplace restoration. Paint should never be applied to a warm surface. The woodbox area should be free of ash and stone cold before any product is applied. Reading the label and respecting the hazard symbols on the can will ensure that the proper product is safely applied. Rubber gloves, a face mask and protective clothing will prevent the inhalation of or contact with soot, ash or creosote that may remain in the chimney flue.
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