When the brickwork of the house is even and neat,it can be painted rather than plastered. This is done to prevent moisture from getting under the brick and mortar. Over time, the wall can collapse due to excess moisture. And of course, this will not only protect the masonry, but will also decorate your interior. Below we will look at how to paint a brick wall yourself.
Painting a brick wall is necessary in order toso that moisture does not get under the brick. Brick walls can be painted not only from the outside, but also from the inside. A good design solution can be to paint those places on the walls where the brickwork is visible. Especially inside the living space. For this, it is best to use a special, breathable paint. To paint a brick wall in a bathroom or dining room, water-resistant paint is suitable. Acrylic paint is an ideal option for the hallway.
Necessary materials and tools
What might you need for painting?Everything depends primarily on the wall, its condition, and whether it is a facade or interior wall. But let's take things in order. The following tools must be prepared:
Before painting, the wall must be cleaned of the old coating and sanded.
- wire brush or washcloth;
- roller or brush, preferably with stiff bristles;
- sponge;
- spray;
- scraper knife;
- sandpaper;
- protective glasses;
- latex gloves.
You will need the following materials:
- detergent for walls;
- paint;
- cement;
- grout;
- primer.
To avoid wear of tools on the rough surface of the brick, buy high-quality and durable tools - rollers, brushes and paintbrushes. Return to the table of contents</a>
Choosing the right paint
Regardless of what kind of brick wall you are going to paint, external or internal, in any case it is best to use facade paint. Of particular interest are such types of paint as:
Latex paint for brick is flexible and bonds well to cracks.
This coloring agent is specially developedfor porous and heterogeneous surfaces. Brick paint has its own differences from any other types of paints. First of all, it is more elastic and penetrates better under the masonry. Such interesting properties allow it to glue cracks and small gaps between the masonry. When buying paint in a hardware store, ask the consultant what kind of walls it is intended for. There is one that is great for painting worn-out walls, and one that is ideal for covering new masonry. That is, the differences lie in its composition, in the operational period, and, of course, in the quality. To work with a small area of the surface, you can use enamel or acrylic. These types are perfect for interior painting. Important note - in no case is it recommended to use oil paint. It does not allow the walls to breathe, as a result of which this can lead to premature aging of the masonry and its subsequent destruction. Return to the table of contents</a>
In what order should the work be carried out
Basically, all painting works are carried out in 3 stages, these are;
Before painting, the wall needs to be primed thoroughly.
You need to start with preparation.This will determine how long the paint will last. Proper preparation should include removing all wall defects - small cracks, unevenness, bulges. If the wall is not absolutely flat, then high-quality painting will not work. Remember this when preparing the surface for painting. Using a scraper and sandpaper, remove all visible defects and proceed to sealing the cracks. Return to contents</a>
How to repair cracks
First, use detergent andUse a stiff wire brush to clean the entire surface to be prepared. Remove all traces of whitewash and old paint if the wall has been painted before. You can also use a solvent for this purpose, depending on how uneven the surface is.
When painting a wall, you need to protect your eyesspecial glasses, put on gloves. If there is mold or lime stains on the wall, it means that the masonry will not last long. In such places, moisture absorbed from outside accumulates. Accordingly, it is necessary to eliminate the presence of mold and plaque. Special solutions are usually used for this. Treat all places where mold and stains are visible with the solution using a brush. Finally, wash off the solution with water. When working with the solution, observe safety precautions - put on safety glasses and gloves. Now carefully inspect the entire surface of the treated wall again. There should be no defects on it. If there are small cracks, it is okay, they will be repaired with paint. If there are large cracks, they need to be cemented. Clean them from dust and dirt, then repair them using cement mortar. The next step is to level the wall with a sponge or brush. When the entire preparation process is complete, the wall should be dried. The complete drying period can take from 10 days to 3 weeks. The main thing is that the surface becomes completely dry, otherwise after applying a layer of new paint, fungi and mold will form after some time. When the wall dries, you can move on to the next stage - priming. Return to the table of contents</a>
Proper priming
Painting the wall can be done with the help ofspray gun. Before painting a brick wall, it is recommended to prime it. The primer helps the paint adhere better to the wall. It also provides additional water resistance and adds durability. The primer contains antiseptic additives, so it prevents mold and mildew. The best option for brickwork is acrylic primer or latex-based primer. Priming should be done 2-3 times. Apply the product with a roller, and hard-to-reach places can be primed with a brush. After applying the first layer, let it dry and only then apply the next one. In places on the wall where there are greasy stains, you can apply an additional layer of primer or even 2. Return to contents</a>
How to apply paint to a brick wall
After priming, the surface must be completelydry. Now you can start painting. If you plan to paint a brick wall inside the building, use a roller attached to a rod with a 2 cm pile. Painting with such a roller will help you avoid drips and streaks on the wall. A sprayer is suitable for external walls. Start painting a brick wall from the top corner of any wall. You will have to paint 2-3 times, so take your time. The number of layers depends on the surface. If the masonry does not absorb paint much, then you can limit yourself to two layers. For example, if porous brick is used, you will have to paint in 3 stages, since it absorbs paint very well. Apply the first layer of paint with diluted paint, thus making a kind of preliminary priming. Then wait until it dries completely, and apply the next layer. When the 2nd layer dries, apply the last - the third, if necessary. Once the painted wall is dry, the whole job is complete.</ ul>
