How to Update Brass Fireplace Doors For Under $10

Is that 1980s brass fireplace door cramping your décor? Like fashion, if you give most things a chance (and a few decades) it might come back into style. Like neon colors. But I don’t think brass fireplace doors are making a comeback, so….. Here’s step-by-step instructions on how I easily (and cheaply) updated my brass fireplace door using high-heat spray paint.

I painted my dated brass fireplace doors to an understated black in a weekend with high-resistant spray paint for under $10 #brassfireplacemakeoverDIY #fireplacedoor #fireplaceupdate #paintfireplacedoor

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Backstory

My dated brass fireplace doors drove me up the wall. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely a child of the 1980s. I’m convinced that some of the best movies (The Princess Bride) and musicians (Michael Jackson, Madonna) of all time came from this decade.

Check out this ugly brass-plated fireplace door. For $10 and a few hours over a weekend I transformed into a more understated and updated look #brassfireplace #outdatedfireplacedoor #fireplace #fireplacedoorspraypaint — “Before” pic

But brass finish on fireplace doors?? Nope, sorry…. It doesn’t fit my vision of an classic older home.

Ideally I’d love new fireplace doors. However, it currently isn’t in the budget.

In just a few hours and less than $10 in supplies, I said Adios to a tacky brass fireplace door and He-He-Hello to an muted black fireplace door that fits my room’s character!

Supplies

Drop cloth, tarp, old sheet to keep work area clean (I used an old sheet, so it was free. But if you need a drop cloth you can easily buy at the big box home improvement stores or Amazon)
Screwdriver (I already have a toolbox)
Painter’s tape (I had some already left over from other paint jobs)
Paper – newspaper, construction paper, whatever is lying around- to cover glass.
Clean damp cloth – soft enough to wipe glass
Steel wool pads size “000” or “0000”. Recommended: Rhodes American brand
High-heat spray paint. Recommended: Rust-Oleum’s Specialty High Heat Spray Paint

Rust-Oleum Paint 241169 High Heat Ultra Enamel Spray, Black, 12-Ounce, 12 Ounce (Pack of 1)

Homax 10120000 Steel Wool, 12 pad, Grade #0000, Rhodes American, Final Finish

All Purpose Canvas Drop Cloth by CCS CHICAGO CANVAS & SUPPLY- Cotton Canvas Cover for Floor & Furniture Protection – Washable & Reusable Duck Dropcloth Fabric Against Paint, Dust, Dirt- 9 by 12 Feet

Note that I only bought the paint and steel wool. And when I bought these two products they came in just under $10. Pricing may have changed.

Instructions

Step 1

Wait for a nice day outside (not too much wind so the paint won’t blow) and set out some old sheets out on the lawn. Don’t set up your work station on the driveway or a deck – in case things get messy with the paint.

Next, remove the fireplace door from the fireplace. Unhinge the doors from the fireplace frame. Then unscrew the frame from the fireplace and set all 3 pieces outside. Set the screws next to the doors on the sheet. Below is a picture of the frame outside. If you have problems, watch the first few minutes of this video.

Courtesy of wagslick on YouTube

[Note that our fireplace consists of two hinged doors and a frame, your fireplace may be just one piece].

This used to be a ugly brass-plated fireplace door. Sure I'd love a new one, but for $10 and a few hours over a weekend I transformed it into this more unstated black door. #blackfireplacedoor #upgradefireplacedoor #fireplacedoorchange #fireplacedoorpaint

Step 2

Remove dirt by wipe everything down with a damp cloth, with elbow grease where needed. Then taking a dry, small gouge steel wool, rub all brass parts to remove the shine and prep the surface for painting. (I used a package of Rhodes American steel wool pads Size “000” from Home Depot)

Wipe with a dry cloth to remove any remaining steel wool particulate.

Step 3

Cover the glass parts or any other parts you don’t want painted. Painter’s tape and newspaper is probably the most common way to cover the glass. But in my case I raided my child’s construction paper since the recycling had just been picked up that morning….

Ugly brass-plated fireplace doors being transformed with high-heat black spray paint by Rust-oleum for $10 #paintfireplacedoor #outdatedfireplacedoor #highheatspraypaint #paintingprocess

Step 4

Using spray paint made for high heat, spray one coat with a sweeping motion. I used Rust-Oleum Specialty High Heat Black Enamel Spray Paint. It’s the same paint used to touch up grills. It’s OK if you don’t get everything on the first coat – it will turn out better if you do multiple light coats.

Let this first coat dry. The directions on the back of the spray can indicated dry in 30 minutes. I waited about 1-2 hours. Do another coat, and a third if needed.

Step 5

Once completely dry, remove construction paper/ newspaper and painter’s tape. Re-install onto fireplace. I actually let my fireplace doors dry over night in the basement, and removed the construction paper the next day and installed.

And wa-lah! Here is the fireplace doors updated and finished!

It’s a subtle difference, but to me it’s a MUCH improved look.

Someday the budget will allow us to buy new fireplace doors, but for now, this will do quite nicely. And I can keep the ’80s where it belongs – to the movies.

Speaking of which, now I have a hankering to light a fire in the living room, put my feet up and start an 80s movie marathon…

Have you updated your fireplace doors? I’d love to see them! Be sure to post a pic in the comments section below!

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