How much does it cost to paint a brick fireplace surround and is it a good idea in an Ottawa home?

Painting a brick fireplace surround typically costs $200 to $600 as a DIY project (primer, masonry paint, brushes, and prep supplies) or $500 to $1,500 if you hire a painter, depending on the size of the surround and the complexity of the brick pattern. It is a perfectly reasonable cosmetic update for many Ottawa homes — but it is a permanent decision that deserves careful thought before you pick up a brush.

The case for painting is straightforward. Older Ottawa homes — particularly those built in the 1960s through 1980s — often have dark orange or brown brick surrounds that feel dated in modern interiors. A coat of white, grey, or off-white masonry paint can dramatically brighten a living room and make a fireplace feel like a design feature rather than an eyesore. It is also one of the most affordable fireplace refresh projects available, especially compared to a full refacing with stone or tile at $2,000 to $8,000.

The case against painting is equally real. Once you paint brick, you are committed. Removing paint from brick is a labour-intensive, expensive process involving chemical strippers and pressure washing — and even then, some paint will remain in the mortar joints. If you later decide you prefer the natural brick look, or if you sell your home to a buyer who does, reversing the decision is genuinely difficult and costly. In Ottawa's real estate market, unpainted original brick is often considered a selling point, particularly in older neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro, and New Edinburgh where character homes command premiums.

If you want the look of painted brick without the permanence, consider limewash instead of conventional masonry paint. Limewash is a traditional lime-based finish that soaks into the brick rather than forming a film on the surface. It creates a softer, more textured appearance, allows the brick to breathe, and — critically — can be partially removed or reapplied over time. It is more forgiving than latex or acrylic masonry paint and is increasingly popular in Ottawa renovation circles for exactly this reason. Limewash products designed for interior brick run $50 to $120 per litre, and a typical fireplace surround requires one to two litres.

If you do decide to paint, use a masonry-specific primer followed by a heat-rated masonry or latex paint. Standard interior wall paint is not appropriate for the firebox surround area — the heat from a working fireplace will cause it to blister and peel. For the actual firebox interior, you need high-temperature paint rated for 650°C or higher. The brick surround outside the firebox opening does not get hot enough to require high-temp paint, but using a quality masonry primer and paint rated for at least light heat exposure is still the right call.

One Ottawa-specific consideration worth mentioning: if your home is in a heritage-designated area or within NCC jurisdiction, check with the City of Ottawa's heritage planning office before making exterior-facing changes. Interior fireplace surrounds are generally not subject to heritage restrictions, but it is worth confirming if your property has any heritage designations that might affect interior character features.

This is genuinely a DIY-friendly project for a capable homeowner — proper prep (cleaning, degreasing, masking, and priming) is 80 percent of the result. Take your time on the prep and the painting itself is straightforward.