Recommendations You Should Listen Before Painting a Brick House

Brick houses usually look very nice. However, painting them could be a double-edged sword. It may enhance the beauty of your home by getting attached to its style. On the other hand, it may end up worsening it and making it look terrible.

Several people recommend painting the house by yourself, but likely, the conditions or materials might not be the most adequate. That is why professional contracting services are the most recommended option.

You will learn some aspects of painting brick houses that can help you obtain your desired results.

What could go wrong when painting a house?

As previously mentioned, one possible consequence of painting a brick house is harming the excellent look. Nevertheless, there are some structural damages that the painting brings.

Most of them are related to moisture. We could say that the bricks need to “breathe.” Thus, putting a paint layer over the bricks will be an obstacle for them, and they will no longer “breathe” properly. Consequently, erosion is very likely to affect the bricks and put the home’s structural integrity at risk.

Painting Brick House – How should you prepare the bricks before painting them?

How clean should the bricks be?

Of course, the bricks should be as clean as possible at the moment of painting. Thus, providing a proper cleaning is a must. Usually, there is a lot of dust, cobwebs, mildew, and efflorescence on the bricks that must be removed.

One of the most effective ways to clean it is through pressure washing. Nonetheless, you can also create a cleaning soap water mixture and use a stiff-bristled soap to clean it. Likewise, you should take into account that brick should never be painted with acid cleaning solutions as it may ruin the paint job.

Do you have to repair the bricks?

Once you have all the bricks adequately cleaned, you should also look for any damage that they may have. It could have any type of hole, gaps, or crumbling as well as any water damage such as damp spots or mold growth.

All these damages should be fixed as soon as possible. You can use acrylic exterior caulk to fill blemishes in minor issues. However, for larger cracks, you may use a mortar.

When is the appropriate time to do it?

One of the aspects that a brick house owner should take into consideration is when painting it. The weather conditions can play a crucial role in the process. For instance, if it is winter, the cold, rain, or wind may negatively impact the results.

Also, when the temperature is below 5°C, the ability of the paint to dry is not the same. In this case, the water struggles to evaporate to dry the paint. That is why oil-based masonry paints are used in these cases. Similarly, being too hot is not necessarily good. Therefore, the optimal temperature and weather conditions must be found to start the process.

What are the Best Tools and Materials?

Usually, the most common way to paint a house is by using a roller. However, we have to consider the surface of the bricks. As they have several joints, the roller would not be able to get into all of them. Hence, using a sprayer would be more appropriate.

With a sprayer, even over-grouted joints can be painted appropriately. Overall, it is much easier than with a roller. You should also have a brush for any drips or hard-to-reach areas.

What Painting Should You Use?

The type of paint you use also plays a crucial role in your results. In the case of brick houses, the best recommendation is either to use a mineral-based paint or a latex paint made specifically for masonry. Likewise, the painting technique is essential. It would be best to start with the top of the walls, work around the edges, and finally, the rest of the surface.

Before applying the second coat of paint, you should wait at least 4 to 6 hours for the paint to dry. You must do the same if you want to apply a third coat of paint.

Specifically, it is better to start with a conditioner and a primer and then use a breathable latex exterior or interior paint. Primers work as glue, allowing the paint to adhere as efficiently as possible to the surface. When applying it, you may leave it to dry for around 3 to 5 hours; nonetheless, this will depend on the climate conditions.

Extra Tips for Painting Brick House

• A helpful tip before painting your brick house is to cover the windows and doors with newspaper. They also have to be firmly taped with painter’s tape so that you don’t paint any undesired parts.
• Moreover, items such as the mailbox or light fixtures must be removed to protect the surfaces. You can also preserve nearby bushes or plants with plastic sheeting or drop cloths. Remember to water your plants before covering them so that they don’t die.
• Painting a brand-new brick is not the best idea you could have. This can exude a powdery substance. Thus, being chalky is not very beneficial for holding the paint. An approximate time of one month should be enough for the brick to be ready to be painted.
• As now the look of your house has been renovated, you may be able to make some other changes to increase its curb appeal. You may consider changing the house letter or numbers, mailbox, or even your garden or landscaping. Additionally, this would help the house to increase its real-estate value.

We Paint Your Brick House Properly

As you can see, people commit several mistakes when painting brick houses. It would help if you were careful with the preparation and materials.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for the best painting services to make your brick house look stunning. In that case, you should contact Martin’s Bay Area Construction now. We will provide the best painting service you can get!