Help refinish fireplace!!!!

8 years ago

I want to refinish this fireplace...however don't know where to start. I want to whitewash it....or maybe even go a little gray. Any ideas on what route I should go or any materials that have worked for others?

Featured Answer

PRO

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

8 years ago

I hope I won't insult some dear family member's stone work, but this appears to be an old (20+ years) man-made stone veneer which could be easily removed replaced with any number of finishes, including just drywall. I would like to discourage you from painting or doing anything else to that stone wall. We have a phrase for this process in our business: "Putting lipstick on a pig"

Before you invest any money in what may be unsatisfactory results, I suggest you take a serious look at the big picture. Is this an operable fireplace that you enjoy, or would changing it (wood to gas, low-efficiency to high-efficiency, etc.) make you happier? It is much better to figure that out that part first before doing anything else, because many clients work on the aesthetics first and still hate their fireplace.

Dream a little. Think about what you'd really love to see on that wall and get some help figuring out the steps to get there, instead of settling for what could only be a very slight improvement.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Livable Luxury
8 years ago
Your fireplace is gorgeous. If you just had to do anything to it, I would change the screen and or its surround to something lighter in color like this
or adding a chuncky wood mantle
opolyashov2229 thanked Livable Luxury
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markandjill21
8 years ago
My father dropped a bucket of white paint next to an interior red brick wall and it splattered all over the brick. I ended up sponge painting onto the brick wall to cover the white spots and it tuned out better than before. So, consider sponging out the color you least desire. Paint is forgiving... If you don't like the color sponge paint over it. After you get the desired color, choose a chunky mantel accordingly.
opolyashov2229 thanked markandjill21
raineycarole
8 years ago
I whitewashed mine with the help of two teenaged girls. It was fun, easy and looks fabulous. Our painter friend thought I'd hired a new pro instead of him!
wacokid
8 years ago
Sledgehammerrrrr
teamaltese
8 years ago
I think a mortar close to the lightest color in the stone would make a huge difference.
apple_pie_order
8 years ago
How old is the fireplace? It'd be pretty easy to test teamaltese's idea by running some regular beige masking tape along the mortar over a quarter of the fireplace. For a $20 can of custom tinted paint, you could paint the mortar.
raineycarole
8 years ago
Teamaltese...I also painted the mortar to lighten it. It's now a light gray.
opolyashov2229
Original Author
8 years ago
Is there anyway I could cover it in tile but not turn it into a modern look? I am keeping more of a traditianl theme...
PRO
COASTROAD Hearth & Patio
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
How about this?

Pop off the old stone veneer, panel the wall with tongue & groove (easier in some ways and quicker than drywall finishing) and replace the concrete hearth with brick. It's a couple day's work, but not too expensive if you're handy. The mantel is off-the-shelf.

Tiling the whole wall will not look traditional, regardless.