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yodajo

Finished staining brick on fireplace-pics inside

yodajo
14 years ago

I finished staining the brick on my fireplace and thought I'd share the pics since some were interested. I am very happy with the results. The existing brick was a little too cool for my taste and I wanted to warm the whole space up. The whole process was quite easy, but it took a lot longer than I thought it would. I'd estimate that it took me about 10-12 hours from start to finish.

Here is the fireplace before:

And after:

and another that is a bit blurry, but not as washed out from the overhead lights as the previous pic:

I should probably take a better pic in the daylight, but I was too impatient to wait until tomorrow to share it!

Comments (38)

  • natal
    14 years ago

    It's beautiful! I didn't realize you could stain brick.

  • bac717
    14 years ago

    I like that so much better than painting the brick. It looks great with what I can see of the wall color. What a transformation. I've seen it done with exterior brick as well. There is a business in our town that did that several years ago.

  • threedgrad
    14 years ago

    Fabulous!!!

  • greenthumbfish
    14 years ago

    Awesome - great job and thanks for sharing!

  • susanilz5
    14 years ago

    Wow, what a difference! It looks great. Now we need to know how it's done. Instructions please!

  • boxerpups
    14 years ago

    Awesome!!!!

  • nhb22
    14 years ago

    Oh WOWY WOW WOW (as Oprah says) that looks fabulous!

  • moonshadow
    14 years ago

    Wow, UNreal!
    Have seen stained concrete but never brick, it's absolutely beautiful!!!
    How did you do it and what products did you use?

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thanks everyone. I am pretty pleased.

    susanilz5- I used a brick tinting kit made by a company called Dyebrick (www.dyebrick.com). The kit consists of a pigment powder, carrier solution and fixing agents (three in a kit). There are about a half dozen or so different shades to pick from. There is also a way to get different shades out of each kit by playing with the fixing agent.

    The stain is the consistency of water. You a brush to paint it on the brick, but since its so thin, it takes a little practice. I took care to avoid the grout, but it was impossible to be perfect with it. We just took a screwdriver when we were done and scratched the stained grout off and then scuffed the scratched grout with a wire brush so it wasn't obviously scratched.

    If you have really pitted or 'holey' brick, it is more difficult to stain it. Mine is pretty flat and it was still time consuming.

    I used two full kits of Old World Red and not even a quarter of the brown. I was going to buy the kits directly from the company, but checked ebay just to see and lucked out there. Someone had bought a bunch and had some leftover.

    It truly does look like the brick was always that color and totally natural.

  • deeinohio
    14 years ago

    It looks absolutely beautiful. Fantastic job.
    Dee

  • sonaliagrawal
    14 years ago

    You are going to save me hundreds of dollars! My entry porch-ish area right outside the front door is brick. And i HATE it. I have been talking to my contractor about getting it covered in stucco sort of material. Well.. I am going to put that discussion on hold and investigate in your approach instead. I dont mind the brick at all, but my house is 50 years old, and the brick just looks worn out and bad. If I could stain it up to renew the look, ahh..

    Btw, where did you buy this dye brick product?

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    sonalia-I bought mine on ebay, but I think I lucked out. If you go to dyebrick.com, you can order it there. The company is in the UK.

    I would check their before and after gallery on their site. Its amazing what people have done!

  • juddgirl2
    14 years ago

    It looks great! I have an ugly red brick chimney outside that I wanted to reface with stone or have a stucco wash applied to cover it up. Maybe I'll look into a brown stain that will make it blend in with the new stucco and stone on the rest of the house instead.

  • jlc712
    14 years ago

    It looks fantastic! You should be so proud of yourself! I think you're going to like your room so much more.

  • cooperbailey
    14 years ago

    awesome job- it doesn't really look the same!@

  • RNmomof2 zone 5
    14 years ago

    My artsy-fartsy MIL did this in the 80's to their brick ranch. She used watered down paint in different tones to get the same effect. I didn't see their house before but I think she took fairly monotone brick and made it look similar to the redo above. What a difference.

  • susanilz5
    14 years ago

    maxsam - thanks for the instructions. I'm clipping them for future reference. I still can't get over the transformation!

  • dody40
    14 years ago

    Wow! I am soooo impressed. It even makes a difference in how your clock looks. I love it.

    dody

  • jlj48
    14 years ago

    Beautiful job. I remember your original post. It looks amazing!

  • dgmarie
    14 years ago

    OMG OMG I LOVE this post. This is EXACTLY what my current brick looks like but I have a LOT of it and want it a warmer color.

    Could you PLEASE PLEASE post a close up of the finished brick so I can show my husband?

    I don't think I could do the whole thing myself but maybe a painter could? I wouldn't want to screw it up.

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    dgmarie-When I first saw your pic, I thought, "Wow, its my old fireplace, only bigger!"
    Give me a sec and I will take a close of pic for you!

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Here are your closeups, plus a better full shot in better lighting. I think you could do it yourself, but it is a big job. My fireplace probably stops at the top of your picture. The difficult part of the job is staining the sides of the brick. The main part of the brick is a breeze, but getting the rest so it looks natural, and taking care to avoid the grout, is a challenge. I made a ton of mistakes, but like I said, a screwdriver and wire brush took care of those!
    Here you are:

  • lynninnewmexico
    14 years ago

    I'm incredibly impressed, Maxsam! You've not only changed the look of the brick, but you've drastically changed the look of the entire room. It's so much warmer and more inviting now. BIG congrats!!!
    Lynn

  • dgmarie
    14 years ago

    Thank you for the photos!!

    I found a decorative painter here via google who specializes in staining concrete and brick. Now that I know what I could do, I may talk my hubby in to it. The labor costs would probably kill us, though!

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    lynn-Thank you so much! I am sitting here with a big cheeseball smile on my face on all the nice comments I'm reading! I am so happy I'm not the only one who thinks it makes the room some much warmer and more inviting!

    dgmarie-Good luck! Let me know what you decide!

  • powermuffin
    14 years ago

    That looks so good!!! It is nice to find a product that lives up to your expectations! Who would have thunk it?
    Diane

  • kimmieb
    14 years ago

    Sarah Richardson did that on Season 2 of Sarah's house on the exterior, except she didn't like the grout not being the changed so she had them stain both the brick and the grout. Probably a good thing since it was an entire big house that would have to be stained. It was cool too. I really like your transformation. You did a great job.

    http://www.hgtv.ca/sarahshouse/theshow.aspx?sectionid=210&categoryid=8000782771026018860&postid=59060

  • sameboat
    14 years ago

    I love it. It's warm.

  • haley_comet
    14 years ago

    Wow I am totally impressed! I am thrilled you didn't paint the brink but just changed the color to your liking. I never knew you could do that...bravo! That's amazing...must have been a big job but it looks so beautiful.

    Haley

  • justgotabme
    14 years ago

    Oh my gosh, what a wonderful transformation! I would love to see a long shot of the room like in the first photo if you don't mind. I want to see the change it made in the whole room and not just the fireplace itself. Which is totally amazing!

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Here you go, justgottabeme. Thanks again for your help!
    Before:

    After:

  • mrsmarv
    14 years ago

    What a wonderful transformation! I love it.

  • natal
    14 years ago

    Every time I open this thread I am blown away! The company should feature your project on their site.

    Btw, I'm looking for a smallish club chair like the one in the first pic. Where did you buy yours?

  • marybeth1
    14 years ago

    It's not just warm it's like you gave the whole room a big hug! Great Job!

  • yodajo
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    natal-I am in Mi and bought it at a local furniture store. The manufacturer is Jessica Charles. Its very comfy!

    Thanks again you guys! Now I just need to make some window treatments and get a few more pictures on the wall so I can call it a day!

  • natal
    14 years ago

    Maxsam, thanks! I found a local store that carries the line.

  • nutsaboutplants
    14 years ago

    Fabulous transformation! The whole room glows now.

  • justgotabme
    14 years ago

    Thanks for the pictures. It looks absolutely beautiful!
    It's always my pleasure to help.

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