mantelpiece

nat38

is it possible to paint a marble mantelpiece? (actually two - one working, one for looks only)
don't kill me but I hate pink marble...

thanks!

rustyboy21

You can paint it, will take a bit of covers, but will work.

Marble is highly polished with a chemical polish, to give it's lustre, so paint will not adhere to it straight away.

You may be better going over it first with some fine wet/dry to get a key. Paint it with a couple of coats of undercoat first , then should be ok for a finishing coat in gloss/eggshell.

I have 2 in my house that were painted when I bought it, can't be bothered trying to strip them back, so just painted over them again. Both original victorian ones in the bedrooms.

Avoriaz

nat38 wrote: »

is it possible to paint a marble mantelpiece? (actually two - one working, one for looks only)
don't kill me but I hate pink marble...

thanks!

Have you considered selling them and replacing them with inexpensive wooden mantels that you could easily paint?

You might get a lot more for the marble than it will cost you to buy the wooden replacements.

nat38

Avoriaz wrote: »

Have you considered selling them and replacing them with inexpensive wooden mantels that you could easily paint?

You might get a lot more for the marble than it will cost you to buy the wooden replacements.

yes, I def thought about it but I don't know how difficult would be to remove without damaging the walls, etc? (haven't move into the house yet)

rustyboy21

nat38 wrote: »

yes, I def thought about it but I don't know how difficult would be to remove without damaging the walls, etc? (haven't move into the house yet)

If they are originals, you will have to get the wall replastered most likely, as they will bring the plaster off as you try to get them off. They will have wall brackets on them somewhere, but will be hidden under plaster. Where would they be sited? no one knows.

Take it from a fireplace retailer and this is going to hurt me saying it ! ..... I would paint them, don't buy new

Also the chances of getting off the wall with no damage to the surround is so rare, it is a waste of time trying to be careful with them. Unless they are very ornate and rare, you would get a few quid for them anyway, everyone thinks there is money in them. Take it from me they are more trouble than they are worth and a waste of time and energy in trying to sell them.

MiniSis

Definitely possible to paint

I am currently trying to strip my fireplace as the lovely marble tiles have been painted cream. Have been using scraper (no damage to tiles) but very time consuming.

Anyone have suggestions?

rustyboy21

MiniSis wrote: »

Definitely possible to paint

I am currently trying to strip my fireplace as the lovely marble tiles have been painted cream. Have been using scraper (no damage to tiles) but very time consuming.

Anyone have suggestions?

My OH's sister stripped a cararra marble fireplace down a few years back in a flat she was renting. She used the Nitromors paste and then scraped it off. It will get the bulk of the paint off for you. You can then use a stone cleaner on it, which will leave it flat and unpolished, but cleaner.

You can then buy a marble polish and buff it up a lot to get the shine back ( have a look on ebay, have seen it there in past )

It will take a lot of work, don't use the liquid nitromors as it could soak in a lot and stain, use a little and clean off as soon as starts bubbling.

Apart from taking it off the wall and all the problems in doing so, and taking it to a marble mason, this IMO is one of the only ways you can do what you want.

MiniSis

Thanks I wasn't sure about using nitromors so that's great! If it doesn't work I'll paint it again lol

nat38

rustyboy21 wrote: »

If they are originals, you will have to get the wall replastered most likely, as they will bring the plaster off as you try to get them off. They will have wall brackets on them somewhere, but will be hidden under plaster. Where would they be sited? no one knows.

Take it from a fireplace retailer and this is going to hurt me saying it ! ..... I would paint them, don't buy new

Also the chances of getting off the wall with no damage to the surround is so rare, it is a waste of time trying to be careful with them. Unless they are very ornate and rare, you would get a few quid for them anyway, everyone thinks there is money in them. Take it from me they are more trouble than they are worth and a waste of time and energy in trying to sell them.

Many thanks for this! I had a look on ebay and could not tell if they would be worth something or not, so it's really good to have your opinion. They are not rare or special I believe. The walls are in perfect condition atm so I don't think it's worth the trouble as you said.
Any suggestion re.how to paint them? Ideally something that can be stripped off later on (should we sell the house).
Thanks!

rustyboy21

nat38 wrote: »

Many thanks for this! I had a look on ebay and could not tell if they would be worth something or not, so it's really good to have your opinion. They are not rare or special I believe. The walls are in perfect condition atm so I don't think it's worth the trouble as you said.
Any suggestion re.how to paint them? Ideally something that can be stripped off later on (should we sell the house).
Thanks!

What in the middle of them? Is it anything like a cast iron insert?

I have seen in a friends house an old marble fireplace in a bedroom, which also had an old cast arch insert inside. She painted it matt black and then highlighted any raised decorative features with some sort of silver paste, which she rubbed on with a rag. It gave it the look of an old original 1/2 polished cast surround, looked totally different.

If the inside part of the fireplace is brickwork/slate/tiled, you could also do something with that. Post a pic on here of what you have, when you get the keys and posters on here will give you some good ideas.

nat38

thanks again rustyboy

rustyboy21 wrote: »

What in the middle of them? Is it anything like a cast iron insert?

yep, I'd say it's a cast iron insert but tbh I'm a bit confused as to what's what in a fireplace

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I have seen in a friends house an old marble fireplace in a bedroom, which also had an old cast arch insert inside. She painted it matt black and then highlighted any raised decorative features with some sort of silver paste, which she rubbed on with a rag. It gave it the look of an old original 1/2 polished cast surround, looked totally different.

that sounds really good

rustyboy21 wrote: »

If the inside part of the fireplace is brickwork/slate/tiled, you could also do something with that. Post a pic on here of what you have, when you get the keys and posters on here will give you some good ideas.

here's a picture
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nope - don'tknow how to attach a pic:(