Brick is a beautiful and long-lasting material for your home, but not all brick is the same. Some brick just isn't quite as beautiful as others, especially the orange-brown combination that is seen on a lot of homes from the 1970's. This brick can make your home feel older, no matter if you change other aesthetics on the house, the brick is still going to age your home. The good news is that you can paint the brick, but there are a number of steps you should take to get this job done. Read on for tips to paint the brick on your home.
Clean The Brick Thoroughly
The brick on your home is most likely from the 1970's and is probably carrying a lot of dirt from back then as well. Spray down your brick thoroughly with a pressure washer and use a deep cleaning agent to clean the brick, especially along the mortar and in the grooves where dirt can easily hide. Once clean, rinse the brick to remove as much of the cleaning agent as possible. This can hinder the paint adhering to the brick, so be sure you rinse it well.
Make Repairs
Now is a good time to repair your brick and mortar on your home before it's painted. Use concrete caulking to fill in gaps or holes, as well as on the faces of the brick that have holes in them to prevent water or pests from getting inside, and for a more cohesive look.
Start Priming
Once the bricks are repaired, and they have had time to dry, you can begin the painting process. This is going to start with priming your brick. Use an exterior primer to prime the brick and to help prevent the colors from soaking through. For instance, if you're covering the brick with a white paint, the colors can eventually show through. Priming can prevent the color from showing through, and can also protect your paint job from any mold or mildew on the brick from coming through as well. Cover your brick with at least one coat of primer.
Paint The Brick
Paint your brick any color you choose, but be sure the paint you choose is an exterior color and is made to cover brick. Choose a color that can stand the test of time, such as a neutral white, grey or even black. Give it one coat, then allow it to dry before adding a second or third coat if necessary. Spraying the paint on may not give you the coverage needed, so use a paintbrush and thick-napped roller to paint the brick.
If you have unsightly brick on your home, don't cover it with siding or have it removed, paint it instead to still give you the look of brick, but with a color to update your home. Call a professional exterior painter to paint your brick for you.
