How to Update the Paint on a Red Brick Fireplace

Hold a clean piece of rag under running water to soak it and wring it to remove excess water.

Wipe the surfaces of the red brick fireplace with the rag to clean it, removing cobwebs, soot and debris.

Pour an oil-based paint primer into a paint tray. Slip on a nappy roller cover over your paint roller. Dip the paint roller in the paint primer and roll it back and forth along the angled surface to remove excess paint.

Run the paint roller over the brick fireplace to apply the paint primer. The primer prevents any soot stains from bleeding through the paint. As you paint, the nappy roller cover might catch chunks of brick; pick the bigger chunks out and discard them to prevent them from leaving patches on the surface. Let the paint primer dry.

Mix about four parts oil-based paint and one part mineral spirits in a clean paint tray. Thinned paint can penetrate brick surface better.

Slip on a clean nappy roller on the paint roller, dip it in the paint and roll it over the surfaces of the brick fireplace. Let it dry and apply one or two more coats to get the color you want.