How to Whitewash Brick with Paint | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique updates a fireplace surround with a whitewashed look
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Time: 2 hours

Cost: $100

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List for Whitewashing Brick:
Paint Brushes
Rags
Buckets

Shopping List:
Water Based Paint
Painter’s Tape
Masking Paper
Drop Cloths
Stir stick
Latex gloves

Steps:
1. Before doing any work, use painter’s tape, masking paper, and drop cloths to ensure paint only ends up on the brick.
2. Mix a flat, water-based paint with water in a bucket at a 1:1 ratio.
3. Paint the watered down paint onto the brick with a wide paint brush. Immediately follow behind with a rag to dab off some paint until the desired effect is achieved.

Resources:
For the fireplace, Mauro watered down a can of Ultra Spec 500 flat white primer, manufactured by Benjamin Moore (benjaminmoore.com/en-us). He didn’t touch the firebox, but if he did, he would need to use a heat resistant paint.

The other materials Mauro used to paint the fireplace, including the buckets, rags, and paint brushes can all be found at home centers and paint stores.

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How to Whitewash Brick with Paint | Ask This Old House
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