In some circles, painting brick can be a controversial move. It’s not always the right move depending on the brick at your building. However, it can yield some great results if you know what you’re doing. You need to make sure your brick is a good candidate for painting, prepare the brick properly, and then apply the proper kind of paint. Here’s how to do it.
Is Your Brick a Good Candidate?
Many people want to paint their brick because it is in bad shape. However, that’s not necessarily a good candidate for painting. Brick is a porous material that needs to be able to breathe. If the brick is cracking, chipping, or otherwise falling apart, you need to first determine why. If there is moisture underneath the foundation of the brick, it could undermine the integrity of the material in ways that will only get worse when you paint it. If the brick is struggling with moisture, that moisture could cause the paint to peel and chip soon. One sign is efflorescence; this is the whitish substance that you see on brick over time. It is the result of residue from water soluble minerals being left behind after moisture evaporates.
If the brick is in good shape or if you’ve determined why it was falling apart, you’re ready to paint.
Prepare the Brick
To prepare the brick, you need to clean it. You shouldn’t use anything acidic. That could leave behind a residue that makes it more difficult for the paint to adhere. Use simple soap and water to clean off the brick. Since it is porous, you’ll need to allow a few hours for it to dry. Twenty-four hours is recommended to ensure the brick is completely dry. Once that time has passed, you’re ready to paint the brick.
Choose The Right Paint
There are paints that are specially designed to work with brick. These are typically breathable latex paints. You want a breathable paint so that the brick can still breathe. That will help prevent mold, mildew, and paint peeling. The brick itself is generally pH neutral, unless it is the brick around a fireplace. The brick around a fireplace can be acidic due to creosote. The mortar between the bricks, however, is usually slightly alkaline. So, you need to choose an alkaline-resistant primer for your brick.
Once you’ve done, roll on the paint in even coats. It might take more than one coat to get the paint even.