White Washed Cool for Distressed Stone Fireplaces
There's an alluring charm to a weathered stone fireplace with its organic textures and earthy patina. But over time, soot, stains, and aging can leave natural stone looking dingy and dull. For fireplace owners seeking to refresh their hearth's appearance, white washing offers an easy makeover that plays up a distressed stone's character.
With a thin application of diluted white paint, white washing neutralizes color variations in stone while allowing the delightful nuances of texture to still peek through. The resulting lightly whitened finish feels pleasantly vintage yet brighter and cleaner.
Choosing the Right Whitewash Paint
Not just any old house paint will do for white washing natural stone. Special considerations for adhesion and finish make chalk and lime-based paints good choices for the job.
Types of Whitewash Paint
Chalk paints leverage chalk, an absorbent material that adheres readily to porous surfaces like unfinished wood and masonry. With their creamy consistency and matte sheen, they can mimic the softness of a limewash while offering easier soap and water cleanup.
For a stunning traditional look, true limewash paint reigns supreme. The lime and water composition soaks into stone for exceptional vapor permeability. Limewash dries to a flat, mineral-like finish and can gradually wear over time in appealing ways.
Considerations for Fireplace Use
While regular wall paints often specify "interior" use, special considerations for fireplace paint include:
- Heat and fire resistance
- Bonding to the stone surface without chipping or peeling
- The desired matte or velvety finish appearance
Sample pots allow testing to pick the right white washing paint for the project.
Preparing the Stone Surface
Starting with thoroughly cleaned stone ensures whitewash adheres properly for an even finish. Filling cracks also prevents the thinned paint from bleeding into the stone and leaving darker lines.
Cleaning Methods
Giving soot stained or formerly painted stone a deep clean provides the ideal base for white washing. Manual scrubbing with a stiff wire brush dislodges grime from crevices. Power washing blasts it away completely.
Allow the stone to dry fully before applying whitewash so trapped moisture doesn't alter the paint consistency or bonding.
Filling Cracks and Gaps
For natural looking repairs in stone, use mortar fillers or pre-colored caulking made specifically for masonry. Cool white or natural limestone shades blend in well. Follow package directions for drying time before paint application.
Testing on an Inconspicuous Area First
White wash interacts differently depending on the stone's composition and porosity. Putting it to the test on a small patch highlights ways to tweak the dilution or application for best results across the entire installation.
Try vertical strokes, leaving some stone exposed. Compare a staining pad versus soft brush for smoothing. Evaluate color intensity and consistency after drying.
Application Process
While white washing sounds straightforward enough, having the right supplies and technique makes achieving that drifts-of-white finish easier.
Supplies
- Soft bristle paint brushes
- Paint tray and roller
- Rags, drop cloths, painter's tape
Quality brushes designed for chalk paint or masonry make smooth application easier. Rollers cover large expanses faster before brushing in sections.
Dilution Ratio
Add water slowly until reaching a milk-like consistency--thin enough to see stone underneath, but with decent coverage across two coats. Stir thoroughly.
Technique
Load the brush and apply in multi-directional strokes about a square foot at a time, overlapping edges as the boundary blurs. Work from the top down.
Allow the first coat to dry completely before evaluating if a second is needed for even coverage.
Achieving an Even Color
Variations mid-project can make patched looking walls. Careful technique keeps the white washing cohesive.
Number of Coats
While dark or heavily textured stone may require an additional coat, two is generally sufficient. Thick paint filling crevices loses the worn appeal.
Using a Whitewash Staining Pad
For a united finish, gently pat the entire surface with a staining pad post-drying. This blends tones, smooths brush marks, and tampers down gloss without removing paint.
Blending Touches
If any spots seem sparse or concentrated, adding extra water to paint dabbed on specifically with rags or brush feathery unites the look.
Caring for a Whitewashed Fireplace
Protecting the refreshed finish and knowing when to re-apply preserves the stone fireplace's clean appeal.
Cure Time
Some whitewash paints take up to 30 days to fully harden. Avoid cleaning or placing items on the surface during this time.
Maintenance
Gently dust with a soft cloth or brush. Over time, lightly re-coat high-touch areas like the mantle or hearth as needed.
Protect Surrounding Surfaces
Lay drop cloths over floors and tape off walls, then seal them after for an imperceptible transition between the white washed firebox and the rest of the room.
Long-Term Care
To preserve the refreshed yet naturally weathered style long-term, re-apply a full whitewash coat every few years or whenever yellowing or stains reappear.
See how white washing can utterly transform a dreary old fireplace into a coastal cottage dream, farmhouse centerpiece, or modern statement.
Light, bright white washing harmonizes beautifully with crisp whites and neutrals without competing with bolder accent colors. For a definitive "wow", paint the room brights but keep the hearth a weathered ivory.