A brick stove should organically fit into the interior of a house or summer cottage. For this reason, it may need to be painted. There are different types of coloring materials, but not all of them are suitable for coloring the heating device. Before painting a brick stove in a house, you need to find out what paints can be used and what properties they have.
The need for painting
There are several main reasons why people start painting Russian stoves in their homes and baths.
- Aesthetics. The potbelly stove heats the house and is an element of the interior. The right color will help create coziness in the atmosphere of the home. A beautiful stove can be a real highlight of a room.
- After painting, heat transfer improves, the surface of the furnace becomes smoother.
- Protection against fungi and mold. Correctly selected composition will prevent the formation of harmful bacteria on the surface of the brick body.
- Treatment with different coloring agents prevents the appearance and increase of cracks.
- Extension of the service life. A painted oven will last longer than an unpainted oven due to the creation of a protective coating.
In order for all conditions to be met, you need to choose the right paint. The function of the dye also influences the choice of material for painting a brick oven in a home.
Requirements for stove paint compositions
The oven is a complex device in terms of operating conditions, therefore, certain conditions are imposed on the choice of paint. The material must be resistant to high temperatures. The heating ranges of different parts of the furnace are different, which should also be taken into account. The iron part heats up more, so a more heat-resistant compound is needed for it.
According to the degree of resistance to high temperatures, paints for brick ovens can be divided into refractory, heat-resistant and heat-resistant. The former can withstand temperatures up to 1800 ° C. They are expensive and are almost never used in everyday life. Heat-resistant coloring materials withstand 600 ° C - 1000 ° C. It is used for painting iron parts in the stove. For painting the body, special heat-resistant paints are used that can withstand 200-400 ° C.
Also, the coloring composition must meet the following characteristics:
- Safety. When heated, no harmful substances should be released. For this reason, be sure to familiarize yourself with the composition of the paint before covering the red brick stove with the mixture.
- Thermal conductivity. The composition should not interfere with heating the room and reduce the efficiency of the oven.
- Resistance to household chemicals. Must withstand daily grooming procedures.
- Elasticity. With temperature jumps, cracks should not form.
There are several varieties of oven paints and varnishes.
Types of professional materials
Organosilicon compounds
This type of composition includes various mixtures created on the basis of organic resins.It can be paints, varnishes, enamels. They are used for exterior decoration and painting of interior elements in the house. The choice of dye and its characteristics is determined by its purpose.
Heat-resistant silicone paints are used to cover the surface of stoves and fireplaces. When buying, it is important not to confuse the composition, since moderately heat-resistant solutions are produced with a similar name. They cannot withstand temperatures above + 100 ° C.
The positive features of such mixtures include:
- Good adhesion. The paint is easily applied to any texture.
- High strength.
- The formed shell protects the oven well from moisture.
- Long service life.
- Good heat resistance and elasticity. The paint can withstand about 250 cooling and heating cycles without losing its properties.
The coloring matter has one significant drawback - the limited color palette. This is due to the chemical composition and the field of application.
A roller, brush or spray gun is used to apply enamels and paints.
Heat resistant acrylic paints
The group of heat-resistant acrylic paints includes water-based or hydrocarbon-based materials made from acrylates. They are able to withstand temperatures up to 400 ° C, depending on the composition. In domestic conditions, it is water-dispersion paints that are most often used, although water-based substances can be used.
Alkyd emulsions
An alkyd emulsion is used to coat the body of a stove or fireplace. The surface temperature should not exceed 100 ° C - this is the main disadvantage of such products. At the same time, the color palette is very diverse. It is also important to note the low elasticity of the solution. It does not withstand thermal expansion, which is why, after a year, small cracks form on the painted surface of the furnace.
Heat resistance is increased by adding aluminum powder to the water emulsion solution. But such compositions are not suitable for painting stoves and fireplaces.
Other types of dyes
In addition to professional mixtures, you can paint a brick oven with the following types of coloring agents:
- Oil paint. A specially selected brick cleaner is one of the best options. The main advantages include a wide selection of colors, withstand temperatures up to 600 ° C, protection of bricks from oxidation and increased durability. The service life reaches 10 years when working with the oven. Differs in ease of application. Among the shortcomings, note is the smell, the presence of toxic substances and a long drying time.
- Drying oil. The stain gives a darker shade to the brick. It has an unpleasant odor and is therefore rarely used.
- Heat-resistant varnish. Improves technical performance. To create the desired color and shade, dry gouache is added to the varnish.
- Silicate paint. Consists of liquid glass to which fillers and pigments are added. Possesses a high degree of heat resistance.
- Latex compounds. A combination of latex and acrylic is used. The disadvantages include the formation of fungus and mold in the composition.
The choice of product depends on the operating conditions and paint requirements.
DIY painting material
If it is impossible to buy a professional coloring agent, you can start making it yourself. There are different recipes for creating brick oven paint.
- A solution of chalk or lime. To create it, you will need water and lime. You can buy them at a hardware store. The difference in these two types is only in the duration of complete drying. If chalk is used, the waiting time will be longer.The mixture consists of 1 kg of lime or chalk and 1.5 liters of water. For strength, 300 g of salt is added to the solution per 2 kg of the mixture. The resulting composition is white. The advantages include minimal financial costs, ease of application, covering up defects and resistance to the formation of fungi. Disadvantages - poor coverage, gets dirty quickly and requires periodic renewal.
- Natural varnish. It is made with brick dust, chicken egg whites and milk, which are taken in a 1: 1 ratio. To process 1 sq.m. you need ¼ liter of milk and 8 chicken proteins. To prepare the varnish, whipped egg whites and milk are added to the brick dust. They must be mixed until a thick consistency is formed. The varnish is applied with a brush to the heated surface of the brick wall of the stove. The result is an even red coating with good resistance to sudden changes in temperature. For the dullness of the surface, the top is processed with linseed oil. Traces may remain on contact with a painted surface. Also, during operation, the smell of baked milk is emitted.
Do-it-yourself coloring products only give a shade to the brick. To change its color, it is more advisable to use purchased professional paints.
Preparing the oven for work
Before painting a brick oven, its surface must be treated. If the product has new masonry, it is enough to clean it from dust.
For cleaning you will need:
- Small spatula. It will allow you to prepare the surface, apply putty and plaster the surface.
- Brush. It will allow you to clean the previous layer of paint from bricks and metal parts.
You need to pay attention to the thickness of the plaster layer. If it is more than one centimeter, dismantling will be required. All crumbling areas are removed, the surface is cleaned with a spatula, brush or sandpaper. Cracks must be repaired with plaster mortar.
When the solution is dry, wipe the surface with a damp cloth. After the water has dried, a coloring agent is applied.
Before using any paint, it is imperative to read the instructions. For good interaction, the surface can be pre-impregnated with a primer. Then everything is done according to the instructions.
Furnace painting
You can start painting only after studying the instructions and carrying out preparatory work. Otherwise, the efficiency will deteriorate, the service life will be reduced.
For work you will need:
- Capacity. The coloring solution will be located in it.
- Paint.
- Brush and roller.
The solution must be prepared and poured into a container. Then it is applied to the surface in several layers (two-layer installation is recommended). The work is done with a brush and roller. The brush gives texture, and the roller gives evenness.
After staining, you must wait until the oven is completely dry. Immediately heating is prohibited, at least 24 hours must pass, depending on the type of paint.
