Can you Paint Brick?
We get asked a lot if we are able to paint brick…
and the answer is actually, of course. You can paint pretty much anything, as long as it is done right, with the right paint and the right technique.
Painting brick can really change the look of a home, an office, or simply your fireplace.
Painting the Exterior Brick of your home can make huge improvements to your home and really bring it up to looking more modern.
I personally love the look of an exterior brick home that is painted or an office wall that is painted white.
Edmonton Home - Painted Brick YEG
How do you prepare brick for painting?
Make sure it is clean. If it is the exterior brick of your home, you can take a pressure washer to it or simply a high-pressure hose. We really just want to get any dirt, debris, and dust off of the brick. Making sure the surface is clean will allow the paint to stick properly.
Priming the brick. There isn’t really a primer made for brick but if you want to try and fill all the holes and divets prior to painting, you can use what is called a Blockfiller Paint. This product has tiny bits of silica sand mixed into the paint to allow the paint to fill small holes and drivers. Primarily, this paint is used as a primer on Cement Block Walls. This step can be skipped. Brick is not a surface that requires primer such as drywall.
Get painting. Start applying paint to the brick. It really is that simple.
What is the easiest way to paint brick?
We have always found using a paint sprayer the easiest way to paint brick. Spraying in several different directions will allow the paint to get in all the cracks, all the drivers, and cover evenly across the surface.
You can use a roller and a brush, but there is a lot more labor involved. So, depending on the amount of brick that you need to paint, you may want to call someone, like us, to help you out with this project.
We are here to help.
Starbucks in Calgary YYC
What type of paint should you use on the brick?
A basic 100% LATEX Acrylic Exterior (or interior for inside your home) paint will do just fine for this project. We have been painting brick for over 17 years and never have we run into any issues with failure of the paint. Brick is actually a really nice surface to paint because of the great amount of surface area. The paint has a lot to grab onto.
I would recommend a flat or satin paint finish when painting your brick. I would only use a semi-gloss on an interior fireplace if I really wanted it to pop.
What is this ‘White Washing’ of Brick’?
White washing is a painting technique where you mix paint with water and then either rag it onto the brick or use a brush to apply and then wipe it off. This leaves the brick looking washed out. You will be able to see part of the brick coming through but you really change the look of the brick. It can look fantastic when done properly. It can also look really bad if done poorly - much like many things in life.
If you have any questions regarding painting brick on the exterior of your home or interior brick, give us a call. We would be happy to help you love the look of your brick home or to help you paint your fireplace to create a really centerpiece to your living room.
