A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for home aesthetics, which includes painting a brick fireplace and home exterior. However, painting bricks is an endeavor that historically gets mixed reviews. Proceeding with caution is always good, such as following tips from the pros when painting your brick fireplace and home exterior.
The most confident and prudent way to proceed with painting brick is with the assistance of professional painters, such as the trusted experts in the St. Louis MO area at SNL Painting, Inc. Undoubtedly, many homeowners have tried painting bricks and ended up regretting it. Helping homeowners avoid regret is what professional painters specialize in. The following are tips for painting a brick fireplace and painting brick houses.
Step 1: Give Emphasis to Prep
The first step to prepare for painting brick is a crucial one, and it is to thoroughly clean the brick. Paint must have a surface to stick to, and it doesn’t do well when applied to a layer of grime and dust. Bricks that don’t look at all dirty often have a surprising amount of dirt that becomes obvious during the cleaning process.
Power washing is typically used before painting brick exterior. To clean manually, scrub diligently using soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush. To remove stubborn soot stains before painting a brick fireplace, using trisodium phosphate (TSP) is helpful. Mix a cup of TSP with a gallon of water.
If you need to remove mildew before painting brick exterior, you can use a solution of one-part bleach to three parts water. Use the same solution for removing efflorescence, which is white staining on the chimney exterior. Allow the solution to soak on the brick face for half an hour and then proceed to scrub using a wire brush. Do not use acidic cleaning solutions on brick because it could have a negative effect on the final results of the paint job.
Step 2: Apply Primer
Use a roller, brush, or paint sprayer to apply latex primer to brick. If more than one coat of primer is appropriate, apply primer one coat at a time, allowing it to fully dry between coats. On areas that have been affected by mildew or efflorescence, add additional coats of primer.
Once the primer has been applied to clean bricks, allow plenty of time for the brick to dry before painting a brick fireplace or painting a brick exterior. The amount of time to dry varies depending on the amount of humidity in the air. In general, wait for at least 24 hours.
Step 3: Choose Paint Suitable for Painting Brick
Regular acrylic latex exterior paint is the top option for painting brick, particularly when painting brick exteriors because the paint is designed to evaporate moisture and prevent the growth of mildew.
Some painting experts favor the use of elastodynamic paint for painting a brick fireplace or home exterior. The paint’s high level of elasticity is ideal for filling and preventing cracks, and it does well in all types of weather as well as in high-humidity climates.
Semi-gloss or gloss paint is also recommended by experts because it is easier to clean and accentuates detail more effectively than other types of paint.
Step 4: Apply Paint
Whether painting bricks in your home interior or exterior, professional painting is always recommended. When opting for DIY painting, you can choose a paint sprayer, which is the easiest approach to painting brick. You can also use a roller. If you go with a paint roller, use one that has a thick nap because, of course, bricks have surface irregularities, nooks, and crannies throughout.
For the best in professional painting in the St. Louis MO area, including painting a brick fireplace and painting brick houses, call SNL Painting, Inc. at (636) 724-6829 today.
