Caulking bricks outside fireplace

[savathearth]

Hello,

I'm new to DIYs and would appreciate help on this.

1. I have these red bricks outside of fireplace. What kind of caulking should I use to fill the gaps between the red bricks outside of fireplace?
2. What kind of mortar should be used inside the fireplace to fix the cracks and gaps?

I know this would be personal preference but would you consider leaving the red bricks as-is (just clean them) or paint them white?

Thanks.

 

[jetsam]

1) Mortar
2) Refractory mortar
3) Cover with the steel surround for the new insert. Open fireplaces became obsolete hundreds of years ago.

 

[bholler]

Hello,

I'm new to DIYs and would appreciate help on this.

1. I have these red bricks outside of fireplace. What kind of caulking should I use to fill the gaps between the red bricks outside of fireplace?
2. What kind of mortar should be used inside the fireplace to fix the cracks and gaps?

I know this would be personal preference but would you consider leaving the red bricks as-is (just clean them) or paint them white?

Thanks.

You mean between the brick and trim? Just painters caulk will work.

In the firebox refractory mortar

Don't paint it if you want to use it

 

[savathearth]

Don't paint it if you want to use it

I see many are using high heat resistant paints to piant inside the fireplace. Are you suggesting not to paint because these paints do not perform well or that it requires repainting often?

 

[SpaceBus]

I think you will not find any paint that will hold up inside the fireplace.

 

[Woody Stover]

One of my SILs who does faux, murals and straight painting, painted the brick above the mantel and accented the brick around the fireplace to lighten it a bit.