Painting Exterior Brick Walls

Painted bricks are a timeless and classing looks for your home exterior. They are fairly inexpensive and are a quick means to improve the look of your property adding character to it. These are just few of the reasons that make painted exterior bricks extremely popular among DIYers.

Why do homeowners choose to paint bricks?

There are plenty of reasons why homeowners whose to paint exterior bricks.

• Boots the appeal of your exterior. If a home’s brick exterior need a makeover, painting it will immediately give it a fresher look. Not only that but painting brick is also a great way to upgrade curb appeal and it might even increase the value of your home when you are selling it. Using a dark color like slate grey or light color paint can reduce the feeling of heaviness that brick walls tend to have.
• Impact protection. What is more, the paint acts as a sealant and will protect your walls from seasonal changes like precipitation, ice, and exceedingly dry conditions, while also reducing fading and deterioration.
• Ease of Cleaning. Brick is a naturally porous material that is hard to clean from dirt and debris trapped inside. Painting it will give it a smoother surface and make cleaning much easier and less time-consuming.
• Cost Efficiency. Whether you are tired of the look of your brick exterior or you just want to spruce it up, you should not overlook the fact that painting already existing bricks is less expensive than replacing the brick with another material.

Tips for Painting Exterior Brick

Painting exterior brick might seem like an easy task. However, as with every similar task, it is good to take precaution and learn some tips and tricks beforehand.

When it comes to painting brick, prepping is an important part that you should not skip it you want the job to be properly done. Make sure you clean it thoroughly to ensure your paint will adhere better. You can use a cleaning mixture or just scrub the surface with soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush. If the bricks are not too dirty, a hose will also do the trick. The use of acid cleaning solutions is not recommended because they could compromise you painting job afterwards.

After you are done with cleaning, make sure you fill in any small cracks with acrylic caulk and let it dry for about 24 hours before applying the next exterior coat of paint. The bricks must be completely dry in order for the paint to adhere properly.

If the bricks are molded, chipped, or deteriorating, you should not paint them. Damaged bricks are susceptible to water and a new coat of paint will not improve their condition and can only worsen your problems.

Since bricks are extremely porous, another thing of great importance is using the right paint for your project. One of the most used paints for bricks is elastodynamic. It has high levels of elasticity and is perfect for filling in cracks and preventing their future appearance. Moreover, elastodynamic paint reacts well with high humidity and precipitation. Another option is using regular acrylic latex exterior paint that might even be a better option because it is designed to stand up against mildew and quickly evaporates any moisture that goes on.

Last but not least, it is vital to use the right tools for painting. The easiest and most time-efficient way to paint brick is by using a sprayer or a roller because they are fast to use and can cover large amounts of area at one time. These options are recommended for people who don’t have much experience in this area or want to cut down on work time. A paint sprayer makes it easier spray at all angles and get into all of the nooks and crannies of the brick. This is especially important if you have over grouted joints.

Painting exterior brick is a preferred option for many home renovation projects and has many benefits to it like the fact that it adds to the appeal and durability of your property. The bottom line is, if you need to renovate your exterior brick walls at a low price, painting your exterior brick walls is relatively easy and can be easily done by anyone who follows the tips mentioned above.