One of the only original features we still have in the house is the cast iron Edwardian fireplace in the master bedroom. When we moved in, it was completely covered in yellowish paint.
Although it would have been easier and quicker to have the fireplace sandblasted, we decided to undertake the restoration work ourselves. After a bit of research I found out, that you can’t use a heat gun on cast iron, as the sudden difference in temperature can cause the iron to crack so we opted for a chemical paint stripper.
After a few tries, I found that this method worked best for us:
First, I applied the stripper with an old paintbrush according to the instructions on the packet (make sure to use the necessary safety equipment). I left it in place as long as possible, being careful not to let it dry completely. Then, after it had dissolved the paint I wiped off most of the residue with a stripping knife and kitchen paper. It is important not to wipe down the cast iron with water, as it will cause it to rust. The best and by far easiest way to remove the remaining bits of sticky dissolved paint and stripper is to use white spirit. It seems to neutralise the paint stripper which makes it really easy to just wipe off. For any stubborn paint areas, I found that dipping some steel wool in white spirit and scrubbing the area works really well. This method is also good for areas where the cast iron surround is more patterned, and the sticky paint residue would otherwise get stuck in the details.
There were at least 7 layers of paint on our fireplace that had to be removed and although the chemical stripper worked well, it didn’t penetrate all of them in one go, so it took a few more applications to remove all of the paint.
We used the same method to strip the original encaustic tiles, but made sure to use a plastic scraper in order to not scratch the tiles.
After a quick sand with steel wool and a final wipe down with white spirit, we applied black grate polish (bought at our local fireplace shop). When the grate polish was completely dry I used an old cloth to wipe off the excess and give the surface a polish.
Here are my top 5 Tips for Restoring a Cast Iron Fireplace
- Let the chemical paint stripper work as long as possible.
- Remove the dissolved paint with a stripping knife and kitchen paper.
- Use lots of white spirit to remove the remaining paint residue until the surface is completely clean. Use steel wool to sand if necessary.
- Apply black grate polish and leave to dry. Then buff to required finish.
- For maintenance use WD-40 to clean the fireplace. Never use water.
And here are the before and after pictures for you:
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Wow – what an amazing fireplace. I love it!!! You did an awesome job exposing the metal. It looks so great!!
xoxoxox
Thank you! It was loads of work, but it was worth it. We couldn’t be happier with the result! x
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Hi,
I know this is an old post but just going through the same job myself.
Far harder work than I had expected
Just wondering do you have to remove every last piece of paint and residue before applying the polish. I have red residues left in some areas and wondering does that all have to come off.
Will the finish be poor if I don’t get everything off or does the polish cover some minor remains?
Hi James! I really underestimated how long it would take to do, too. On the bedroom fireplace I pretty much removed all paint and dirt, but I also restored our dining room fireplace (you can read about it here: http://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/edwardian-fireplace-restoration/). There is one picture there, where I have already applied the grate polish on one half of the fireplace and the other side is still just stripped cast iron. You can see that the half without the grate polish still has some residue left, but that later completely disappears under the polish. Having said that, I also had one small area where I’d missed some actual paint which the polish didn’t cover well at all. Any lumps and bumps on the surface will probably show though the polish, too. I guess what I’m trying to say is – if there is actual paint left, you will probably have to remove it, but if there is just some smooth residue, you will probably be fine. You could always test a small area to see if the polish covers any imperfections. When applying the grate polish, try thinning it down slightly with some white spirit – makes applying it so much more even and easier. Hope that’s some help. Let us know how you get on!
Cx
What’s the name of the chemical paint stripper you used on this fireplace and your other one (where you show the tape that absorbs the paint layers). These fireplaces turned out beautifully!!! Love your home and the care you’ve put into restoring it.
Thanks Lauren! The chemical stripper we used on the yellow bedroom fireplace is Nitromors. It worked well and my best tip for removing after its done its work is to use lots and lots of white spirit – it seems to neutralize it.
The stripper we used for the dining room fireplace was absolutely amazing! It’s called PeelAway. There are two different kinds available (Peelaway 1 and Peelaway 7), which one you use would depend on the application – we used PeelAway 1. You can find out more about it here.
Good luck!
Cx
Hi the fireplace looks amazing. I am just trying to do the same. Was wandering with the black grate polish will this make it go black? Only asking as I would like the gunmetal colour which the fireplace in the picture looks like it may be?
Thank you
Hi Emeline! Glad you like the fireplace, we’re so happy with it, too. The black grate polish will make your fireplace go black. To achieve the gunmetal look you’d like, you still use the same polish but have to rub and polish it – a lot! When applying the paste, mix it with a bit of white spirit – it’ll make applying it much easier and more consistent. Your best bet would probably be to to try it out on a small area first and see if you can achieve the result you are looking for. Let us know how you get on and good luck!
Cx