Painting Brick Inside Your Home
If you have lived in a home for several years and have one of those old red brick fireplaces then you might consider giving it a facelift with paint. Painting brick inside your home can give a whole new look and feel to the space. Usually a brick fireplace winds up being the focal point in a room. But let’s say you want it to blend into the walls so it doesn’t stand out as much - paint the brick a similar color as the walls. With paint, the possibilities are really endless.
When people think of painting brick, it does seem like a daunting task. And to be honest with you, it will take time because it needs to be done properly. The prep work is the most important step before priming and painting the brick inside your home. Here are the steps involved in painting interior brick:
1. Cleaning – Over the years brick can collect a lot of dust especially between the brick and mortar. That can be removed with a stiff duster brush and then vacuumed away. As you are cleaning, you should keep an eye out for any damage in the brick and mortar that might need to be repaired before painting. Some fireplaces that are used more will have soot and powder deposit build up. It is very important to clean as much of this off before priming. This can be done by washing the surface with TSP. Remember that this will require a lot of rinsing and once that is done, you will have to wait at least 12 hours so that the surface can fully dry before the next step.
2. Repairs - After cleaning, you will need to take care of any holes or cracks in the brick and mortar. For small cracks, you can use a little bit of light weight spackle or even caulk. For areas that need more attention, they do have special materials on the market or you can use a textured caulk. Ask for advice at your local home supply or paint store.
3. Taping – Go around the fireplace with painter’s tape to protect the walls. You will also want to tape the mantel and cover the floors with dropcloths.
4. Priming - If the surface is not cleaned properly and you go ahead and prime, dust and soot particles will create a barrier between the paint and the brick. It is very important that the primer adheres to the surface because it is going to be the foundation for the actual paint. A good primer to use is a primer that is specifically used for masonry. Roll on the primer with a thick nap roller to get into all of the recessed areas. You will then need to use a paint brush to get into the grout lines. You may only need one coat of primer depending on the coverage. If you can still see through the primer to the brick, then apply another coat. Follow the dry time instructions on the primer as to when you continue with the actual painting. Usually it will be between 1 and 3 hours.
5. Painting - This will be the easy part in comparison to everything else. Water based paint can be used. And since you are working closely with the paint and will be applying several coats, it is best to not have to breath in terrible paint fumes. Just like the priming, you will also use a roller and a brush to paint the surface of the brick. You will want to start at the top and work your way down and across in sections. Keep an eye out for your corners, because this is where paint accumulates and drips down. You will want to catch them as you are working, because once they are dry, they are difficult to fix and touch up. You will definitely need to apply at least 2 coats, maybe more depending on how well you are able to cover the surface.
So, there you have it – a few simple steps to painting brick within your home. Yes, it can be tedious, but once you get past the cleaning and priming – it will be well worth it to give your brick fireplace a wonderful new look that will compliment your style and décor.
And if reading this how to article on painting brick has caused you to hesitate a bit about whether or not to attempt this project on your own, you can always hire a professional painting contractor who can get it done for you. Check out our directory of qualified painting professionals. Just put your info above in the yellow search bar and you will be provided with a list of painters in your local area.
1. Cleaning – Over the years brick can collect a lot of dust especially between the brick and mortar. That can be removed with a stiff duster brush and then vacuumed away. As you are cleaning, you should keep an eye out for any damage in the brick and mortar that might need to be repaired before painting. Some fireplaces that are used more will have soot and powder deposit build up. It is very important to clean as much of this off before priming. This can be done by washing the surface with TSP. Remember that this will require a lot of rinsing and once that is done, you will have to wait at least 12 hours so that the surface can fully dry before the next step.
2. Repairs - After cleaning, you will need to take care of any holes or cracks in the brick and mortar. For small cracks, you can use a little bit of light weight spackle or even caulk. For areas that need more attention, they do have special materials on the market or you can use a textured caulk. Ask for advice at your local home supply or paint store.
3. Taping – Go around the fireplace with painter’s tape to protect the walls. You will also want to tape the mantel and cover the floors with dropcloths.
4. Priming - If the surface is not cleaned properly and you go ahead and prime, dust and soot particles will create a barrier between the paint and the brick. It is very important that the primer adheres to the surface because it is going to be the foundation for the actual paint. A good primer to use is a primer that is specifically used for masonry. Roll on the primer with a thick nap roller to get into all of the recessed areas. You will then need to use a paint brush to get into the grout lines. You may only need one coat of primer depending on the coverage. If you can still see through the primer to the brick, then apply another coat. Follow the dry time instructions on the primer as to when you continue with the actual painting. Usually it will be between 1 and 3 hours.
5. Painting - This will be the easy part in comparison to everything else. Water based paint can be used. And since you are working closely with the paint and will be applying several coats, it is best to not have to breath in terrible paint fumes. Just like the priming, you will also use a roller and a brush to paint the surface of the brick. You will want to start at the top and work your way down and across in sections. Keep an eye out for your corners, because this is where paint accumulates and drips down. You will want to catch them as you are working, because once they are dry, they are difficult to fix and touch up. You will definitely need to apply at least 2 coats, maybe more depending on how well you are able to cover the surface.
So, there you have it – a few simple steps to painting brick within your home. Yes, it can be tedious, but once you get past the cleaning and priming – it will be well worth it to give your brick fireplace a wonderful new look that will compliment your style and décor.
And if reading this how to article on painting brick has caused you to hesitate a bit about whether or not to attempt this project on your own, you can always hire a professional painting contractor who can get it done for you. Check out our directory of qualified painting professionals. Just put your info above in the yellow search bar and you will be provided with a list of painters in your local area.