Like us, our houses need a makeover too. Over time, colors fade and a house starts looking old and dull. The external walls are exposed to sunlight and weather changes, which is why they get a faded look and need repainting. This DecorDezine article tells you how to paint a brick house exterior.
| Quick Tip Do not use any acid cleaning solutions or hard bristled brushes on your brick wall if it is already damaged. |
When we talk about giving a makeover to our house, we always concentrate on the interiors. Seldom do we realize that the house exteriors are as important. The external surfaces of a house are exposed to the changing weather conditions and need to be repainted after every few years. Here’s your guide to painting the exterior walls of a brick house.
Bricks are blocks that are made from clay, soil, sand, lime, etc. by baking them on fire. Used as a building material, bricks have a porous surface, making it difficult to paint them. The pores absorb paint and make the brick surface visible. Thus, think paints are required to paint brick surfaces. An elastodynamic paint or an acrylic latex paint should be your choice, as general oil-based paints may not be suitable for brick walls.
◆ An elastodynamic paint is known as a water-repellant paint, which keeps the brick walls safe during the bad weather. As it is dense with a higher elasticity, it fills cracks and pores on the surface, thus securing the bricks.
◆ An acrylic latex paint is a moisture-resistant paint that does not allow any mildew to form on the brick walls. The paint is known for its adhesive qualities and durability.
Painting the external walls of a brick house helps give it a fresh look and also increases the life of the bricks. Choose a paint that protects the surfaces from harsh weather and take the necessary care while painting. Here, we give you a step-by-step procedure to repaint your brick house and make it a warm and welcoming abode.
You will need…
➜ Pressure washer
➜ Stiff-bristled brush
➜ Old newspapers, plastic sheets, and painter’s tape
➜ Scraper
➜ Acrylic caulk and caulk gun
➜ Paintbrush/roller/sprayer
➜ Paint
1. Cleaning the Bricks
◆ The first step it to clean the bricks with water. Use a pressure washer that can give around 1500 to 2000 PSI. Such a force of water helps you remove any dirt residue off the wall. Spray the water from top to bottom and left to right. This will ensure coverage of the maximum area.
◆ Do not use a water force of more than 2000 PSI to avoid damage to the brick wall.
◆ You can use soap for cleaning the dirt deposits and stains.
◆ For tougher stains, scrub the wall with a stiff-bristled brush.
2. Covering the Surface
◆ Before you start painting the walls, you will need to cover things that you do not wish to paint. Cover the windows and doors with old newspapers or plastic sheets. Secure them with a painter’s tape, which is easier to remove in the end. Cover electrical outlets and fixtures with plastic sheets. You could also choose to remove the electric fittings till the painting job is done.
3. Cleaning the Cracks
◆ After securing the doors and windows, check for any cracks in the brick wall. You will need to clean those cracks before you can fill them. Use a scraper to remove the dirt stuck in them. With the same scraper, widen the cracks a little. It makes it easier to fill the cracks with caulk to seal them properly.
4. Sealing the Cracks
◆ For a filler, use 100% acrylic caulk. Use a caulk gun to fill the gaps and cracks. The gun will help you fill even the thinnest cracks on the wall. Let the filling dry completely before applying a primer.
5. Applying a Primer
◆ Before painting the wall with your favorite color, it is necessary to give it a wash of primer. It creates a smooth surface for the paint and provides extra protection to the wall. Let the primer dry completely before painting the wall.
6. Painting a Brick House Exterior
◆ Apply the chosen paint with a paint sprayer, a roller, or a paint brush.
◆ While painting the wall, choose a direction of progress. For example, paint the whole wall going right to left. This ensures similar paint strokes on the wall.
◆ Overlap the already painted areas as you move from one side to another while painting. This trick will help you cover the entire surface.
◆ A paint brush works great to fill the small areas with precision. A sprayer or roller cannot do a good job when it comes to smaller and difficult areas. Dip the brush in the paint, remove the excess paint from the brush, and paint the tricky areas like window borders with its tip.
◆ Let the paint dry completely before you remove the covers from doors and windows.
And it’s done…
Repeat the steps to paint all the external walls of your brick house.
The other option is to get the painting done by a professional. However, it will add to your expenses and deprive you of the experience of DIY!
