When you paint your home’s exterior wall, it’s hard to leave the chimney alone without any splash of color. And it also won’t look very good with your newly colored home.
But it’s a pickle to decide on which color to choose for painting the chimney.
So, the question is, what color to paint the exterior chimney?
You can easily pick out a mainstream color for your exterior chimney such as white, gray, tan, beige cream, black, etc. and they will never clash with the color scheme of your exterior wall.
The piece also includes:
- Should you paint your exterior chimney?
- How to choose the right paint for your exterior chimney?
- How do I modernize my outdoor chimney?
To learn more about painting your exterior chimney, read the following article below.
Table of Contents
Should You Paint Your Exterior Chimney?
Let’s quickly review why you should even think about painting the external chimney before deciding if you should give it a coat of paint. It is undoubtedly a wise way to come to a decision.
Painting your chimney will increase its aesthetic appeal and extend its lifespan by providing an additional layer of defence against environmental factors like moisture, humidity, and sunlight. It won’t rust over time if you use high-quality exterior chimney paint.
But painting your chimney will also leave you with the risk of moisture lock which can lead your chimney to severe damage. So, consult a professional if you decide to paint your exterior chimney.
What Color to Paint Exterior Chimney?
Although brick chimneys are attractive, they can sometimes appear obsolete. A simple solution is to make a brick chimney look brand new if it is beginning to look dated or dusty. The best way to brighten up your brick chimney is to paint it.
Your chimney’s color selection must go well with the outside color of your house. The most well-liked hues for giving a chimney a natural look include:
- white
- light gray
- cream
- beige/tan
- black
Gray and black would also look fantastic in more modern-styled homes.
You do not want to make the wrong color selections because painting your chimney can seem like a large task. To make this selection easier, let’s take a closer look at the various color options you have available.
Neutral Colors
Neutral colors are one of the safest choices if you want to be on the safe side while still making your chimney appear fantastic. Most color schemes will go well with cream, beige, and tan shades of white.
Simple white paint on the chimney is all needed to brighten the house, while off-white might have a softer appearance. You can consider using one of these neutral colors to add some life to your decor without going overboard.
Neutral colors are simple to add and can look beautiful regardless of what color you decide to paint the exterior of your house. They are simple to locate and frequently less expensive than some of the other, designer hues you might wish to pick for your home.
Contrasting Colors
A smart place to start is to compare the chimney’s color to the color of your house. You can paint the chimney dark to add some contrast if the house is painted a lighter color. You can create a distinctive appearance by applying the contrast to other house components, such as the exterior trim or the shutters.
You can also try vice versa. Try to select a lighter hue for the chimney if the house is painted a darker color.
Monochromatic Colors
The monochromatic colors are the third choice that you have. By doing this, the chimney and the home will have the same color. To make everything merge, you can use soft, light paint tones on one and then a little darker paint on the other.
The trim and the shutters might also be helpful in this situation if you want to create a focal point. You can consider whether the colors you want to use on your house are offered in the type of paint you’ll need as you consider your options.
Interior paint won’t help you much if your house has a brick chimney on the outside. To complete it and ensure that it lasts a long time, you will need to work with external paint.
Being Unique
It can be a good idea to try something a little different, depending on your location. It enables you to step outside of your comfort zone and choose a hue that might not be utilised in most homes.
Always check to see what will look good on your house and the local laws. You will need to return up there to make the necessary repairs and pay to have the painting redone if you choose the wrong colour or violate these rules.
How to Choose the Right Paint for Your Exterior Chimney?
Depending on how frequently you use your chimney and its outside, you should decide what kind of paint to use. Latex-based paint will work if you only infrequently use your fireplace. However, you’ll need a high-temperature paint that won’t peel and bubble if you subject your brick to high temperatures, like a furnace or wood-burning stove.
Additionally, the kind of paint you want will depend on the design of your chimney’s outside. If it’s only a stainless steel chimney, the best option would probably be a high-quality, high-heat paint that can be applied with a brush or a sprayer.
The best course of action if the surface is brick or stucco is to prepare it with masonry primer/sealer and then paint it with acrylic paint.
How Do I Modernize My Outdoor Chimney?
The chimney is one component of your house that can benefit from upgrading. Despite what you think, it’s not that difficult to change a chimney’s outlook while it’s still in use. You should pick a design from a choice that goes with the house renovation you have in mind.
Try to cover your current chimney with faux stone, river rock, or a wooden or stucco tower. Check your flue within the chimney before remodelling to ensure it can be used.
Now let’s read below to see some ways you can follow to upgrade your exterior chimney.
Liner
If you are thinking of adding a new fireplace, you can insert a gas fireplace or modify the chimney or fireplace in any way before giving them a makeover. Make sure the chimney flue is working. Otherwise, add a new chimney liner compatible with your new insert or fireplace.
Many of those chimneys are out-of-date in terms of safety when rebuilding an older property. Add a cast-in-place concrete or flexible metal flue to your current fireplace to keep your house and family secure as you enjoy it for years to come.
Stucco
If the exterior of your home is stucco, you can construct a new wooden frame tower around the current chimney.
The new chimney is installed right on top of the old one. For the handy person who prefers to do things themselves, it is a cheap project that can be finished in a few days.
You can build a wooden frame that is fixed to the roof. And apply the stucco over the proper tar paper and chicken wire after adding an oriented strand board or plywood to serve as the base. To make the stucco match the façade of the house, you can add a colored dye.
Wood
Another approach to rebuilding the chimney entails building a wooden frame around the outer chimney. And then laying slanted wood boards on top of OSB or plywood to form a box around the chimney.
To maintain the roof area safe, stick to regional building requirements, and add a new chimney cover.
If desired, apply a contrasting hue or paint the wood to match the house’s exterior. Before the new chimney tower is finished, lift the shingles on the fireplace roof. Then add new flashing underneath the wood planks.
Faux Stone
With a faux stone chimney, a country or rural house decorated in stained wood looks nice. For their fireplace chimneys, early settlers used big rocks that were firmly fixed in place using clay and straw.
After updating your chimney liner, you may achieve the same look by covering the exterior with imitation stone sheets. River rock, fieldstone, concrete blocks, stacked stone panels, brick, and panels made of limestone are just a few of the types you can select from. Cut panels to size with a skill saw.
You can use a concrete drill to make the holes for the bolts to attach to the existing chimney. Then finish your installation process with a synthetic rock mixture to cover the seams, grout lines, and voids and bolt the holes.
FAQ
How much does it cost to have a chimney painted?
It will cost you between $2 and $6 per square foot. That is between $400 and $1,200 for the full project, to hire a professional to paint a chimney. Do not try to do it yourself if you don’t have experience in painting chimneys.
Can a brick chimney be painted?
There is no doubt that you can paint the exposed brick inside of your house. There is no reason not to paint your internal brick chimney because it is shielded from moisture. Since this step cannot be undone, make sure it is truly what you desire.
Conclusion
Thanks for coming this far with our article. Hope our piece could help you figure out what color to paint your exterior chimney. Now that you know about the colors you can use in your chimney, there is no need to be in a dilemma.
You pick out a color of your choice and paint your chimney just the way you want.