A lot of guys think they know “the rules” about remodeling–things like never painting a window shut, never mixing oil and latex, and never painting brick. These Weekend Warriors are great around the house when you need to put up a shelf or fix a banister, but how much does Mr. Fix-It really know about updating ugly brick?
When you are remodeling an outdated living area, both of you want to do things right. You might agree about everything that needs to be done from the ceiling to the wall to the floor. And you both know that unless you do something about that ugly fireplace, it’s going to stick out like a sore thumb.
But what’s the right thing to do?
Maybe this conversation sounds familiar:
YOU: “We have to do something about that fireplace.”
HIM: (Looking away.) “Well, that’s a big job. Hiring a contractor, shoring up the walls, tearing out all that brick...”
YOU: “Why don’t we just paint it? That would be cheaper.”
HIM: (Chuckling.) “You don’t paint brick.”
YOU: “Why not?”
HIM: “Honey, honey. It never comes off. You can’t get paint off brick.”
YOU: “I don’t want to take the paint off. I want to put the paint on, because that brick is hideous.”
HIM: “And what if you don’t like how it looks when you’re done?”
YOU: “I don’t like how it looks now. And if we have to tear it out any way, what’s the problem?”
This scene is played out in homes all across the country. Fireplace remodeling experts know the routine by heart–women who want to remodel an ugly fireplace, husbands who won’t let them paint brick. Is there really a “right way” and a “wrong way” in this situation?
The reality is that ugly brick is not going to go away or improve with time. Tearing a brick fireplace out and completely replacing it will give you great results, but the downsides are considerable: lots of time and lots of money.
The good news is that painting a brick fireplace is an increasing popular alternative to replacement. Painting the bricks is a quick and easy method to update and enhance the appearance of your existing fireplace. You can achieve pretty good results with two coats of paint from your local hardware or home improvement store—a clean, solid look that matches your décor.
If you prefer the look of a brick fireplace, you may want to consider an all-in-one fireplace paint kit. You can even get one that gives your fireplace the appearance of real brick. This option has significant advantages:
• Turnkey Solution. Gives you all the tools, paint, and even video instructions you need to remodel an ugly fireplace yourself in one weekend.
• Satisfaction Guaranteed. Check out these testimonials from satisfied customers.
• Return on Investment. A custom-painted fireplace can give you a 200% ROI or more.
• Covers an Existing Paint Job. If your fireplace has already been painted, the paint kit is a simple way to update or improve an existing paint job.
• Almost Nothing to Lose. If you are unhappy with the fireplace once you paint it, you can still go ahead and call a contractor to tear it out.
The following chart breaks down your options and the relative cost, merits, and drawbacks:
