Can I Paint My Chimney?

A coat of paint can brighten a room, refresh a bathroom, and make your kitchen feel brand new again. How about your fireplace and chimney? Can you paint your chimney and is it safe? Before answering those questions, let’s start by addressing why you may want to paint it in the first place.

What reasons would a homeowner have to paint their chimney?

There’s something classically beautiful about red brick on a home. It accents both the interior and exterior amazingly well. However, there’s also something magical about painted brick. It adds a certain sense of charm and style to your home vs a standard red brick look. In other words, from a visual perspective, when you paint your chimney it helps to create a unique look and style that’s all your own. It helps your home stand out from the crowd, which is a reason to do it asap, right?

“So, can I paint my chimney both inside and out?”

Not so fast. When we talk about painting your chimney, it’s mostly the interior brick we’re referring to. So, when you asked if you can paint your chimney, the answer is both yes and no.  On the inside, you’ll first want to add a layer of block-filler masonry paint before applying your selected color. Since brick is porous, you’ll need this layer so that the color you choose adheres properly and the final product looks consistent across the entire surface. On the outside, however, we do not recommend painting your chimney.

“Is it because it’s not safe to paint the outside of a chimney?”

Indirectly, that’s correct — it’s not safe to paint your chimney. No, your paint won’t cause a fire hazard. It also won’t immediately affect the proper operation of your chimney. What it will do is lead to moisture concerns. Depending on when you paint your chimney’s exterior, there could be moisture that you’re trapping. This will then penetrate the masonry and cause problems with it in the long run, such as cracks and even mold. That’s when it becomes a safety hazard.

What about moisture concerns on the inside?

This is less of a concern because the outside of your chimney is exposed to a wide variety of elements from good old Mother Nature. These hazards don’t affect the inside of your chimney, so the concern for moisture is far less because of one of your chimney’s components.

The secret ingredient: your flue liner

When a Chimney Solutions team member is performing a sweep and inspection, they’ll always check to make certain that your liner is in working order. This helps to prevent moisture from making its way to the inside of your home and makes it less of a concern about painting your chimney’s exposed brick inside of your space. Schedule an inspection before you paint your chimney. As we mentioned, the first step before you paint your chimney is to have it professionally swept and inspected. We encourage all homeowners to at least have an inspection, even if they had a sweep earlier in the year, to make certain that there are no structural reasons to hold off on painting their chimney. If you’re considering the pros and cons of painting your chimney, we’re here to help. Contact the team at Chimney Solutions, LLC to schedule a pre-painting inspection by phone at 317-757-6979 or through our website.