Painting Bricks

If you had just have your house build and the bricks are still intact then you have a choice of either coloring it or leaving it as it is. By coloring or painting, you have a choice of deciding what the color and of course, design should be. You can try out different colors and see which one suits your bricks the best. Or, if you wouldn’t want to paint it then just leave it as it is of which you can also just touch it up a little.

By painting a coat of paint to the brick wall in your house, this will definitely make the overall look a little bit different from the usual look that you are accustomed to. Especially if you are having a mismatched brick or even stains that cannot be removed, the painting option is the best solution, but remember if the brick wall is still in good condition, try not to paint the brick if possible.

What you need:

  1. Deep nap roller or sponge (cheap method of applying the paint)
  2. Sprayer
  3. Wire brush
  4. Acrylic or silicon caulk
  5. Water and bleach
  6. Latex primer
  7. Colored paint (according to your preferred choice)

Bricks

Method:

  1. A brick has a textured surface and it is important for you to consider how to apply the paint correctly. Some of the methods to apply the paint are by using a deep nap roller, sponge or use a sprayer, in order to allow the primer to be placed into all of the crevices.
  2. Make sure to clean the brick’s surface first before painting it by using a wire brush. Try to remove as much dirt, dust and other debris because if you fail to do this, it will result to you having a grainy texture and also the paint will start to peel off easily.
  3. Once you finish the cleaning, you need to examine the mortar joints to check whether it is crumbly or not. If the problem is major in this area, you need to seek advice from a professional contractor, but if it is minimal you can just use acrylic or silicon caulk to seal them off. Ensure that the caulk you are using is basically suitable for masonry and paint over. Then, leave the caulk to dry thoroughly.
  4. After that, wash the bricks using 3 to 1 mixture of water and bleach; leave the area to dry for at least 48 hours so that you would not trap any moisture beneath your primer.
  5. Use a latex primer to prime the surface specifically used for masonry applications and it is recommended that you apply two thin coats before getting started with the painting job. Leave each of the coats to dry thoroughly before you start getting involved the next step.
  6. Finally, paint the brick with your preferred color onto the surface and apply several coats after another once it has dried thoroughly.

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

How To Paint Brick

Better Homes and Gardens Picture Painter