Use a roller when painting brick
Natural brick has its appeal, but if you want to brighten up your fireplace, painting the brick is an option. One thing to remember when painting brick is that it's porous, and will require more paint to complete the job than painting a wall or wood surface. Preparation is relatively straightforward, requiring only cleaning and priming. If your brick fireplace has any damage, this is the time to repair it.
Clean the Bricks and Mortar
Clean the bricks and mortar with a stiff brush and a mild soap. Remove heavy soot or efflorescence, a white powder that sometimes forms on brick surfaces. Small amounts of soot and efflorescence will not be a problem, however, so don't worry if you can't get it all. If you're unable to remove heavy soot or soiling, use trisodium phosphate (TSP), a strong chemical stain remover. See Resources for more information about TSP.
Spackle and Caulk
Once everything is clean, review the condition of the bricks and mortar. If they're crumbling in any areas, make repairs before going any further. Use caulking or spackling for smaller holes, and 'texture' caulking for large cracks. Allow repaired areas to fully dry, and sand away any protruding dry pieces of spackle or caulking. For primer and paint, use acrylic for easier clean-up, and less odor.
Masonry Primer
Open the windows for good ventilation. Dampen the brick with water (to prevent brick from absorbing paint too fast and drying) and apply a coat of acrylic masonry primer. The color of the primer will depend on the paint color you've selected. If you've selected a dark or bright color, add some of that paint to the primer, so the primer won't show through.
Work in Sections
To apply the primer, work in sections, beginning at the top of the fireplace with a paint roller. Cover a 3-foot-by-3-foot area, and go back in with a brush dipped in primer to smooth out drips and fill in mortar areas missed by the roller. Use mini-roller for more precision. Allow the primer to dry, and apply a colored acrylic paint, using the same methods you've used to apply the primer. Use a second coat of paint, if necessary.
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