How to Finish a Fireplace on a Flat Corner Wall

Because fireplaces are composed of nonporous materials like brick and stone, they are ill-suited for adhesion. You must coat them with a base coat of primer, which will condition them to accept paint and promote a durable finish that won't chip or peel. If the fireplace is on a flat corner wall, you will need to take extra steps to protect the adjacent walls from paint overlap.

Coarse plastic brush
Professional painter's tape
Masking paper
Heavy-duty fabric dropcloths
Latex primer
Roller frame
Nap roller cover
3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush
Semi-gloss or gloss latex paint
Stain-blocking primer

Instructions

- 1
  Dust the fireplace with a coarse plastic brush.
- 2
  Cover portions of the flat corner fireplace you do not want painted with professional painter's tape. Cover the walls adjacent to the fireplace with masking paper. Cover the floor beneath the fireplace with heavy-duty fabric dropcloths.
- 3
  Apply latex primer to the flat corner fireplace using a roller. Use a paintbrush manufactured for use with water-based coatings to force paint into the mortar between the brick or stone. Wait four hours for the primer to dry.
- 4
  Wash the painting tools with water.
- 5
  Apply semi-gloss or gloss latex paint to the primed flat corner fireplace using the roller. Use the paintbrush to force paint into mortar between the brick and stone. Wait two hours for the paint to dry. Add another coat if the primer shows through.

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