Now that the fireplace is stripped

[Pford75]

We have recently stripped a fireplace in a bathroom. We are divided as a family on whether to use grate polish or to repaint.

Given that the bathroom can get steamy, will grate polish prevent rusting? Is there anything else we could use to acheive a similar effect? Our aesthetic preference is grate polish....paint only likely as a more practical option. Please don't suggest regular re-applications of grate polish....I tried this and Mrs F just missed me with a shoe :wink:

 

[skier-hughes]

I'm afraid it looks like paint then. Our grate polished grate has rust marks from the dampness of the room when being plastered, so being sprayed with water pre plastering and just the damp coming our of the plaster hasn't done it much good.

 

[Tom]

I have no experience with cast iron fireplaces so if this sounds like a stupid idea I'm sorry

Could you polish it and then apply a thin coat of oil? Or just oil it without the polish? Even with just oil, it would achieve a nice shiny finish whilst retaining the colour and not clogging up any fine detailing. I just thought, this is how cast iron cooking pots are treated, so wondered if the same might work for fireplaces in damp conditions. Again, sorry if it's a nuts idea

 

[Pford75]

Don't think you're nuts. I'd wondered the same myself....or even if a coat of matt varnish might be possible. Anyone else have a view?

 

[Tom]

Glad to hear you don't think I'm nuts....many would disagree with you :lol:

I'm not sure about varnish...it seems a bit too 'permanent' to me, if you know what I mean.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Don't see how matt varnish is any better or any worse morally speaking than matt paint.

Will you use this fire? Coz I put linseed oil on the marble fire surrounds, mantelpieces and hearth stones here, it looked nice for a week, but now it has all disappeared. I don't think oil is very durable for a hot wet steamy environment.

I'm so sorry if any french polishers are reading, but I've found a polish that I'm completely in love with , and it looks great on any surface! http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Household_Cleaning/Wood_Silk_Non_Silicone_Polish_250ml.html

That's not at all permanent either.

 

[Penners]

I suggest regular re-applications of grate polish.

Ooooh - sorry! That eye looks painful.



I confess that I've never used grate polish in a steamy atmosphere, but I suppose that this is a 'piece of string' question. How steamy is the bathroom, and how often would Mrs F regard as being too often, for re-applying the polish? Wild guess, I suspect a not-too-steamy bathroom would possibly require you to get out the polish every few months.

I like Jaqy's suggestion of oiling over the top, or perhaps you could add a couple of layers of wax over the top of the grate polish (which is mainly wax anyway, I believe). If, in the final analysis, you do end up painting, may I suggest that you avoid matt black? It always looks so phoney. IMO, a soft eggshell black would be much nicer and would be rather closer to the effect of grate polish.

 

[Pford75]

Thanks for all of the suggestions...wax seems like a better alternative to varnish.

On regularity, It's a question of numbers. We have 26 fireplaces in total, currently 16 of those are subject to grate polish. None of these are within a bathroom. The bathroom in question is going to be in very regular use and therefore quite steamy....I think the issue is not just 1 fireplace, but the impact of all fireplaces together.

Agree with you on black paint. If we paint it, it will be off-white.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I don't think oil is very durable for a hot wet steamy environment.

It all depends on the oil Joce - and who is applying it

 

[Carol]

Our cast iron fire surround is in the kitchen, it was once a grander drawing room. It survives nicely on an annual application of Liberon iron polish (if its lucky!) and occasional, maybe twice a year sprays of a well known spray lubricant/anti-rust stuff in a blue and yellow can.

The kitchen gets fairly steamy on a regular basis and we have had no rust on the fire surround in 12 years so presume the iron paste and 'you-know-what' keeps it sorted.

Don't think varnish would be a good approach, you would have to remove/reapply regularly and it might spoil the appearance of the surround.

 

[Anita]

We used a fine coat of spray-on matt varnish in the bathroom - and no rust in 15 years!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

errr humm, not varnish. I reckon that the soft matt paint finish is the best one-- off white, after all if you use black, then you might as well grate polish it and it will rust I'm afraid.

 

[Jon Maine]

I'm afraid it looks like paint then. Our grate polished grate has rust marks from the dampness of the room when being plastered, so being sprayed with water pre plastering and just the damp coming our of the plaster hasn't done it much good.

Damn messy plasterers throwing a spanner in the works :lol:

 

[Ushy M]

Friends with a cast iron fireplace in the bathroom have managed to keep rust at bay with an occasional application of slate oil .

 

[Penners]

We have 26 fireplaces in total

Twenty-six?

TWENTY-SIX???

:shock:

For God's sake don't light them all at once, or planetary sea levels will immediately rise above Biff level.

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

I'm also reeling at 26 fireplaces, I thought 5 were hard enough!