5 Steps for Painting an Interior Brick Wall

Brick can be a stylish design element in your room, when it’s well maintained and taken care of. Removing it is a really large and messy task. Rather than go through that, update your brick wall by painting it an appealing color that makes it feel more updated. Here are 5 steps for painting an interior brick wall.

With any painting project, preparation will determine the quality of your outcome. You can get a professional and beautiful finished project by putting in the work before you begin painting.

Before you start, assess the condition of your brick. Brick that has significant damage will not be a good candidate for painting. Any chipping, molding or poor condition will affect your outcome. But if it’s in good shape, proceed with painting!

How much paint

Because brick is porous, it will absorb paint like a sponge. You’ll need to get more paint than you normally work for a project of this size. Estimate on the high side and you’ll be set with what you need to finish the job.

Clean it

You must remove all dust and dirt in the bumps, holes and cracks of the brick. If you fail to remove it all, the paint won’t be able to adhere to the bricks well. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment or a broom to sweep out any dirt that might be hanging in the bricks and grout.

Get a scrub brush and some soapy water to clean down the area to be painted. Do not use any sort of acid cleaning solutions. They could compromise not only your paint job, but the brick itself. Once you have finished washing, wait for at least 24 hours before moving forward.

Prime the area

Anytime there is discoloration or water damage, priming is absolutely necessary. Some pros suggest that you’ll end up with a better finish using prime no matter what. ECOS Paints Universal Primer is durable and a non-toxic stain blocker. It adheres well to brick to create a professional looking finished job. If you choose an oil-based primer, use a respirator and make sure the room is extremely well ventilated. The fumes from primers can be very overwhelming.

Pick a paint

ECOS carries great choices in color in their wall or trim paint lines. They have the added benefit of being low odor and really durable. Brick walls should be painted in an eggshell or high gloss finish so that it will be cleanable, particularly if it’s around a fireplace where soot could be involved.

Apply paint

For the paint, use a 1 ¼ inch paint roller sleeve. You’ll want the thickest available to get paint into every nook and cranny. Move the roller very slowly on the brick to leave ample paint behind, while avoiding splatter. Carry a brush with you to touch up missed spots as you go. With a thick paint like this, allow a lot of dry time, then follow it up with a second coat.