My brick fireplace has these glass doors with bronze / brass edging. I have been wanting to update the fireplace doors for literally years but I haven’t wanted to pay $250 or more to replace my perfectly functional fireplace glass doors. A solution finally dawned on me. I tested it out and it worked! So here it is- I just painted the brass with black heat resistant paint! This is an easy DIY tutorial for painting fireplace doors and the result is such an easy decor transformation!
DIY Fireplace Doors- Painting Brass Fireplace Doors (or Bronze Fireplace Doors)
First, I went to my local home improvement store to find a heat resistant paint for fireplace doors. I asked which paint would be safe to paint on metal that would be close to fire and that would stick to the metal and last. The paint they suggested to me was Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch Premium Latex Paint. I got the high temperature paint in a matte black. Do NOT use regular paint. Here is my affiliate link to the product on Amazon.
I asked if they had any no VOC high heat paint for this purpose but they didn’t. I just opened the windows while I was painting and air the house out for a while afterwards.
Painter’s tape may come in handy too in order to ensure you don’t accidentally get any paint on your glass doors.
Home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, ACE, or a locally owned hardware store will carry these supplies.
How To Paint Fireplace Doors
Painting fireplace doors can be a great way to update the look of your fireplace. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
When I came home from the hardware store, I got out my paintbrush, Rustoleum high heat paint, and some paper from my recycling bin to protect the brick. Alternatively, you could use a plastic drop cloth to protect your fireplace tile or stonework.
This is when I noticed how filthy my glass doors and screen were. I took a little break to vacuum them and wipe them down so that my paint would stick to the metal and not be all fuzzy! Then allow them to dry completely.
If there is any rust or flaking paint, you will need to use a wire brush or fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand the entire surface to ensure the paint adheres properly.
Next, I just painted the shiny brass with the special black paint that was safe for being close to the fire. It looked kind of streaky after the first coat and I was a little nervous! But I let it dry and did the second coat of high-temp paint and it looks great! Two solid coats does the trick. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times.This step is crucial for ensuring that the paint adheres well and lasts longer and provides solid coverage.
Before using the fireplace again, allow the paint to cure completely. This may take up to 24 hours, depending on the paint and environmental conditions.
Painting fireplace doors turns out to be super easy and once you have the supplies and have cleaned the area you want to paint and covered the hearth, it just takes a very small amount of time!
Update 2020: The paint job is still holding up and worked well to cover the brass long term. These DIY fireplace doors are a great way to get rid of the dated brass fireplace doors without a full makeover.
With these steps, your fireplace doors should have a fresh, new look! Hope you enjoyed this easy, DIY home decor project. Have you done any similar projects? Also do you keep domestic fire blankets near your fireplace? I have heard that they are a convenient and effective way to extinguish fires but I didn’t even know about them until recently! Anyway, happy painting!
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Robin says
I think your fireplace update came out great. I don’t have a fireplace, although I’ve thought about putting one in many times over the years. I think it would save me on my heating bill!
Lou says
Such a great idea, I’ve got a bronze fireplace that I really don’t like but like you I didn’t want to waste money replacing something that works perfectly well but just looked a bit dated. I had no idea you could buy high heat ultra paint that would stick to metal like that. Thanks for sharing, this is going straight on my to do list!
Jessica Stripe says
What a fantastic post! I love the idea of touching up something outdated to extend its life and have been working on that premise with my furniture! Great way to get rid of old brass in an older home. Your posts are very inspiring, thank you!