Painting A Chiminea? Best Paints and How To Paint It!

Chimineas are all the rage right now, with people using them for anything from an outdoor cooking option to a backyard fire pit. The reason chimineas are in vogue is because they look really, really cool.

They’re great for adding a cozy feel to your patio or decking area. If you fall into any of these categories, then it’s likely that you’ve considered getting a chiminea or already own one and want to know what paint you should use to paint a chiminea.

Is It Important To Paint Your Chiminea?

If you have a chiminea, then you know how beautiful it can make your backyard look. But over time, some of these portable fireplaces can become rusted or covered with dirt. This makes the fireplace look old and less attractive than before. If you keep your chiminea clean and then paint it, you’ll be able to maintain its great beauty and ensure it looks great for years to come.

What Will Happen If You Don’t Paint Your Chiminea?

You might be wondering and asking yourself, “Why would I need to paint my chiminea if it will just get charred and rusted over time because of fire anyway?” Yup, it might be true that charring and rusting are two of your mortal enemies when it comes to maintaining your chiminea, but coating it with paint regularly will surely go a long way. 

• The paint can help combat the soot and the smoke. It also helps keep your chiminea looking good for longer and slows down the corrosion, which can cause permanent damage to your chiminea.

• If you eventually decided to not paint your chiminea anymore, then get ready for rust and cracks to take over. This will ultimately lead to corrosion and the eventual deterioration of your chiminea. There’s no going back, so take care of your chimineas now.

Can You Spray Paint A Chiminea?

Yes! Spray painting a chiminea is really easy! It should work just as well and be as durable as if you would paint it with the traditional brush. Spray painting will take a little longer, but will require less effort and give you a much nicer looking and smooth surface.

However, if you are not painting a really large chiminea, it may be easier to just use the traditional method of brush painting. That is because it will be difficult to spray paint all of the spaces around the holes and between the clay ornamentation.

Best Paints To Use For Chiminea?

What paints to use for chiminea? This is a question that is asked by many people which is why we thought it would be great to try and solve. We did some research and found out that there are several different options. But don’t be fooled, here is a list of the best paints for chimineas you should consider using.

Rust-Oleum Stove Paint

This is one of the best paints to use for chiminea out in the market. Rust-Oleum was designed to be applied on high-temperature surfaces such as chimineas, stoves, radiators, engineers, and many more. It is relatively quick-drying, ultra-tough, and carefully designed to withstand high temperatures. 

Rust-Oleum Stove Paint is expected to have excellent resistance to heat with a temperature of up to 650°C. Although there are special varieties that can withstand up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help your chiminea maintain its color and professional finish even against high temperatures.

Earthborn Claypaint

This is a luxurious-looking all-around paint with a matte clay finish. It can be applied on any surface, including bare plasters, previously painted walls, and other interior or outdoor walls. 

This is perfect to use for your chimineas because Earthborn Claypaint has a high clay content and it is not composed of any acrylics or oils. This just means that it is capable of withstanding high temperatures without compromising the look and finish of the paint. 

Calfire Heat Resistant Stove Paint Charcoal

It is one of the most popular and readily available paints to use for your chimineas. It is a very high-quality aerosol stove paint with super fast-drying properties. Calfire Heat Resistant Stove Paint Charcol is perfectly suitable for your chimineas because it can withstand high temperatures of up to 650°C. Also, it guarantees a professional-looking finish that will surely make your chimineas aesthetically pleasing.

Stove Bright High-Temperature Paint

Due to its excellent high-temperature heat resistance, Stove Bright High-Temperature Paint can be used on a variety of equipment such as chimineas, automotive heads, boilers, furnaces, barbecues, radiators, and many more. 

So, if you’re planning to maintain or touching-up your chimineas, this could be one of the best choices for you. Not only would it protect your chiminea from rust and smoke, but it will also make it look aesthetically pleasing because of its excellent glossy finish. 

Hammerite High Heat Paint Aerosol

Hammerite is also one of the most popular high-temperature paints out in the market. Which is the more reason for you to try it on your chimineas. The Hammerite High Heat Paint is an aerosol type of paint specially formulated and designed to withstand high temperatures of up to 600°C. 

It is ideal to use on chimineas, barbecues, radiators, fire surrounds, guards, and boilers. It is also developed to resist flaking and cracking. Hence, having the Hammerite High Heat Paint Aerosol not only takes care of your chiminea’s aesthetics but also its durability and life span. 

How To Paint A Chiminea?

Chiminea’s are a fantastic accessory to have in the garden. They provide heat in the winter and can also be used for cooking food. But how do you go about painting yours? I will explain what materials you’ll need and how to complete the project.

What You Will Need:

• Newspaper or dust sheets
• Paint I mentioned Above
• Sand Paper or Orbital Sander

Step 1: Clean The Chiminea

After many years of use, chimineas start to look less than great. They should be washed out regularly to keep them looking as good as possible. If you’re buying a used chiminea, it should be cleaned before you set it up as chimineas can carry pests like woodworm and other pests.

Use a simple cleaning detergent to remove grease and dirt from the clay before painting.

Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia as they can damage your clay. Use a mild, low-toxicity type of detergent. If it gets too dirty, use a sponge to clean it instead.

Step 2: Sand The Chiminea

If you haven’t already, sand the outside of your chiminea with an orbital sander. This will knock off any small bits of metal or grit that could damage your final coat of paint. You could also use an auto body sander for this purpose but be careful not to make deep grooves in the surface. Repeat this step as often as necessary until you can no longer see dust coming off your chiminea when you wipe it with a rag.

Step 3: Apply Primer

You will need to apply the primer before you can apply the paint. For most applications, it is best to wait 3 hours after applying the primer before applying the paint.

Step 4: Paint The Chiminea

It’s time to paint your chiminea! Remember, you don’t need to be especially neat; no one will see the inside of the chiminea once it is properly sealed. Pour some paint into a brush tray and dip your brush in the paint. Cover every part of the chiminea that cannot be sealed or that gets hot from the fire.

I painted both sides and all four edges. When you start painting, let the paint set for a few minutes before applying more coats. I recommend doing at least three coats of paint.

Step 5: Coat Sealer

Once the structure of the chiminea has dried, you can apply a coat of sealer so that the paint can’t chip off. Sealants are often green, so you may want to apply a coat of paint over the sealant to match the finish to your chiminea.

Spray it on evenly and it dries quickly, protecting against rust. It’s also great for protecting metal lawn furniture from the elements when you don’t have time to give it a thorough scrub-down and powder-coat treatment.

When Can You Use Chiminea After Painting?

Chimineas can be used as soon as the paint has dried (3-5 days), although it is much easier to clean and maintain after a couple weeks (depending on the type of paint).

Conclusion

If you keep your chiminea painted regularly it won’t get as dirty and will keep looking better. However, there are some negative consequences to not painting your chiminea regularly. Some of these are obvious, such as dirt on the paint and scratches from jagged nails.

So if your goal is to maintain the aesthetic looks of your chiminea and allow it to last for a longer amount of time, then you should consider painting your chiminea regularly. 

Some of the paints on the list are affordable and easily available in the market. Remember, having a chiminea is both a responsibility and a privilege, so to fully enjoy the perks of having it, we also should take properly maintaining and taking care of it seriously.