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Alternative to Brick Around Fireplace without Replacing It

Q: I hate the brick around our fireplace and garage. Is there a way to change it without tearing it out and replacing it?

A: Absolutely! Two popular options are staining the brick with a special masonry stain, and painting it. Below we discuss the pros/cons of each:

Brick stain is a special masonry coating created to improve or change the appearance of brick structures. Typically, brick is very durable and is often chosen as a low maintenance building material. However, after many years, especially in extreme weather climates, you might experience some amount of wear, corrosion, or color fade. Sometimes folks just do not care for brick or they don’t like the color or shade of brick on an existing area on their home. Repointing and masonry repair are some options for fixing brick that has been damaged or needs refurbishment. Otherwise, paint and stain are great options for changing the appearance of your brick without the expense and time involved in fully renovating a brick structure.

Paint is a quick and fairly easy solution for changing the appearance of your brick. Whether you prefer to darken or lighten the shade or choose a different color altogether, there are many options that will suit most tastes. Paint is also a good option if you have done any masonry patching as paint is opaquer and will hide surface repairs. It allows a uniform color across your entire surface and can provide a solid yet texturized backdrop for whatever area surrounds it. A caveat with painting brick is the fact that paint can eventually peel or chip. It is not porous but sits on the surface. This aspect which better protects a surface is also what can cause the eventual need to sand, prime, and repaint your painted brick structure.

When staining brick, it is important to remember that the stain soaks into the brick. It does not actually coat the surface in the same way paint does but is absorbed and it is this which allows for such an interesting array of colors and tones. Brick has attractive natural color variations just like wood and stone. You can use special light-colored stains on top of darker brick and find yourself with a gorgeous, distressed look. A process called a limestone wash is particularly popular with the trendy farmhouse look and works great on both interior and exterior brick & stone surfaces. Likewise, if you use a darker stain on lighter brick, of course it will make your color darker, but the combination of the natural light brick with the dark stain can create a stunning finish. It is important to note that when deciding to stain brick you must make sure it is in its natural state and in good condition. You cannot stain previously painted brick.

There are several companies with lines of specialty products devoted to the exact purpose of staining brick or other natural masonry materials. Some even include additives that will help prevent against damage in inclement weather. It is important to start with a small section so you can test out how the color of your original brick will blend with the stain you have chosen. Most companies will provide samples so you can often choose more than one shade to try before making your final decision.

You can find many fabulous before and after photos online showing the results of interior and exterior brick staining projects. Taking on a partial or entire exterior is a much bigger task and will take longer and be more expensive. On the other hand, if you want to make a change indoors and you have brick (or stone) surrounding your fireplace or even an entire natural brick accent wall, this can be a great way to change the look of your room and get your feet wet with the masonry staining products. If you like the idea of stained (or painted) brick but don’t have the time to do the work yourself, we would of course be more than happy to help you with your project. Please take a minute to enjoy the before and after photos and color samples we have included below.

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