How to Redo a Marble Fireplace

Cover the walls and flooring surrounding the fireplace with plastic drop cloths. Attach the cloths to the surfaces with painter’s tape to ensure that no paint contacts them.

Create a mixture of one-quarter cup of white vinegar, one-half cup of oxygen bleach powder and one gallon of water in a plastic bucket. Stir the ingredients until the oxygen bleach powder is dissolved.

Dampen a plastic scrub brush with the mixture, and clean the entire surface of the marble. Continue to clean the marble until any loose dirt, grime and soot residue is completely eliminated. Wet a kitchen sponge with plain water, and then rinse away the soapy residue. Dry the marble thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Scuff the marble surface with 220-grit sandpaper. Attach the sandpaper to an orbital sander. Using overlapping circles, roughen the marble’s surface to ensure that the primer adheres effectively. Wipe away the resulting sanding dust with a damp rag or tack cloth.

Apply a thin coat of oil-based primer to the marble with a paint roller or brush, depending on the surface area. Use even, back-and-forth strokes to create a single layer of the primer. Allow it to dry for at least eight hours, or overnight, before continuing.

Cover the completely dried primer with a coat of epoxy-based spray paint. Shake the spray can for at least one minute. Hold the spray can approximately 10 inches away from the marble surface, and then cover the fireplace with an even coating of the paint. Allow the first coat of paint to set for at least two to three hours (or according to the package directions) before applying any additional coats. Leave the final coat to dry for at least eight hours before continuing.

Apply a thin coating of clear polyurethane to the dried epoxy-based paint using a paintbrush. Allow the polyurethane to set for at least 72 hours before using the fireplace.