Painted Brick: The Newest House Painting Trend
Posted on March 8, 2019
With the warmer weather comes the thought of adding to the facade of our homes. Sure, painting siding is easy, and it’s even easier if you have a stucco or wood home. But what happens if it’s brick. Are you left out of the outdoor updates? No! Join in painting brick, the newest exterior house painting trend.
Pros of Painted Brick
Painted brick is a great way to make a big impact on the curb appeal of your home. As an affordable and durable solution, painting bricks on your home can make a big impact with a small budget.
Cons of Painted Brick
If you leave bricks in their natural state, they require very little maintenance. Painted bricks need power washing and repainting every so often, depending on the climate and quality of paint used. Once you have committed to painting your bricks, there is no turning back.
How to Paint Brick
Clean it
Pressure washing gives the best results with the smallest amount of work. Don’t go higher than 1,500 or 2,000 pounds per square inch or you run the risk of damaging the mortar. Give your bricks some time to dry before moving on.
Remove loose paint and fix mortar
Do a once-over of your bricks and remove any pieces of mortar knocked loose or any chipping areas of paint.
Sand smooth
Sand the brick smoother with a circular sander and 80 grit paper. This will create a good surface for your new paint to adhere to.
Prime brick
You will need to use a high-quality acrylic or latex masonry primer. Prime both the bricks and the mortar. Plan for a couple of hours for the primer to dry before moving on.
Caulk and seal
Seal any potential areas that could let water in including doors, windows, trim, and chimneys. Use a quality caulk and check the work after several hours. Repeat if necessary.
Remove dust
Bring your vacuum out and remove any remaining dust from the facade of the home.
Paint the Brick
Since this is a home exterior, elastomeric or 100% acrylic latex are the two best options. Apply two coats in order to achieve its highest durability. Brush or roll the brick just like you would a normal wall. Use a ¾ inch roller or bigger to hit all of the bricks and mortar.
If you are interested in professional exterior brick painting services, contact us today to get a free estimate.
