Limewashing and Whitewashing · Oct 2020
Red brick fireplace wall whitewashed
Red brick fireplace wall whitewashed. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Oct 2020. This limewashing and whitewashing project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Red Brick Fireplace Wall Whitewashed to a Soft White and Gray
This living room has a full brick wall that runs from corner to corner, with a raised fireplace, a mantel shelf and a long hearth bench. In the before photo, the brick is a busy mix of orange, red, tan and dark charcoal bricks. It dominates the room and makes the light carpet and walls look dull. Green tape already outlines the fireplace insert so the metal frame stays clean. In the after photo, the whole brick wall is whitewashed. The bricks now read as soft white with gray shading, and some of the original variation still shows through, so the wall looks like brick and not a flat painted surface. The mortar lines blend into the lighter finish. The dark fireplace insert stands out clearly against the white, and the hearth and mantel shelf give the wall some warmth. The white six-panel door beside the fireplace now looks like it belongs with the wall.
How We Whitewashed This Brick Fireplace Wall
- We cleaned the brick to remove dust, soot and cobwebs. Brick is porous, and any dirt left on the face can show through a thin whitewash.
- Green tape went around the fireplace insert, and drop cloths covered the carpet and hearth. We also protected the ceiling line and the door trim.
- The whitewash mix was tested on a small area first. That let us check how much of the red and dark brick should still show through.
- We brushed the wash into the brick and mortar joints, working in small sections. A rag or brush knocked back areas that looked too heavy.
- A second pass evened out spots where darker bricks still stood out too much. We stepped back often to look at the wall as a whole.
- After the wash dried, we pulled the tape from the fireplace insert, cleaned any stray marks off the frame and hearth, and removed the drop cloths from the carpet.
Paint Colors Similar to This Whitewashed Brick
These whites and grays are similar to the whitewashed brick in this living room, offered as ideas to sample rather than the exact mix we used.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
A clean, bright white that works for whitewashing red brick. Thinned, it lets some of the brick color and texture show through, like this wall.
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008
A warmer, creamier white for a softer whitewash. It would keep the brick looking a little less cool and gray than the finish here.
Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray SW 7029
A warm light gray for the side walls next to whitewashed brick. It picks up the gray shading in the bricks without looking cold.
Questions About Whitewashing a Brick Fireplace
What is the difference between whitewashing and painting brick?
Paint covers brick in a solid, even color. Whitewash is thinner, so it soaks into the brick and lets some of the original color and texture show through. The result looks lighter but still clearly reads as brick, which many homeowners prefer on a fireplace wall.
Is whitewash safe on a fireplace?
Whitewash on the brick face around a fireplace is common. The firebox interior is a different story, since it sees direct heat and needs special high-heat products. We keep the wash on the outer brick and tape off the fireplace insert so its frame and glass stay clean.
Can whitewashed brick be changed later?
Whitewash soaks into brick, so it is hard to remove completely. You can go lighter by adding another coat, or paint over it in a solid color later. Because it is hard to undo, we test a small area first so you can see the look before we do the whole wall.
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