Let's say you just moved into your new home and your fireplace is green, pink, white-basically anything except what you'd like it to be. Or maybe you've been living with it for years and just weren't sure what to do to it. Here are a variety of options.

One option is to strip the brick. This is a possibility but not always the best option. If you choose to use a paint stripper, you could wind up with problems. The first being that all the paint probably won't come off the brick because the brick is so porous. The second problem could arise if your brick isn't real brick, but a brick veneer. The stripper could interfere with the adhesive that attached the faux bricks to the wall. The third problem is that strippers are messy, time consuming, and the ones that work the best usually aren't the safest for the people (and animals) in your home.

The next choice would be to paint. It is always a good practice to prime any surface before you paint it, but especially if the previous paint is shiny or has a large contrast from the new color(for example, white over black). Once the surface is primed, plan on applying two coats of the color you choose. Like I said yesterday, the color and finish you choose depends on your room and the function of the fireplace in that room. Our staff is here to help you with choosing the color and finish that will best fit your needs.

Let's say your fireplace is painted but the look just isn't what you were hoping it would be. There is always the possibility of trying a painting technique over the paint. Once you have a base coat that you like, you can dry brush a different color lightly over the surface so the second color only covers the high spots. This can be done with two or more colors to give a washed look. You could also use a rag or sponge to apply different colors of paint to give different effects. We can help you choose a technique and colors to achieve your desired look. Visit one of our stores with some samples of colors from your room and we can help you get your project started.

Fireplaces!

It seems to be fireplace week at Teknicolors. We have had many customer visit us looking for solutions for their fireplaces. Some have old, outdated brick and some have a painted fireplace that either doesn't match the decor, has a bad paint job, or both. So I would like to cover a few solutions. Today I will cover how to prepare and paint a bare brick fireplace. I will also cover the basic painting today and get into some decorative techniques in the coming days.

The first step is to clean the brick as best as you can. Obviously brick is a very porous substrate and you won't be able to get all the soot and dust off of it. A vacuum attachment with a brush should help to get the dust off. You can wash the bricks with mild household cleaner. Dirtex works well. After cleaning, make sure the bricks are thoroughly dry.

Now that the surface is clean and dry, you can prime it. Make sure you use a primer for the surface you are painting. I am assuming most people have a bare brick fireplace but some of you might have sealed or glazed brick. We carry a product called Grip & Seal that will work on any of these surfaces. If you do have bare brick, plan on using almost twice as much primer as you think you need. Keep in mind you are covering a porous surface and there is the space between the bricks to cover as well. After you have the primer on, let it dry a minimum of 8 hours. The instructions on the can might say it will dry sooner but you want to be sure that all the areas are thoroughly dry before painting.

What kind and color of paint depend on what look you are trying to achieve. A white gloss paint will give you a crisp, clean look that will stand out in any decor. A muted color in a flat finish will make your fireplace blend with the surroundings. A bold color will make your fireplace stand out and become a dramatic backdrop for modern or contemporary artwork. Think about the feel you want for your room. Do you want the fireplace to be the focal point? Then go with a contrasting color. Do you want it to blend with the rest of the room? Then choose the same or similar color as the rest of the walls. Do you want it to become a backdrop for your art? Choose a color found in your art that flows with the rest of the colors in the room. The possibilities are endless!

Check back tomorrow for some painting techniques to transform your fireplace.

Work Tunes

Here is one of our latest additions. The Work Tunes protect your hearing while providing a digital AM/FM stereo, and they are MP3 compatible. They are perfect for wearing while using power tools, painting, or riding the lawn tractor. Buy them as a gift for your favorite handyman...or even your husband. Work Tunes retail for only $65.95!

Catching up

Getting back up to date....
Wendy and Laura have moved to our Farmington Hills location along with some of the wallpaper books, fabric samples, and interesting home accessories from South Lyon. I am back from maternity leave. Merritt is at the Pontiac store. Kevin spends most of his days at Farmington.
I am looking forward to letting you know about the new paint from Benjamin Moore, new painting techniques, and some products that might make your home improvement project run smoother. Keep checking in with us to see what's new.
Lydia

Teknicolors Website...

Please check out Teknicolors official website at www.teknicolors.com.

We have a lot of great information about ourself and our products. A coupon can also be found there!