How to Make a Brick Wall Look Old

Making a newer brick wall look old can give a classy historical look to your home or business by using distressing techniques. These methods can be used with both standard brick or brick veneer, sometimes wrongly called faux brick. Brick veneer are small thin bricks which can be adhered to another surface for the look of a brick wall. Either type of brick can be given a weathered antique appearance, for interior or exterior walls.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hammer
• Chisel
• Plaster
• Trowel
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Sponge
• Polyethylene sheeting
• Paint
• Paint stripper
• Heat gun
• Bristle brush
• Safety glasses or shield
• Face mask

During Construction

1. Place a few bricks in one or two areas a little bit off-kilter if you are actually building a wall. This effect must be subtle, because you want it to look like the wall has settled somewhat, not like the original job was sloppy.

2. Break or chip some of the bricks with a hammer and chisel, mainly at the edges before adhering them. This can be done with an existing wall also.

3. Use antique salvage bricks instead of new ones, or include some darker-colored bricks for an irregular look.

Plaster

4. Plaster over part or all of the brick wall and then remove some of the plaster with a hammer and chisel, to make it look like the plaster has weathered away from the brick. This gives the exposed brick an old look.

5. Use lightweight plaster, which you can purchase in buckets at home improvement stores. Apply the plaster in a smooth layer with a small trowel, deciding whether you want a thin layer which shows more of the brick structure, or a thicker layer of around 3/4-inch which hides it. Since some of the plaster will remain, this consideration is important for your overall effect.

6. Allow the plaster to dry for at least 3 or 4 days. Normally people leave plaster dry for several weeks because they plan to paint over it, and must avoid trapping any moisture behind the paint. Since you're going to remove the plaster, it does not need the extra time to dry.

7. Enclose the area with polyethylene sheeting if the wall is indoors, to prevent dust from reaching other rooms when you remove the plaster.

8. Remove as much plaster as you want with the hammer and chisel. Misting the plaster with water first or applying water with a sponge can make it easier to remove.

Painting and Paint Removal

9. Paint the wall, with the intention of removing most of the paint afterward. Often this is done using white paint for a whitewashed look, although you can choose any color you like. The amount of paint you leave on the wall is up to you, and you'll want the color to blend with other exterior or interior design.

10. Coat the wall with the paint stripper (such as Peel Away) and leave it for the amount of time recommended.

11. Remove the softened paint by placing fabric strips on the material and peeling them off. Stubborn paint areas may need a stiff bristle brush, but not a wire brush unless you are willing to risk some obvious damage to the brick. Another way to remove the paint is with a heat gun.

Tips & Warnings

• Test any method on a small area first to be sure you like the effect.
• Wear eye protection and a face mask while working on the wall. Sandblasting can badly deteriorate brick.