How to Paint Faux Brick
Exposed brick walls can be quite attractive in homes, but is often too expensive to add in renovations. You can create the appearance of a brick wall with a faux paint job, resulting in a surface that you can paint over if you ever get tired of it. This technique is not complicated, but it will take some practice to master. If you are not experienced with faux finishing, it's wise to practice on a scrap of plywood before moving on to your wall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sponge
- Soapy water
- Drop cloth
- Paint
- Paint brushes and rollers
- Natural sea sponges
- 1/2-inch painter's tape
Instructions
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1
Wash the wall with soapy water and a sponge to remove any dirt or other contaminants. Allow the wall to dry.
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2
Apply a drop cloth to the floor beneath the wall.
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3
Paint two coats of primer onto the wall using a paint roller. Allow each coat to dry fully. This step is important for all walls, but critical if you are painting over a dark wall.
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4
Paint the wall with a beige color that is close to the desired mortar color. Allow the paint to dry, then apply a second coat if needed.
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5
Tap a darker beige color onto the wall with a natural sea sponge. This will create a mottled texture, resulting in more realistic mortar. Allow the paint to dry.
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6
Apply strips of 1/2-inch painter's tape to the wall in a brick pattern. This will protect the mortar as you paint the bricks.
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7
Apply a base coat of brick-colored paint to the entire wall. Allow it to dry and apply a second coat if needed. The specific color is up to you; bricks come in many shades of red, brown and tan.
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8
Sponge a darker brick color lightly over the entire wall for added texture, then more heavily over some bricks to create the appearance that the wall is made of bricks from different manufacturing batches. Allow the paint to dry.
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9
Hand paint fine cracks and chips onto some of the bricks for added variety if desired.
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10
Carefully remove the painter's tape, exposing the mortar lines.
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11
Mix a few drops of black into a small container of the mortar paint to create a custom shadow color. Add more black, a few drops at a time, until you are satisfied with the shadow's darkness.
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12
Paint a shadow onto the mortar beneath each brick, and to either the right or left of each brick. The side with a shadow should be the opposite side of the light source. If the light is to the right, for example, a shadow will be on the left side of the brick. If there is no clear light source, pick either side and stick with it throughout the wall for consistency.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
