Hey everyone! I just bought my first house, and there's this gorgeous stone chimney in the living room. Unfortunately, the previous owners painted it all white. We know there are beautiful sand-colored stones underneath, but I'm not sure how to safely remove the paint without damaging the chimney structure. I've heard about paint strippers, but I'm worried about the chemicals, especially since we have a 4-year-old and a 7-week-old baby at home. I've never tackled a project like this before, and it feels overwhelming! Any tips or advice on how to approach this would be super helpful!
3 Answers
You might want to check out some YouTube videos on this! I don’t have personal experience, but they could offer some useful tips. If you’re worried about fumes, maybe consider sending your wife and kids to stay at a relative's house or an Airbnb for a couple of days while you tackle the project. Don’t forget to properly ventilate the place before they come back!
If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, you could try sandblasting the paint off—but do it super gently! It might be helpful to get a professional's opinion first. Alternatively, I've had success in the past just painting over the existing stone to mimic the look you want! I primed it first, then used various paint colors to make it look like real stone. It was a bit of work, but it turned out beautifully and has held up for years without any issues!
So, I actually asked a mason about this same issue not too long ago, and he said stripping the paint can be way more expensive and messy than just living with it or repainting it in a color you like. I know it’s not what you want to hear, especially since the bare stone looks nice, but sometimes you just have to accept it. You might be able to get away with a fresh coat of paint in a shade you enjoy instead!