How to Keep Your Fireplace Looking New

Find out some brilliant and affordable ways to keep your fireplace looking new. Get the latest tips and know-hows on how to make your fireplace brand new again.

The fireplace is the centerpiece of any family or living room. It’s the area of the home that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, especially when a fire is roaring. A beautiful fireplace will not only be clean on the inside but will also gleam and look fresh from the outside too. In order to maintain a fireplace area, it’s important to make sure you are taking the proper steps to keep it looking new. Below are essential tips on how to keep your fireplace looking new. 

Keep it Clean

Keeping your fireplace clean is of utmost importance in order to maintain its polished aesthetic. Let’s start with the inside. Take extra caution to check the inside of your fireplace for old debris, trash, ash, and even animal carcasses (they sometimes get trapped or hide out in the chimney). All of this debris can really pile up over several months especially when the chimney is not in use. Disregarding the need to clean inside your chimney and fireplace can create fire hazards and pollute the air in your home. It can also potentially create black dust and air in your home that can stain walls and other furniture. Lastly, your fireplace won’t look new if you have piles of soot lingering at the base of the inside of your fireplace. Use the proper fireplace cleaning tools to sweep out the area for a fresh start. If there is debris stuck in the chimney, it’s best to call a professional. Make sure you’re wearing a mask over your mouth when cleaning so you don’t inhale any unhealthy particles. 

Aside from cleaning the inside of your fireplace to keep it looking new, it’s just as crucial to keep it clean on the outside. Many fireplaces, especially older varieties, are surrounded by brick. You can use hearth cleaner on brick or just use a cloth and water to wash down any built up residue. 

If you have natural stone surrounding your fireplace, don’t use any harsh chemicals to clean the stone. In fact, don’t ever use any harsh chemicals when cleaning inside or outside of the fireplace because of their flammable nature. It’s best to be safe and use natural products that won’t pose a risk of fire or any other health hazards. To clean natural stone, you can use an enzyme cleaner. This is a safe way to clean your stone without worrying about any negative side-effects, discoloration, or abrasion. Just as with brick, you can also use a damp rag and water and wipe the surface of the natural stone. 

Consistent upkeep and cleaning of the space surrounding your fireplace will keep it looking new. Set aside time every few months to clean the area. By cleaning the area around your fireplace, and the fireplace itself, it is sure to look sparkling clean for months to come. 

Fireplace Surrounded by Granite

Many fireplaces are surrounding by and embedded into granite. Granite is denoted by its grainy and speckled look. The hues of granite can range from light, medium, and dark shades. The patterns in the granite can also vary significantly throughout a slab. When put together, granite can do wonders in keeping your fireplace looking new as it’s a very elegant and gleaming material. Choosing granite to surround your fireplace can update the look of your room. Granite is also useful as a ledge around the base of the fireplace. 

Granite is classified as an igneous rock, which means that its surface is harder than many other varieties of natural stone. It does a stand up job holding up to wear and tear that can occur over time. Although quite durable, granite is a porous stone, and that means without proper sealing, granite can eventually absorb spilled liquids and leave staining and discoloration. Keep this in mind the next time everyone is getting cozy near the fire and leaving snacks and drinks along the granite edge of the fireplace. Make sure to have a cloth nearby to clean up any spills, and better yet, leave the snacking near the fireplace to a space confined by a small coffee table, or use nonflammable metal placemats. This information also applies to other natural stone such as marble. 

Sealing Granite

Sealing the granite around your fireplace is of utmost importance in keeping your fireplace looking new. Most experts recommend that granite be sealed once everyone to two years. To seal your granite fireplace, there are a few important steps to take. First, wipe and clean the area with a natural stone cleaner and allow the area to dry. Next, take a dry cloth and wet it in the sealant. Now the cloth will be wet with sealant. Take the wet cloth and wipe it around the surface of the granite, applying the sealant to all corners and edges. Make sure it’s not soaking wet or dripping, but apply just enough that the entire surface will be wet. The first coat will take about 10 minutes total to dry, then you can apply a second coat. After this, let the area dry and don’t use the fireplace area for 24 hours. Sealing your granite fireplace will keep it looking new and shiny. It will also keep the area free of stains and discolorations. You can also call professionals to get the job done properly and ensure that you’ve followed directions accurately. 

Updating Your Fireplace

If you want to change the look of your fireplace in order to keep it looking fresh, using a fresh coat of paint can also do the trick. Some homeowners choose to reverse the darkness of brick stone fireplaces, by painting them white. This will bring a lightness to the room and make your fireplace look new. You can also consider other updates to your fireplace, including replacing any old and worn down pieces for other contemporary looks such as glass panels as opposed to the traditional chain-style spark guard curtains. You may even consider switching to a gas fireplace, which can come in many updated looks and dazzling varieties. Or, you can decide to purchase a gas fireplace that looks traditional and even mimics the look of burning real wood. A gas fireplace can also be a great way to minimize any negative effects of smoke from a regular wood-burning fireplace. 

A New-Looking Fireplace 

Keeping your fireplace looking new is a great way to freshen up your living or dining room space. By simply cleaning and maintaining proper upkeep of the inside and outside of your fireplace, you can keep it looking new for years to come.

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