How to Limewash a Brick Fireplace
To limewash a brick fireplace, clean off soot and dust, prime the brick with Primer White L44, then apply two thin coats of OxiGen™ Limewash to the decorative face and chimney breast only, never inside the firebox. Unpainted brick and stone work best. Painted fireplaces need the paint removed first.
How to limewash a brick fireplace in 6 steps
- Check the surface. Unpainted brick or porous stone is ready for limewash. Latex paint has to come off first.
- Clean. Brush off soot and dust. If you wash the brick, let it dry completely.
- Treat salts. Dry-brush white efflorescence off and treat it as in our white salt stains guide.
- Prime. One coat of Primer White L44, diluted 1:1 with water. Wait 24 hours.
- Apply two thin coats of OxiGen™ Limewash, 2–4 hours apart, in the look you want.
- Let it cure. Dry in 24 hours, fully cured in 30 days. Don't wash or scrub it during that time.
Is limewash right for your fireplace?
Limewash is right for the decorative surface of a fireplace: the brick or stone face, the surround and the chimney breast. It is not for the inside of the firebox, the hearth floor or any surface in direct contact with flame and heat.
- Yes: unpainted brick or stone on the front of the fireplace and the chimney breast, indoors or outdoors.
- No: the combustion chamber, the hearth and any area of direct heat. OxiGen™ Limewash is a finish for the decorative exterior surface of the fireplace and does not go inside the combustion chamber.
OxiGen™ Limewash is classed A2-s1, d0 for reaction to fire (EN 13501-1, the European classification). It is not a heat rating, and not a reason to apply it near flame.
A fireplace is a small job and a good place to try the look. New to the material? See what limewash is.
Brick vs. stone vs. painted fireplace
Unpainted brick is the easiest fireplace to limewash, porous stone comes second, and a painted fireplace needs the paint stripped first. Lime bonds to a porous mineral surface. It cannot bond to a plastic film.
| Fireplace | Can you limewash it? | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Unpainted brick | Yes | Clean, let dry, prime with Primer White L44 |
| Porous stone (unsealed) | Yes, after a water check | Clean, test, prime as needed |
| Dense or polished stone | Usually not | Ask us first; lime needs a surface it can soak into |
| Brick painted with latex | Not directly | Strip, scrape or remove all the paint |
Can you limewash a painted fireplace?
Not directly. Limewash does not go over latex or any film-forming paint, because the lime can't bond to a plastic film and dusts off. The paint has to come off first, by scraping or stripping, back to bare brick. Removing the paint is the real work of the job, so plan for it.
Stone fireplaces
Do the water check: sprinkle water on the stone. If it soaks in, the stone is porous and takes limewash. If it beads and runs off, the surface is dense or sealed, and limewash won't hold.
How to prepare a fireplace for limewash
Preparation decides how the finish looks and how long it lasts: clean off soot and dust, deal with salts, then prime the brick. Limewash needs a dry, clean, porous surface.
- Clean off soot and dust. Brush the brick with a stiff, dry brush and vacuum the dust. If you wash it, let the brick dry completely before you prime.
- Remove efflorescence. White, powdery salt crusts are mineral salts brought to the surface by moisture. Dry-brush them off, find where the moisture is coming from, and fix it. For the full method, see white salt stains on brick and masonry. No paint fixes the moisture that causes them.
- Protect the surroundings. Mask the mantel, firebox opening and floor. Wear gloves and eye protection, read the label and SDS.
- Prime the brick. Brick absorbs unevenly, and that would show as uneven color. Apply one coat of Primer White L44, diluted 1:1 with water, and wait 24 hours. Primer White L44 covers 1,020–1,220 sq ft per gallon.
The same system, with more on stucco and exteriors, is in limewash on brick, stucco and exterior walls. The full method for walls is in how to limewash walls.
Limewash looks for a fireplace
You can limewash a fireplace in three ways: the soft, cloudy Cloud Effect, a German schmear-style look, or a light wash that lets the brick show through. All three use OxiGen™ Limewash.
Cloud Effect
The Cloud Effect is the soft, light-and-dark movement most people picture as limewash. It goes over a base coat of Primer Plus. Dilute the limewash 0–5% by weight and work a large brush in loose, rounded strokes, without straight lines. On brick, the brush also reaches into the mortar joints better than a roller. Mortar lines stay visible; the orange-red tone does not.
German schmear look
A true German schmear is wet mortar smeared over brick and partly wiped off. It is a thick, permanent layer. Limewash gives a similar rough, whitewashed look without mortar: two coats keep the texture of the brick and the joints, and the finish stays matte and mineral. It is also far easier to change later.
Washes that let the brick show
For more brick to show through, apply a coat of limewash and, while it is still damp and before it sets, wipe part of it back with a damp rag or sponge. The brick comes through in patches. This is a general decorative technique, not part of our application guide, so results vary by brick. Do it on a test patch first. Keep the water at 10% for the first coat: extra water is not a shortcut to a softer look.
White or color
OxiGen™ Limewash White is the classic warm, chalky white. OxiGen™ Limewash Color comes in 34 Harmony shades, from soft off-whites to deeper tones. Lime lightens as it dries, so judge the sample dry. Our limewash colors guide shows how to read a sample, and you can inquire for a Sample Kit before you buy.
How to apply limewash on a fireplace
Apply two thin coats, a full section at a time while the edge is wet, and recoat after 2–4 hours at 77 °F and 60% relative humidity.
- Mix and test. Stir well. Dilute the first coat with 10% water by weight (about 19 fl oz per gallon), or 0–5% for the Cloud Effect. Paint a 10 sq ft test patch and judge it dry.
- First coat, thin, with a large brush. Don't go back over areas that are starting to dry.
- Second coat with 5% water (about 9 fl oz per gallon). Heavy coats micro-crack.
- Weather: 41 °F to 104 °F, air and surface.
How much you need. OxiGen™ Limewash covers 365–445 sq ft per gallon per coat. A fireplace wall of 100 sq ft takes about 0.5 gallon for two coats; buy 1 gallon.
Plaster fireplace: a smooth finish instead of limewash
If you want a smooth, plastered look instead of the soft brush movement of limewash, a lime plaster is the alternative: EnluGen™ for a matte or polished lime stucco, or TerraGen™ Extra Fine for a superfine, marble-like lime surface. Both go on a prepared surface and take an experienced applicator. Plaster covers the brick texture; limewash keeps it.
For fireplace faces and any area exposed to heat, consult us for heat-exposed areas before you choose a plaster. To compare the options, read our lime mortar and plaster guide.
Fireplace maintenance
Dust a limewashed fireplace with a soft, dry brush and touch up by redoing a whole section, never a single spot. Don't wash or scrub it for the first 30 days. After that, use no chemicals, abrasives or solvents.
- Touch-ups: a spot touch-up will show. Redo the whole section with the same batch.
- Refresh: limewash weathers gradually. For a new look, add a new coat.
- If it rubs off or looks patchy, see why limewash rubs off or looks patchy.
Limewash fireplace FAQ
Can you limewash a brick fireplace?
Yes, if the brick is unpainted, clean and dry. Prime it with Primer White L44, then apply two thin coats of OxiGen™ Limewash to the decorative face. Don't apply it inside the firebox.
Can you limewash the inside of the firebox?
No. OxiGen™ Limewash is for the decorative exterior surface of a fireplace and does not go inside the combustion chamber, on the hearth or in areas of direct heat.
Can you limewash a painted fireplace?
Not directly. Limewash can't bond to latex or other film-forming paint, so the paint has to be removed first. If you're not sure what is on your brick, send us photos at support@origenpaints.com.
Can you limewash a stone fireplace?
Yes, if the stone is porous: sprinkle water on it, and if it soaks in, limewash will take. Dense or polished stone does not hold it.
How do you get a German schmear look with limewash?
Prime the brick, then apply thin coats of OxiGen™ Limewash and let the texture of the brick and joints show. For more brick to show through, wipe part of a damp coat back with a damp rag or sponge. Test it on a small patch first.
How many coats of limewash does a fireplace need?
Two thin coats, 2–4 hours apart. Judge the finish dry, not wet.
How long does a limewashed fireplace take to cure?
Dry in 24 hours, fully cured in 30 days. Don't wash or scrub it in that time.
Start your fireplace project
You need OxiGen™ Limewash White or OxiGen™ Limewash Color (Zero VOC, in 1 gal and 5 gal) and Primer White L44. Inquire for a Sample Kit to test shades on your own brick, or choose a color in the limewash colors guide. For the full method, read how to limewash walls. For a specific fireplace, send photos to support@origenpaints.com.