Occasionally brick looks amazing — and sometimes it’s an eyesore. Depending upon the style of your home, a brick fireplace or fireplace may detract from your ideal ambience. Though painting the brick in your home was touted as a simple DIY fix, it has its own downsides. Be cautious before whipping out your roller and painter’s tape — there are some important factors to remember before tackling this home project.
We spoke with three professionals to receive their take on painting brick. Diana Zumeta of Brick Restoration, Scott Crocker of Crocker Breslin Architects and Rick Watson from Sherwin-Williams provide us their two cents on the dangers involved painting brick.
Should You Paint Your Brick?
Think carefully prior to painting interior or exterior brick. Brick is chosen as a building material because of its built-in and durable 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 preparation.” According to the Brick Industry Association, if you paint your exterior brick, then you ought to be repaint it every three to four years.
The caliber 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 pores at the brick’s surface, which may result in existing problems to become exaggerated over time. “When water seeps in through the mortar, in addition, it seeps into the brick through the interior, and since the majority of the surface area is blocked, the moisture cannot evaporate off,” states Zumeta. Often this causes the paint to chip off.
Also keep in mind that removing paint from bricks is not an simple process. Chemicals have to be used, and often the paint won’t come off. If you don’t like the appearance, you might be stuck with it.
The Hazards
“Ask yourself whether you’re covering up something which should be addressed individually,” says Crocker. He recommends getting in contact with the original owners or the builder who set up the brick, whenever possible, to discover any problems that might arise. “You have to be quite cautious when you’re altering the exterior makeup of a wall,” says Crocker.
Moisture is an issue that’s usually evident right off the bat. Water can enter brick through brick pores, pristine mortar joints, sills, copings and other openings. Ensure that your brick is totally dry before you paint it the chance of long-term or immediate damage is less likely.
The natural chemical property of bricks might impact your paint’s durability too. According to the Brick Industry Association, most bricks are impartial, but mortar often has a basic alkalinity. Paint products can be affected, therefore alkaline-resistant primer is usually recommended.
“Efflorescence” is a big word for that annoying white residue which often seems on older brick walls. This residue is made up of deposits of saltwater salt build-up, often from moisture inside the brick. Eliminate the efflorescence with water and a stiff brush prior to painting your brick, and wait to see whether it returns. If it does, you may get a bigger problem on your hands which requires professional help.
Ken Gutmaker Architectural Photography
How to Prep Brick for Painting
“Most project complications occur when folks rush the preparation process,” says Watson. “In case your brick is brand new, wait at least a year before painting it allow for drying, drying and leaching.”
Always clean brickwork before painting it, and let it dry for at least 24 hours prior to painting it or employing a water repellant. Don’t use acid cleaning options when cleaning your brick adhere to easy water and soap. Acidic solutions can lead to paint chipping.
Seal any cracks and repoint (rekindle the external mortar joints, or pointing) if needed. Get rid of efflorescence wash off dirt and eliminate mold with weed killer.
Greymark Construction Company
The Best Paint for Brick
Keep in mind that exterior and interior walls should be treated differently, because exterior brick comes into contact with ground components. The Brick Industry Association also advises using a porous paint for exterior brick walls, so the brick can breathe.
“Choosing a high-quality paint is very important for painting brick successfully,” says Watson. Both Watson and Crocker advocate using specific masonry paint products for painting brick, starting out with a conditioner and a primer, and then employing a breathable latex exterior or interior paint, like Sherwin-Williams’ SuperPaint Acrylic Latex.
Zumeta urges looking into having your brick professionally stained, instead of painted. Even though it can be expensive, a brick stain penetrates the pores of the brick, like paint, which sits on the surface. It creates new color without a number of the long-term dangers which include paint.
More: How to Paint Brick Like a Pro
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