How to Cover Exposed Brick Walls

You can cover an exposed brick wall with a coat of paint or plaster.

While some people prefer the natural look of exposed brick walls, they can make a room appear small, dark and closed in. Painting the exposed brick wall or applying a layer of plaster over it conceals the appearance of the bare brick and gives it a decorative touch. Although both methods vary in their cost, application and final result, they completely seal the surface, making it smooth and crumble-free. Before you begin, spread drop cloths on the floor to catch accidental drips.

Things You'll Need

• Trisodium phosphate detergent
• 5-gallon plastic bucket
• Sponge
• Damp cloth
• Caulk gun
• Sanded caulk tube
• Painter’s tape
• Roller’s pan
• Acrylic primer
• 9-inch paint roller
• 2 1/2-inch angled paintbrush
• Acrylic paint
• Bench brush
• Medium sand
• Portland cement
• Masonry cement
• Wheelbarrow
• Trowel

Instructions

Paint

1. Mix one cup of trisodium phosphate, or TSP, in four gallons of water. Soak a sponge in the solution and rub it on the brick wall to remove accumulated dirt and grime. Wipe the wall afterward with a damp cloth to remove residual solution. Let the wall dry for 12 hours.

2. Load a tube of sanded caulk in the caulk gun and puncture a tiny opening through its front. Apply the caulk to damaged mortar joints. Let the mortar repair dry overnight.

3. Tape the sides and corners of the ceiling, adjoining walls and floor with painter’s tape to prevent it from spreading.

4. Pour acrylic primer into a roller’s pan. Soak the nap of a roller in the primer and apply it over the exposed brick wall, moving your hand in vertical strokes. Use a small paintbrush to reach corners and joints. Let the primer cure for 24 hours.

5. Apply the desired shade of acrylic paint to the primed brick wall using a roller. Move your hand in smooth strokes up and down the wall to ensure complete coverage while maintaining a wet edge. When you finish, paint corners and mortar joints with a paintbrush. Let the paint dry for the time specified on the label directions before applying a second coat of paint for even and bold coverage.

Plaster

1. Brush the exposed brick wall surface with a bench brush. Wipe the wall with a wet rag to remove residue.

2. Mix moist medium sand, portland cement and masonry cement to an 8:1:1 ratio with a trowel. Pour the content in a wheelbarrow and mix until the plaster achieves a uniform texture.

3. Mist the exposed brick wall with a hose so it is evenly damp, but not too wet. Apply plaster to the wall using a hand trowel until it forms a 3/8-inch thick layer. Start from one corner of the wall and work your way to the other when covering it with the base coat of plaster. Don’t worry about achieving a uniform texture yet; a rough texture allows the final coat to adhere to it better. Let this coat dry overnight.

4. Apply the final coat of plaster to the wall, starting from the bottom and working your way up, forming a 1/4-inch thick layer. Moving the trowel in short strokes, change the direction of each stroke and overlap the new strokes with the previous ones to ensure a uniform and smooth finish. Step back after plastering a small section of the wall and review the work.