How to Paint a Crumbling Brick Basement Wall

Refresh a crumbling brick wall with a fresh paint job.

Crumbling, distressed bricks give a sense of character and history to a wall, but their rough edges accumulate dirt and grime that can prevent paint adhesion. Extensive washing, preparation and priming is imperative for successfully painting a distressed brick surface.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Chisel
• Mortar mix
• Trowel
• Wheel rake
• Muriatic acid
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution
• Stiff bristle brush
• Masking tape
• Plastic sheet
• Masonry primer
• 2-inch angled nylon brush
• Paint roller
• Latex paint

Instructions

1. Remove loose, crumbling bits of brick and mortar with your hands and with a hammer and chisel. You will need to replace large gaps in the wall with mortar to preserve the structural integrity of the wall.

2. Add water to your mortar mix until it achieves a mud-like consistency. Squeeze the mortar mix into a ball when you think it’s ready. If the ball holds its shape, the mortar is ready to use.

3. Pack mortar into gaps, using your fingers or a trowel. Drag a wheel rake along the mortar to make it smooth and even with the existing mortar. Allow the mortar to dry completely before cleaning the wall.

4. Remove dried mortar from the surfaces of bricks with muriatic acid and a stiff-bristle brush.

5. Scrub the entire wall surface with a TSP solution, using a stiff-bristle brush, to remove dirt and grime.

6. Mask any areas of the room you want to protect from paint, using masking tape and plastic sheets.

7. Apply masonry primer to hard-to-reach places and the corners and edges of the wall, using a nylon brush. Prime the rest of the wall with a paint roller, applying strokes in a “W” shape to ensure smooth, even coverage. Allow the primer to dry, and apply a second coat. Because brick is very porous, a double coat of primer is necessary to prevent paint absorption.

8. Apply one or two coats of paint over the primer, using the same methods used to apply the primer. Allow the paint to dry between coats.

References

• Behr: How to Paint Brick
• Masonry Magazine; Mixing Mortar for Properties – The Prescription Mortar Method; Tom Inglesby
• Reader’s Digest: How to Replace Brick Mortar