ASK DANNY: Should I Whitewash My Fireplace?

Whitewash fireplace — Don’t white-wash a brick fireplace on a whim — because the results are irreversible.

Danny,
Thinking about “white-washing”my brick fireplace so it will look better with my new ceramic floor in living room.
Need info on if it is sensible to do.
Does it last or have to be re-done now and then — just details I need to know.
… If it is not a “good look,” can you change it back to [the] original look?
I do not want to paint it, I want the rustic tones of white-wash.
Dian Howell

Well, Dian, if you put any paint or whitewash on the bricks, you’ll never see the brick look again.
Whitewashed brick is a unique look that many people love. If you decide to go that route, you need to clean the fireplace thoroughly using TSP (trisodium phosphate), available at any paint store or home center.
Allow to dry and then there are several different ways of white-washing brick.
The most common is using a diluted masonry stain or watered-down latex paint.
Good luck!
Danny

Danny Lipford is among the country’s most sought-after home improvement experts.
The seasoned remodeling contractor and media personality served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s “The Early Show” and The Weather Channel for over a decade and has made more than 180 national television appearances on “Fox & Friends,” “Inside Edition,” “Morning Express with Robin Meade,” Fox Business Channel, Rachael Ray and more.
He travels the country making appearances as a brand ambassador and spokesperson, and each year contributes expertise to hundreds of popular magazines and online media outlets.