How to Refinish an Old Fireplace Screen

You can rejuvenate the appearance of an old fireplace screen by refinishing it with the proper coating. Before you jump into the refinishing process, understand a pair of crucial points. Fireplace screens are made of metal, a nonporous, durable surface that is ill-suited for adhesion. You must pre-treat the screen with a special type of primer formulated to etch hard metallic surfaces. In addition, because fireplace screens are subjected to high heat, you should choose a high-temperature coating or the finish will eventually fail.

Water-based degreasing cleanser
Coarse plastic brush
Heavy-duty fabric drop cloth
Galvanized metal self-etching spray primer
High-temperature spray enamel

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the old fireplace screen and take it outdoors.
- 2
  Wash the fireplace screen with a water-based degreaser and a coarse brush. Rinse the screen. Allow the screen to dry in the sun for 1 to 2 hours.
- 3
  Place the fireplace screen on a heavy-duty fabric drop cloth.
- 4
  Coat one side of the old fireplace screen with galvanized metal self-etching spray primer. Maintain a distance of 8 inches between the fireplace screen and the spray nozzle as you apply. Wait 2 hours for the self-etching primer to dry. Flip the screen over and prime the other side. Wait 4 hours for the self-etching primer to cure.
- 5
  Coat one side of the primed fireplace screen with a high-temperature spray enamel. Maintain a distance of 8 inches between the fireplace screen and the spray nozzle as you apply. Wait 2 hours for the high-temperature enamel to dry. Flip the screen over and apply enamel to the other side. Wait 6 hours before reattaching the screen.

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