How to Paint Brick Siding
When the brick siding on a house starts to look old and dirty, many homeowners attempt to paint the brick siding themselves. This is a reasonable option, but there are some steps that can be taken to ensure a job well done. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- strong detergent
- hose
- stiff, nylon bristle brush
- latex paint and primer
- rollers
- concrete filler
- drop cloths
- masking tape
Instructions
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1
Spray the house down with the hose. You may want to tackle one side at a time. The next several steps are for houses that already have painted brick siding and are re-doing it. If this isn't you, skip down to Step 6.
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2
Mix 2 pounds of strong detergent with water.
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3
Put the mixture on the siding and allow it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
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4
Scrub the siding with a stiff bristle brush and repeat Step 3, if you find any trouble spots where you can't seem to get all of the paint off.
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5
Rinse the house off again, using the hose.
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6
Inspect the brick siding to ensure there is no damage, cracks or holes anywhere. If there are, repair them with a concrete filler.
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7
Lay drop cloths on bushes, porches and anything else you don't want paint on. Also, mask around doors and windows.
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8
Paint the side with your latex primer. A roller would be the best option for this, unless you have a paint sprayer. Allow the primer to dry completely.
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9
Switch rollers and apply your first coat of latex paint to the brick. Allow to dry.
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10
Repeat Step 10 as many times as necessary; normally, 2 coats is enough.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid using oil-based paints because they aren't breathable and will trap moisture in your home. Check the weather to ensure that you are going to have several rain free and nice days to complete the project, it will take a while. Don't buy the cheapest paint that you can find. Remember, you will get what you pay for. If you buy cheap paint it won't hold up against weather conditions and will look just as bad, if not worse shortly after your first storm or two. If it is really windy, or you live in a dusty area, you will want to work in small sections to ensure that no debris gets stuck in the wet paint.
