If you have a fireplace hearth you wish you could makeover, then keep reading — This post is for you! It may just be 3 measly tiles, but after updating our mantel, I was determined to get rid of this dated hearth. The easy fix, of course, would be to re-tile, (which maybe someday we’ll do); but in the meantime, let’s paint ’em! Here is my how-to on painting a fireplace hearth.
You may or may not remember me painting my tiled side entry/powder room with Rustoleum RockSolid Home floor paint. (You can read that post here — which goes much more in depth about the process.) The product is a two-step application that works on tile, linoleum, wood, vinyl, and concrete floors with no primer needed. In my experience, it’s a great fix for low-traffic areas. (Again, check out my previous post on how it held up in a high traffic area.)
Disclaimer: I’m going to preface this post by saying I have no idea if this product is flame-resistant or fireplace safe, lol. We don’t use our electric fireplace often, and when we do, we don’t use the blower sooooo… I went for it; but please attempt at your own risk. ๐
***5/30 UPDATE: Rustoleum reached out to inform me that this paint product can withstand a temperature of 200ยฐย F before it may start to bubble.
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What You’ll Need:
- Krud Kutter cleaner/degreaser spray
- Rag or paper towels
- Rustoleum RockSolid Home Base Coat in color of choice (I used Steam Gray)
- Rustoleum RockSolid Home Top Coat (I used Matte Clear)
- Painter’s tape
- Mini paint roller kit
- Small foam brush or angled craft brush
How To:
Step 1: You’ll want to clean your hearth really well before starting. I used Krud Kutter, a spray cleaner, which removed all the gunk and grime from my tile. I also made sure to get in the grout lines as best as I could.
Step 2: Use painter’s tape to tape off your hearth, so you don’t get paint on your surrounding floor or fireplace.
Step 3: Shake up your can of Rustoleum RockSolid Home base coat to make sure the product is well mixed. Pour some into your paint tray, and get to painting! For this small space, I used a craft brush for the grout lines and tape edges. Then, I went right in with my roller .
Step 4: You’ll want to let this first coat dry for at least 6 hours. I let mine dry overnight before applying the second coat, just to make sure. The product does not call for a second coat of the base paint, but since I was painting a light color over black tile, I did another coat. Use your judgement. If after one coat it looks fine, then move onto the next step. Otherwise, go ahead and repeat step 3.
Note: The color may look a bit patchy when wet but it should even out nicely once totally dry. If you happen to get paint on your wood floors (like me), try using a scraper to gently remove it before your base coat has cured.
Step 5: Time for the topcoat. You’ll paint it on just like you did the base coat, starting with the smaller brush then switching to your roller – the only difference is that the topcoat is clear, making it a little harder to see. I learned the first time that if you miss a spot with your topcoat, it can yellow over time. Being diligent with the topcoat will be the key to making your floors last.
Step 6: Let the topcoat dry for at least 24 hours. I know it seems like a lot (and it is), but the paint needs to cure completely. Once it’s dry, you can remove your painter’s tape and walk on it safely. (Or you can be like me and take the tape off a few hours later because you have zero chill, lol. J/k don’t do that.)
That’s it!
I still have a few areas of the fireplace itself I need to hit with some paint remover, but otherwise she is done! This product is so simple to use — I highly recommend it for floors or tile you want to update.
If you decide to try painting a fireplace hearth with Rustoleum RockSolid Home paint, I’d love to hear about your experience and results! I hope this was helpful, and happy painting!
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