Explore the do’s and don’ts of chimney painting
Keeping a brick chimney in working order is no small feat, especially if that chimney is older than you even know. While using regular paint isn’t exactly advisable for your brick chimney, there are plenty of options you can go with that will help you freshen up the look of your brick exterior. Here’s how to paint a brick chimney (without using actual paint) and keep it looking sharp for a long time.
If you’re ready to tackle this project, there are a few things you should prepare before you apply the sealant.
Painting your chimney with regular paint is not a great idea, but using a vapor-permeable sealant is a safe alternative to keep the brick looking fresh and help it last as long as possible. Check out the Chimney Safety Institute of America’s list of approved products to choose the vapor-permeable sealant that’s best for you based on your budget and availability.
For most brick chimneys, one gallon of vapor-permeable sealant will cover 100 to 150 square feet of brick. Measure your exposed chimney area before purchasing sealant so that you don’t spend too much on products you won’t use.
This DIY requires several days to complete, and you’ll spend most of this time waiting for the brick and mortar, caulk, and sealant to dry. Since your chimney is exposed to the elements, choose a mild week with low humidity and no rain in the forecast. The sealant alone takes at least 24 hours to dry, and it’s important that it stays completely dry during this time. Otherwise, you may have to redo your work completely.
First, remember: You’re going to have to get on top of your roof. We want to reiterate that this can be very dangerous for someone without experience and should never be attempted without full safety precautions. If this makes you nervous at all, put down the ladder and call a pro instead. If you’re familiar with the safety protocols involved in working on a roof and are confident that you can follow them to a tee, keep on chugging.
Lean your ladder against your home, and don’t place it in front of any doorways. Along with that little piece of advice, follow all other common ladder safety tips to ensure that you don’t fall and end up damaging your home or, worse, injuring yourself or others.
If your roof is slanted at an extreme angle, you need to use a safety harness and rope with a high minimum breaking strain (the force that would make a rope fail). Attach a roof anchor into the rafters at the roof’s peak, then attach your rope to the anchor and your harness. If you do happen to slip while working, this will stop you from taking a very dangerous and potentially fatal fall.
Before you start painting, thoroughly clean your chimney. A sturdy scrub brush and a bucket of water with mild soap or dish detergent will do the trick. Just be sure to get all the cracks and crevices before moving on to the next step.
If someone sealed or painted your chimney in the past, use 80- to 100-grit sandpaper to scrub off as much peeling and flaking material as possible. Then, inspect your chimney for missing or damaged brick mortar. If you find areas that need some attention, patch them using new brick mortar and a drywall knife. Allow your patchwork to dry and set for 24 to 36 hours.
Next, fill in any large holes or gaps in the brick with caulk to ensure a smooth surface and prevent water from ruining your paint. You want to seal any gaps larger than 1/16th of an inch. Let the caulk cure completely before moving on—usually about one to two days for chimney caulk.
Before you begin painting your vapor-permeable sealant onto the brick, cover the roof at the base of your chimney, the ground around your chimney, and the ladder with drop cloths. Use painter’s tape if necessary to secure the cloth to the roof. The drop cloths will catch any stray paint that may fall or blow in the wind, making cleaning up much easier.
Since bricks are porous, it’s much more effective to use a paint sprayer to apply your vapor-permeable sealant. However, if you can’t use a sprayer for any reason, you can use a paint roller and a brush to get the same effect—it may just take a slightly longer time and more detail to get full coverage.
Once you’ve got all the bricks covered, you can come back in with a small touch-up brush to fill in any hard-to-reach areas or odd angles that your sprayer or roller didn’t touch.
The cost of painting a brick chimney will depend on several factors, including the size of your chimney, its condition, and your location. In general, costs can range from about $200 to about $500 to paint it yourself. If you hire a pro, that price will go up to $400 to $1,500.
The size of your chimney is the largest factor, though, when it comes to painting costs. If it’s particularly tall or otherwise difficult to access, this will add to a pro’s labor costs.
The condition of the brick also adds to the scope of the project. Expect to pay more if you need to hire a local chimney repair technician for masonry repairs or a thorough cleaning. The average cost to repair a chimney is about $455.
Since you’ll need a lot of supplies and safety equipment for this DIY, the costs can add up quickly. You may be able to save a small amount on labor costs by doing it yourself, but you have to consider if the savings are worth it given the risks that come with working on top of your roof and the general labor involved. Plus, adding a protective coating on a chimney isn’t easy—it can cause long-term damage if done incorrectly.
The pros are called “pros” for a reason. They’re well-versed in safety protocols and know how to complete a job quickly with no incidents. We always recommend hiring a pro for any jobs on or around your home’s roof. When it comes to your safety, you can never be too cautious.
While painting can certainly change the look of a chimney, you should think twice about giving your brick chimney the old landlord special.
Painting brick is porous, meaning it’s full of tiny holes that can soak up moisture. Those holes also allow it to dry, though. So, when you paint it, you trap any moisture inside, providing an opportunity for mold, mildew, and water damage.
Paint also shows wear faster than naked brick. This means that once you paint a brick surface, you’ll have to keep painting it to maintain a clean look. A paint job is also harder to undo on brick because of its porous nature. Once you paint it, it’s hard to go back without some serious power washing—another added cost.
Yes, you’ll definitely want to seal a brick fireplace with a primer before applying your paint of choice. Because brick is porous, paint can seep into the nooks and crannies, giving an uneven coverage. Sealing the brick with a masonry primer allows the primer to seep into those spots first and provides a smooth, uniform layer for the paint to adhere to. Be sure to let the primer dry before going in with your paint.
If you skip using a primer before painting brick, you risk ending up with a blotchy paint job that won’t last as long. Because of the natural variations in brick, paint can adhere and dry unevenly to different spots. When you use a primer, you put a neutralizing layer between the brick and the paint, evening the texture and color. Without a good primer, paint can also flake off in spots, come out blotchy, and wear away more easily.
