How to Paint Your Faux Stone Fireplace

If you have just installed a faux stone fireplace, you may decide that you would like to paint it before it gets too much older. Faux stone can be painted in a range of colors, but you have to take care when you are choosing the types of paint, and the manner of applying it. You may be tempted to call in an interior decorator, but you needn't be too uncertain about decorating your faux stone fireplace any way you please. Painting a faux stone fireplace is not very difficult, you should be able to get this done in a few hours. Getting this job done doesn’t need the assistance of a professional if you have some basic home improvement skills. All you have to do is follow a few simple guidelines to get the job done quickly and easily.

Step 1 – Prepare the Fireplace

This can be done by placing some painters tape around the edges of the stone, in order to prevent the paint from getting over the edges and staining the wall or wood behind it. You may also want to cover the grouting lines of your stones by placing tape around the edge. You should then apply a layer of primer to the edge of the fireplace. Leave to dry.

Step 2 – Applying the Paint

Apply some paint over the top of your primer. The best way to do this is to use a base coat of a light color, such as cream or white, and then, once that is dry, you will be able to use your sponge to dab a darker paint on top of the base. The sponge will allow you to place a stone-like effect, which will be accentuated by the faux stone grouting tape you placed around it originally.

Step 3 – Create More Stone Effects

Once that is completed, you can then add a further layer of a darker paint which will create shadows and lines around the edges of the patterns you have already created. You can also dab more paint along parts of it by using some paper towels to remove parts of the paint. Leave the paint to dry in all areas.

Step 4 – Finishing

Before you finish the project, you will have to take off all of the masking tape. You can then smooth out the grouting lines by covering the entire fireplace with a clear gloss varnish. A further effect can be created by using sandpaper over the edges of the grout lines, and in the stone shapes themselves, in order to buff out the gloss. This will give a dimension to the stone which would be lost in the shine of the gloss varnish.