Should you paint facebrick

While the brick is still structurally sound and is a necessary part of a home, it gets stained and weathered, losing its beauty and uniformity. Homeowners start to look for options on what can be done to refresh the look of their brick homes.

 

Face brick homes have been a popular choice for many homeowners through the years. With time, however, even brick will lose some of its appeal, succumbing to the forces of nature and beginning to look worn and aged.

The most striking and economical solution to this problem is to paint brick exterior walls. This option has many advantages, and is definitely worth consideration. Perhaps the most important advantage to painting the bricks is that, when done correctly, the paint will protect the structure of your home from the elements, which can erode mortar and further damage bricks.

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In addition to its effectiveness, painted brick is also beautiful. A properly applied covering of paint can restore the uniform appearance of brick that has eroded or chipped, and it also effectively masks stains and imperfections. Painting a brick exterior can drastically change the look of a whole home, making it fresh and vibrant.

However, consider the fact that the decision to paint your brick is permanent. The brick can be repainted other colours in the future, but it can never be returned to its previous appearance. It is also important to be aware of the factors that can cause premature paint failure on brick homes: high alkalinity or moisture content in the brick or mortar will prevent paint from performing as it should. In addition, improper application of the paint will lead to its untimely cracking and flaking.

How to paint a face brick home exterior

YOU WILL NEED:

High-pressure washer or hose and scrubbing brush

Dropcloths

Various sizes paintbrush and long-pile paint rollers

Paint trays and buckets

Plascon Micatex

Plascon Damp Seal - optional

Stepladder

 

HERE'S HOW:

Step 1

Whether you decide to paint your house exterior yourself or hire a contractor, proper surface preparation and high-quality materials are essential. Before any painting takes place you need to prep the surface. For relatively new brickwork it may only need a good hosing down. Older brick will need to be washed with a high-pressure washer and scrubbed down to remove efflorescence (white powdery mineral deposits that leach to the surface), grime and dirt.

DIY TIP:
When using a high-pressure spray, stand back at least a metre from the surface of the brick wall, as the high pressure can loosen mortar.

Step 2

Cracks in brickwork and crumbling mortar will need to be repaired in advance and given time to dry out. Gaps around window and door frames can be filled with an exterior acrylic sealer such as Alcolin MS37 Expansion Joint Sealer. Where there is a plastered apron around the base of walls, fix up any chips or dents in the plasterwork.

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Step 3

Treat any signs of efflorescence or damp by applying Plascon Damp Seal to those areas, particularly around the base of walls or where water pipes run down walls.

This will prevent future bubbling and peeling of these painted areas and ensure a longer lasting paint job.

Step 4

Use Plascon Micatex for painting exterior walls. Micatex is not only UV-resistant, it also protects exterior surfaces and provides additional waterproofing against damp. As a textured paint, Micatex will also fill in hairline cracks and is excellent for use on exterior brickwork.

Apply the paint with a paintbrush around edges and behind gutters and a long-pile brush on rough brickwork. Plan on doing two coats for the best looking and longest lasting paint job.

DIY TIP:
Make sure you have all the equipment you will need for the project. If you don't have your own stepladders, you can hire these by the day. For a double-storey home you will need some form of scaffolding to be able to work safely, and again, scaffolding can be hired for a day or two.

Step 5

Frames and trim are best painted last and you can use a suitable product for these areas. Paint other elements of your house like the trim, soffits and gutters after you're finished with the concrete brick painting. Painting brick can be messy and you'll get brick paint on your trim and woodwork.