Paint a Brick Fireplace

• 1). Clean the brick fireplace, using TSP cleaner. Rinse the surface and allow it to dry.
  
  
• 2). Apply painter's tape to areas of the fireplace you do not want painted.
  
  
• 3). Cover the surrounding flooring with a heavy-duty fabric dropcloth.
  
  
• 4). Apply latex primer, using a 4-inch latex paintbrush. Dab the brush in the mortar to fill the tiny holes with paint.
  
  
• 5). Allow the surface to dry for two hours and then apply paint in the same manner as you did the primer.
  
  

Stain a Brick Fireplace

• 1). Clean the brick fireplace, using TSP cleaner. Rinse the surface and allow it to dry.
  
  
• 2). Apply painter's tape to areas of the fireplace you do not want stained.
  
  
• 3). Cover the surrounding flooring with a plastic dropcloth. Lay a heavy-duty fabric dropcloth on top of the plastic one.
  
  
• 4). Apply stain to the brick fireplace, using a 4-inch oil-based paintbrush.