Painting the bricks can be the perfect way to spruce up the exterior of your house, allowing you to enjoy the stylish looks of your home for years ahead. But unlike taking care of a painting job inside your place, painting bricks is more challenging than you think. As many things can go wrong with the project, you need to keep in mind a few useful tips for a DIY job well-done.

Here are Some Painting Tips You Should Always Stick To

Avoid painting new bricks

Freshly installed bricks usually hold onto a powdery substance that will ruin your painting project. For that reason, you shouldn’t rush into painting a brickwork right after the installation has been completed, but wait for at least a month before kicking off with the next step. In a month, your brand-new brick wall will settle and be able to hold on to the paint in the long run.

Clean the surface

Stains, debris, and powder residue will stay trapped over the brickwork; that’s why you should clean your canvas before painting. You don’t want to paint over dust and sand; that will compromise the painting job. Give your brick wall a thorough clean-up with the power washer to eliminate any grime stuck to the surface. However, ensure you don’t apply lots of pressure with the washer. Otherwise, you might cause damage to the brickwork. When you are done cleaning, you should wait for the wall to dry completely before applying the paint. Before painting, you might also want to investigate the surface for possible cracks or missing mortar and fix the faulty areas.

Pick the right primer

Another task you should address before painting a brick exterior is to purchase and apply the right kind of primer. Don’t forget that using a primer before painting a brick surface is a must, as the product fills unwanted crannies, allowing the paint to adhere much better. When shopping for a primer, remember that you can benefit from a product specially made for brickwork. This type of primer is a bit thinner than other solutions on the market, allowing it to penetrate a brick surface easily. Before purchasing a primer, you should also consider the type of paint you are about to apply. If you have picked latex paint, then get a water-based primer. If you have chosen an oil-based kind of paint, an oil-based primer is a way to go.

Invest in quality tools

While any painting job can benefit from decent tools, when painting over a surface as rough as bricks, utilising the best quality equipment is key. To paint a brickwork like a pro, get yourself a brand-new brush with synthetic bristles and don’t be afraid to overspend. If you have an airless paint sprayer, you can use it to get the painting job done. Yet once you are done painting, go over the brick wall with a damp roller to help the primer penetrate the bricks.

Get to know your paint

the type of paint you will select for your brickwork matters a lot, as different kinds of paint come with different advantages and downsides you should be aware of. There is no right or wrong here – you are hardly likely to make a mistake with your choice. Homeowners typically opt for latex paint for their exterior brickwork, as it dries quickly and is simple to keep clean. Oil-based paint usually takes more time to dry, but it is more resistant to wear and tear.

Now that you know all the essential aspects of successfully painting a brick exterior, you can gather your tools and materials and paint over the brick wall like a true expert.

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