Poorly chicken

[kitchens]

We have recently opened up our 2 fireplaces.

 

In one of them we are going to have a woodburning stove and the other an open fire in a grate. We want to paint the inside part of the chimney breast. What can we use? I have had conflicting advice from using heat proof stove paint to being able to use normal emulsion as long as it is completely waterbased with absolutely no oil in it.

 

Has anyone had any experience and can help.

 

Thanks!

[chickenanne]

I want to do the very same thing!

I have seen a specialist paint made for protecting the stone underneath - well, more of a varnish - but I need a paint rather than that. I can't remember the name offhand, but if this would help, let me know.

[majorbloodnock]

For painting behind the woodburning stove, you'll be fine with a normal emulsion so long as the stove itself has been installed correctly (i.e. not touching the stonework). If that's the case, the heat will not be enough to discolour the paint.

 

However, the open-grate fireplace is far more of a problem, since it will get far hotter. The only paints I can think of that would reasonably fit the bill are either fire retardant ones (which might still discolour) or exhaust paints which were designed for adhering to metal, and are generally themselves metallic colours (although you may be lucky and find one that isn't).

 

I would also point out, though, that if you are successful at finding some paint that works, but then decide to remove it again (want to change the colour or it's starting to look a bit tired etc. or even if what you tried doesn't quite work, and starts flaking off a bit sooner than you'd have liked), you'll have the Devil's own job trying to get it all off cleanly again, especially since you won't be able to use a heat gun on it. Personally, I'd urge you not to go down the paint route.

[Charlottechicken]

Try googling fireproof cement or fire bricks and you will come up with companies who specialise in open fires and flue linings. You may have to have a fireproof screed or shaped firebricks installed in your open fire before you can burn anything safely.

 

Normal bricks with a thin coat of paint may not withstand the heat from an open fire, especially if you have to burn smokeless fuel, which burns white hot in the centre of the fire when it gets going.

[Olly]

Can't answer the questions on the open fire, but my woodburner is installed in a plastered alcove, and I used ordinary emulsion paint, and it's fine.

[Lewis]

We were going to have our fireplace sandblasted and done 'properly' as its the original one and quite big, we got a stupidly expensive quote and they said just to paint it with emulsion, it came out really well and have never had a problem

[Guest]

Hi

 

You can buy proper fire paint but its v expensive and comes in fairly small pots we just use it on our woodburner ie to paint the cast iron burner if it needs a freshen up and also on the fire cement when we have had our chimney cleaned out. We too have emulsion just on the back wall and surround. On surfaces in contact with the heat I would use firepaint..wickes sell it

 

Ours is black paint not sure if it comes in other colours

 

 

indie

[debbier]

Another vote for the "normal" emulsion from me. I painted the inside of my alcove (with a stand alone woodburner) with a Farrow & Ball matt emulsion, on top of the cement-y looking finish (not plaster) and it looks great a couple of years on.

 

I'll see if I can get a pic.

[kitchens]

Thanks guys. Emulsion it is then round the back of the woodburner and i'll leave the chimney in the dining room bare brick.

 

Knew I coud rely on you guys to be able to help.

 

[chickenanne]

... and a thanks from me too! I will go for the emulsion option as well.