Flooring Tile - Tiling Fireplace - Redux

Hi,

I too will be tiling over a brick fireplace. How should I prep the bricks if they have been painted? Looks like a semi-gloss latex paint was used.

Thanks!

Rick

Remove the paint mechanically or put up metal stud channels and CBU over them.:)

Hi Tileman,

I was thinking of using a heat gun or a chemical stripper - which of these is better? Also, it's usually tough to get all the paint off - especially out of the mortar grooves - if I go over the tough spots with a wire brush, will that be enough?

rn

No chemical strippers, it will interfere with the bond of the thinset for the tile.:)

You can use a wire wheel stripper on a drill, messy work, PITA. ;)

heat gun and wire brush it is then. PITA is right! :)

Thanks again.

Rick

Well I am going to put this out there. I would just get some Kilz and paint over the existing paint, only after knocking down any loose spots that are on the brickwork now. Look at it this way, when setting tile onto drywall, in SOME cases the thinset is grabbing onto the primer of the drywall. With that being said, why wouldn’t the thinset hold to the Kilz? Your right, it will hold to the Kilz. Save all that time stripping and just prep the area with Kilz and have at it. Remove any questionable paint (loose) before adding the Kilz and your set. Good Luck