How to Age Bricks
Aging bricks is a long tradition in repairing or adding onto an existing house or wall. Whether the bricks are intended to match the old bricks or to look like "they have always been there," there are several options for a DIY homeowner. Creating a mossy brick wall requires a different technique than matching brick colors when repairing a historic home. Your options include adding moss, whitewashing and tinting new bricks to match the old. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Garden hose
- 1 quart buttermilk
- Fresh moss
- Blender
- Paintbrush
- 5 parts hydrated lime
- 1 part salt
- Water
- Roller on pole
- Brush
- Dry tints (optional)
- Concrete stain or paint
- Sponge
- Paint tray
Instructions
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A Mossy Brick Wall
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1
Brush any loose dirt or cobwebs off the wall. Wet the bricks thoroughly with a garden hose.
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2
Blend buttermilk and fresh moss in the blender. Old blenders are available at thrift stores and yard sales.
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3
Using an inexpensive paintbrush, paint the buttermilk and moss mixture on the damp brick wall. Press the chunky mixture that settles to the bottom of the container into any cracks and crevices.
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4
Mist with water as often as necessary to keep moist. Moss should grow on the wall in a few days.
Whitewash the Bricks
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5
Mix the lime and salt, then add water to make a mixture the consistency of pancake batter. Add light tints if desired and mix thoroughly. Experiment on an inconspicuous area or a piece of cement board before painting the entire wall or house.
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6
Paint the bricks with a thin coat of whitewash, using a roller. Add more whitewash over the mortar, using a brush.
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7
Wash gently with water after the whitewash has dried for several hours, allowing the brick to show in random areas. Add more whitewash in other areas, if desired. Allow the wall to dry completely; the whitewash will dry to a brilliant white in a few days.
Paint the New Bricks
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8
Take the new brick and an old brick that you want to match to the paint or hardware store. Depending on how different the brick colors are, you may need a concrete stain or two shades of masonry paint.
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9
Apply concrete stain according to instructions on the can. Allow it to dry completely before comparing to the old brick. If they match, stain all the new bricks.
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10
Cut a sponge to the same size as the new brick. Wet it with water and wring out. Lay the sponge onto a thin layer of paint in the paint tray. Pat the sponge onto a board to remove excess paint. Carefully apply paint to the brick. Repeat, using a fresh sponge and the second paint color. Do not try to completely cover the new brick. Allow the colors to blend.
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Tips & Warnings
Bricks are a natural product. Colors will vary, especially on old bricks. Do not try to make a perfect match.
Consult with the clerk at the paint store when selecting stain or paint.
Recruit an artistic friend when matching colors.
Consider the historic value of your home before whitewashing or changing brick colors.
Practice on a new brick or cement board.
Fifty pounds of lime mixed with 10 pounds salt plus water covers approximately 2,000 square feet.
Moss covered bricks may be slippery. Use caution when encouraging moss to grow on walkways or patios.
Look at several examples of whitewashed brick before choosing this method. You may not like it.
Use safety glasses, a mask and gloves when working with lime or dry pigments.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
