Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Re-coloring mortar

We just bought a house with a great brick fireplace in the family room except one thing - the mortar between the bricks is black and makes that part of the room look extremely dark. The brick itself is fine, and the fireplace would look great if the mortar were a lighter color. Is there a way to re-color just the mortar?

There's always a way to fix things. However, i was sure hoping it was a light color mortar joint that you wanted to pigment darker. If it were that scenario, you could infact "stain" the joint... allowing the desired pigment to be "wicked" into the mortar joint.

BUT... your mortar joints are black... and since you're talking about an inside fireplace profile... natural weatheringover time and exposure to the sun won't help here. Past experience with this set of circumstances would indicate finding a paint color that is pleasing and painting each joint. Do this with several passes of a water based paint... that way, the joint will "suck up" some of the thinned color with the first coat... and each coat there after will bond to the next... without the joints looking "goopy" or "runny." (It will also be easier to clean off the brick if you drip any!) I would also suggest using several old toothbrushes to make your applications... there just about the right thickness.

Of course, this is only one opinion. You might also want to post in the "PAINTING FORUM" or contact your nearest professional paint store for their advice.

Good luck with your project.

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