Give your Brick Fireplace a Facelift with Limewash

Limewash is a thick, clay-like material that you mix with water to create. The amount of water you add determines how thick or thin the wash will be.  Home Improvement expert Danny Lipford advises on his website “Today’s Homeowner,” that applying a limewash is a quick, easy way to update a fireplace.  Here’s how:

• If the bricks have soot on them, clean them with a stiff bristle brush.
• Mix the limewash solution until it’s smooth and free of lumps.
• Then use a spray bottle to dampen the bricks one section at a time.
• Working from the bottom up, spread the limewash solution onto the bricks using the stiff bristle brush or masonry brush. Be sure to get a good coat on the mortar joints as well.
• If necessary, use a paintbrush to cut in around the mantle or other obstacles.
• After about 15 or 20 minutes, you can begin distressing the bricks.
• Lightly spray the surface with water before using a sturdy rag to wipe off the excess paint, exposing some of the brick color. Your preferences will determine how much or how little you remove.
• Continue this process across the fireplace, working on a two- or three-square-foot section at a time.

If you aren’t happy with the way it turned out, don’t worry! Limewash is removable for up to five days so you can easily clean it off and try again!

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Photo Credit:  juliasv / Shutterstock.com