Fireplace update.
The first major project at Forest Lane is officially complete! It only took 8+ hours and a pile of tears, but I swear nothing has ever made me feel so accomplished.
This 14 foot fireplace in our basement is was built from reclaimed Chicago Common brick. (Check out some fun history here! After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, building codes banned wood and they made the switch to brick. They made these common bricks out of clay from the Chicago river). Chicago Common brick is incredibly rough and porous - they used it for the sides and back of buildings so that nicer, smooth brick could adorn the front. And let me tell you, it had some fighting words about wanting to be painted (I may have had some choice words too).
I started with a brush and some Kilz primer, and after about an hour and a half I realized I was only 1/10 of the way finished. Just great.
Time for plan B: paint sprayer.
The next day I put up plastic to prepare for the impending mess I was about to make. Can I just say how much I despise hanging plastic? I swear prep is worse than actually painting, and I will do everything I can to avoid needing to use it. I have only ever used my sprayer outside or in the garage, so this was going to be a fun experiment! After an hour of fighting with plastic and tape (p.s. not all tape will stick to itself, thanks 3M) it was time to spray some paint!
I used a hand held Wagner FLEXio sprayer from Home Depot. The paint needs to be diluted with water and filtered for best results (seriously don’t skip this part!). Also, SAFETY FIRST: If you are spraying paint, please remember to wear goggles and a face mask at a minimum. I made the stupid decision my first day to go without since I couldn't find my supplies, and suffered days of coughing and trouble breathing after inhaling a gallon of paint. DON’T BE STUPID LIKE CARLY >> WEAR THE DAMN MASK!
The challenge with diluting the paint means needing to add more layers for the same outcome. After two days and two layers, I noticed that the small section I painted with the brush was still looking much better. So, I gave up the sprayer and went back to the tried-and-true method by hand. Thank goodness for friends. My BFF Brandy came over and helped me finish (and not to mention painting was way more fun with company). Thanks Brandy! You’ve officially left your mark on the house and I’ll remind my kids about it forever. :)
It was finally finished.
Lesson learned: If I have another 14 foot fireplace to paint in the future, I would consider hiring out this project (or getting a compressor). This job was a huge undertaking, with a lot of mess, time, and effort involved. Not to mention my arm is officially dead and so is my sprayer (RIP sprayer… idk what happened but paint backed up into the fan and it’s officially deceased). But, the results were worth the effort and I am SO happy with how it turned out! This room feels so much brighter and is going to make a comfortable family room.
Overall Ratings:
Cost: Low (paint and supplies = around $150, not including sprayer)
Complexity: Low
Time/Effort: High
Supplies:
Plastic sheeting and Scotch painters tape, for prep
Goggles and face mask, for safety
1” rough bristle paint brush, I’d get two if your project is as large as mine (or to share with a friend :))
2 gallons of Premium 3 Kilz brand primer >> FYI, this stuff is SUPER thick!
1 gallon of Benjamin Moore designer white in Satin finish (no tint added)
Lots of time and determination
