Remove any peeling paint from your wall. Scrape paint that is already cracked and peeling with a. Begin your painting project by pouring thoroughly mixed paint into a bucket and dipping a quality 2'-2½' wide nylon/polyester brush into the paint. TIP: When using more than one gallon of paint, combine the containers for better uniformity of color. This intermixing is called 'boxing.'
Sometimes brick looks beautiful — and sometimes it’s an eyesore. Depending on the style of your home, a brick fireplace or wall may detract from your ideal ambience. Although painting the brick in your home has been touted as an easy DIY fix, it has its downsides. Be careful before whipping out your roller and painter’s tape — there are some important considerations to keep in mind before tackling this home project.
We talked with three professionals to get their take on painting brick. Diana Zumeta of Brick Restoration, Scott Crocker of Crocker Breslin Architects and Rick Watson from Sherwin-Williams give us their two cents on the risks involved in painting brick.
Should you paint your brick?
Think carefully before painting interior or exterior brick. Brick is chosen as a building material because of its durable and built-in color — of which there are more choices today. “Most brick was never intended to be painted,” says Crocker. “Long-term, maintenance-free painted brick requires careful planning.” According to the Brick Industry Association, if you paint your exterior brick, you should be repaint it every three to five years.
The quality of your brick also should determine your choice. Brick that’s chipping, deteriorating, molding or in overall poor condition is always a bad candidate for paint. Paint blocks the natural pores in the brick’s surface, which can cause existing problems to become exaggerated over time. “When water seeps in through the mortar, it also seeps into the brick through the inside, and since the bulk of the surface area is blocked, the moisture cannot evaporate off,” says Zumeta. Often this causes the paint to chip off.
Also remember that removing paint from bricks is no easy process. Chemicals have to be used, and often the paint won’t come completely off. If you don’t like the look, you may be stuck with it.
The risks
“Ask yourself if you’re covering up something that should be addressed separately,” says Crocker. He recommends getting in touch with the original owners or the builder who installed the brick, whenever possible, to uncover any problems that might arise. “You have to be very careful when you’re changing the exterior makeup of a wall,” says Crocker.
Moisture is a concern that’s usually apparent right off the bat. Water can enter brick through brick pores, incomplete mortar joints, sills, copings and other gaps. Make sure your brick is completely dry before you paint it — the risk of long-term or immediate damage is less likely.
The natural chemical property of bricks may affect your paint’s durability as well. According to the Brick Industry Association, most bricks are neutral, but mortar often has a basic alkalinity. Paint products can be affected, so alkaline-resistant primer is usually recommended.
“Efflorescence” is a big word for that annoying white residue that often appears on older brick walls. This residue is made up of deposits of water-soluble salt buildup, often from moisture inside the brick. Remove the efflorescence with water and a stiff brush before painting your brick, and wait to see if it returns. If it does, you may have a bigger problem on your hands that requires professional help.
How to prep brick for painting
“Most project complications occur when people rush the preparation process,” says Watson. “If your brick is brand new, wait at least a year before painting it to allow for drying, weathering and leaching.”
Always clean brickwork before painting it, and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before painting it or applying a water repellant. Don’t use acid cleaning solutions when cleaning your brick — stick to simple water and soap. Acidic solutions can result in paint chipping. Good video editing apps for mac.
Seal any cracks and repoint (renew the external mortar joints, or pointing) when needed. Get rid of efflorescence, wash off dirt and eliminate mold with weed killer.
The best paint for brick
Best Paint For Brick Walls
“Choosing a high-quality paint is vital for painting brick successfully,” says Watson. Both Watson and Crocker recommend using specific masonry paint products for painting brick, starting out with a conditioner and a primer, and then using a breathable latex exterior or interior paint, like Sherwin-Williams’ SuperPaint Acrylic Latex.Zumeta recommends looking into having your brick professionally stained, rather than painted. Although it can be more expensive, a brick stain penetrates the pores of the brick, unlike paint, which simply sits on the surface. It creates new color without some of the long-term risks that come with paint.
Step Four: Rolling
Exterior Paint Brush Review
- Once you’ve finished cutting in, start painting with the roller
- Load the roller. Make sure you have an even cover of paint around the roller sleeve before you begin.
- If your roller doesn’t spin evenly, then the paint is uneven and you need to load up again.
- Start rolling from bottom to top moving from one side of the wall to the other. Never start in the middle.
- Use a roller pole to reach further with each stroke.
- Because of the difference in finish between brush and roller, get as close as you can to where you cut in.
- Load up your roller more often so you don’t have to work as hard.
- Each time you finish a three to four metre section you need to lay off your paint.
- Do this by rolling the roller without loading it up with paint. Then roll from the top of the wall to the bottom in one straight stroke.
- Then continue along the length of the painted wall taking care to slightly overlap so you don’t cause streaks.
- It’s important you maintain a wet edge and complete an entire section of wall before stopping so your finish isn’t patchy.
- If the edge dries, it may create a line in your finish.
- Allow at least two hours drying time before applying a second coat.