brick by brick: how do you paint brick walls the right way?

Bricks have shaped Britain’s architectural identity for centuries, from the practical red brick of the Industrial Revolution to the grand and ornate brickwork on Victorian townhouses. It’s clear that brickwork is here to stay, but its rough and ready appearance doesn’t have to be! If you’re looking to refresh an old interior wall, brighten up a dull exterior, or add an eye-catching accent to any room, painting brick can be an interior design game-changer. But it isn’t as simple as grabbing a brush and a standard tin of emulsion. Bricks require the right preparation and technique to avoid flaky, uneven, and short-lived finishes. So, how do you paint brick walls correctly? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step (or brick-by-brick!) to help breathe new life into your brick features.

Skip to:

• Should you paint brickwork?
• Choosing your paint and primer
  • Paint
  • Primer
• Equipment list
• How do you paint brick walls?
  • Prep
  • Prime
  • Paint
• Closing thoughts

should you paint brickwork?

Painting brickwork is no straightforward task. The process itself can be tricky, and the porous surface of the brick makes potential bad paint jobs difficult to remove (though it is possible, and we have a whole dedicated guide if you need it!) For this reason, you may want to consider hiring a professional decorator to ensure that your brick painting project is completed to a high standard.

But, if you prepare well with the right knowledge and skills, painting brick walls and features can actually become relatively easy! Adding a distinctive touch to both your indoor and outdoor spaces, the work is well worth it and offers numerous benefits including:

• Improved kerb appeal, and in turn, increased home value.
• Easier cleaning and maintenance, especially when choosing a smooth or glossy masonry paint.
• Protection of the masonry itself from moisture, cracking, and dirt.
• Ability to cover low-quality or unattractive brickwork in an affordable and time-efficient manner.

So, why wouldn’t you? The only question that remains is exactly how do you paint brick walls properly? Well, we’re glad you asked…

choosing your paint and primer

Choosing an appropriate paint and primer is important no matter what material you are painting, but when it comes to the unique properties of brick taking your time with this step is even more important.

paint

type

Brick is best tackled by a high quality masonry paint. This is because specialist masonry paint is formulated to adhere to the porous mineral surfaces of stone, concrete, and of course, brick. Such formulations also include features such as weather resistance, durability, and breathability, all of which are useful for exterior and interior projects alike.

However, it is important to note that you should consider any extra requirements your specific project may have. For instance, whilst masonry paint tends to be weather resistant, not all products are waterproof, meaning that for exterior walls you may need to choose a specialist exterior masonry paint. Another common example is making sure to choose a heat-resistant product for painting fireplaces.

colour

In addition to specialist features, you should consider the colour and finish of the paint – in other words, get creative! Masonry paint is now available in a huge variety of colours, and colour match options such as Zinsser’s Allcoat Exterior make the aesthetic possibilities practically limitless. There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to masonry colour choice: vibrant accents to seamless neutral blends are all possible.

However, it may be useful to consider the maintenance requirements of the colour – painting a brick fireplace in a dazzling bright white might not be the best move if you’re looking to skip regular touch-ups!

finish

Which brings us nicely on to the last consideration: finish. You’ll find both matt and gloss options on the market, and which you choose largely depends on the look you’re going for. With this in mind, finishes such as complete matt or eggshell give a more traditional feel, whereas semi-gloss and gloss finishes have the upper hand when it comes to ease of cleaning and maintenance.

Ultimately, your main consideration should be quality. Cheap paint, even if it is classed as masonry paint, is much more susceptible to moisture ingress, causing more damage and costing more money in the long run. Therefore, it is advisable to stick with top-quality, advanced options such as those in Farrow & Ball’s exterior masonry finish that marry aesthetics with function, or Sandtex’s High Cover Smooth Masonry range for a trade-level product.

primer

When considering how to paint brickwork, the primer you choose can be the make or break of the project. This is because brick, as an uneven surface, requires a good level of assistance to adhere to the paint properly.

Similar to paint, a specialist masonry primer is your best bet as they tend to be on the thinner side and are therefore better able to penetrate the porous surface of brick. Additionally, look for primers with stain-blocking and water-repellent properties, especially when thinking about how to paint a brick wall exterior that must directly contend with the elements.

We recommend Zinsser’s Bullseye 123 primer for a classic all-round product that suits both interior and exterior use. Alternatively, if your brick is particularly troublesome, Zinsser Gardz is an excellent solution that provides a next-level seal for porous and chalky surfaces.

equipment list

We’ve covered paint and primer, but what else do you need? Well, here’s a handy list (aren’t you lucky!):

• Water and sugar soap (or a non-acidic cleaner)
• Wire or scrub brush
• Painter’s tape
• Dust sheet
• Caulk or filler
• Sandpaper
• Powerwasher (useful for external surfaces)
• Cutting edge paintbrush
• Long pile roller
• Masonry paint of choice
• Masonry primer of choice

how do you paint brick walls?

So, we’ve covered whether you should paint brick walls, how to choose your paint and primer, and the equipment you’ll need for the project. Let’s get down to business and paint (at least after prepping and priming)!

prep

1. Prepare your area – Lay down your protective drop cloth and gather your equipment.
2. Fill any holes or cracks and check for any structural issues – Using a suitable caulk or filler, tackle any holes or cracks in the brickwork by slightly overfilling them with the caulk and then sanding the surface until it is smooth. If you notice any particularly tricky areas, or anything that looks structurally unsound, reach out to a professional before proceeding.
3. Clean the surface – Using a wire brush and your chosen soap or cleaner, gently scrub the surface to remove dust, dirt, and debris. For large external areas, a powerwash on a low setting can save time and energy. Now is also the time to deal with any mould with an effective remover if required.
4. Allow the surface to completely dry – After cleaning, allow the brick to dry for at least 24 hours before applying any priming product.
5. Cover areas you won’t be painting – Use painter’s tape to neatly cover skirting boards and trims. For external projects, covering pipes and gutters with newspaper can save time!

prime

• Recheck for gaps and holes – Once the surface has been allowed to dry for a while, do a once-over for any missed gaps, cracks, or holes. Flaws become significantly more noticeable when the surface is painted, and so now is the best time to make sure the surface is as smooth as possible!
• Cut in edges with a paintbrush – Going in with your chosen primer and a cutting brush, outline the area with primer.
• Use a long pile roller to prime the large area – To ensure the effect of the primer is maximised, use a long pile roller to get the product in all the nooks and crannies of the brick.
• Leave to dry and apply a second coat if required – Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time. If the brick is a particularly troublesome or rough surface, consider adding a second coat.

paint

1. Paint the mortar lines and cut in the edges – Following the same technique as the priming step, use a cutting paintbrush to neatly outline the area. Then, using the same brush, apply your chosen paint to the mortar lines between the individual bricks.
2. Use a long pile roller to paint the large area – Working from the top down, use a high pile roller to apply a first coat. Keep a paintbrush handy to deal with any surprise drips or runs!
3. Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat – Once the first coat is completely dry, apply a second slightly thicker coat by following the same technique. If you’re dealing with a particularly dark brick, or if your chosen paint is of a lower quality, you may need to repeat the process a third time to achieve opacity.
4. Added extras – Depending on your specific project, there may be other painting to do. For example, those painting a brick fireplace may wish to paint the mantel. Now’s the time to do so!
5. Allow the paint to completely dry – Once the painting process is complete, remove the painter’s tape. Then, before moving any furniture back into the space, allow the paint to dry for about 24-48 hours.

closing thoughts

If you’ve reached the end of this post, then you’re well on your way to being able to answer, ‘how do you paint brick walls?’ With the right prep, tools, and techniques, you can transform dull or outdated brick into a stunning feature that stands out from the crowd. So, grab your brushes and enjoy the process – one brick at a time!

There’s plenty more where this came from. Explore our other blog posts for advice and inspiration on all things painting and decorating.