Painting Exterior Brick – The Ultimate Guide

Can You Paint Bricks?

Firstly, let’s answer the question of whether you can paint exterior bricks or not. As with almost every exterior surface, such as wood, UPVC & metal, exterior bricks can be painted if they are properly prepared beforehand. Whether an exterior wall to a property or a garden wall, bricks are a perfect opportunity to add a unique twist to your property, with many people preferring a coloured finish rather than plain brickwork.

The paint that has been specially designed to be applied to exterior walled surfaces such as concrete, stone & brick is masonry paint, which offers weather resistance and the ability to adhere to these mineral surfaces. These paints come in a range of forms but are generally water-based and come with a lifespan of 5-10 years, with some having a lifespan of 25 years or more. While masonry paints usually offer some form of weather resistance, they are not all waterproof. This is why some masonry paints are now designed to be completely water repellent, preventing moisture from causing the paint to peel or flake, giving the paint a longer lifespan and preventing issues such as damp & discolouration.

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Should You Paint Bricks?

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Now we have established that you can paint bricks, the next question is whether this is a good idea or not. Many people have suggested that you should not paint bricks for a number of reasons, with the main two reasons being:

1. Non-breathable paint can destroy the brickwork, causing both structural and aesthetic issues
2. Once painted, it can be difficult to go back to a bare brick finish, although it is possible

The truth is that people cite the application of non-breathable paints to brickwork that causes moisture to become trapped underneath the paint film, which will damage brickwork. This is correct, as non-breathable masonry paints or brick sealers should never be applied to bricks.

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You may be wondering what is a breathable masonry paint? Breathability refers to the ability for a paint to allow water vapour to transfer through the paint film. Contrary to popular belief, bricks are actually porous, meaning they absorb moisture. If a paint is not breathable, moisture cannot escape from within the brickwork. When this moisture gathers underneath the paint, it can cause the brickwork to become damaged and will almost certainly result in the failure of the paint. Breathability is measured by an SD value, with an SD below 1 meaning a paint is considered breathable. While a large number of masonry paints have low breathability, there are a number of masonry paints on the market in the UK that ensure complete breathability.

On the other hand, there are a number of reasons why you may choose to paint your bricks:

1. Fantastic kerb appeal – adding colour to your property is an excellent way to add kerb appeal, which can even add some value to it
2. Protects masonry – painting your brickwork can in fact protect the masonry. A waterproof masonry paint will prevent moisture from attacking the brick and mortar, stopping the faces of the brick blowing and cracks opening up that can accentuates the problem further
3. Easier to clean – as bricks are porous, they can absorb moisture and discolour due to this. Furthermore, dirt can become deeply ingrained in the masonry which can be difficult to clean. A smooth masonry paint will allow the exterior wall to be cleaned much more effectively. If a masonry paint is water repellent, it is self-cleaning as dirt cannot attach to the surface, just like moisture

Overall, using a cheap masonry paint will cause problems due to moisture ingress, which will lead to the paint film failing within a matter of years. If you are choosing to paint brick, we highly recommend you use a high-quality advanced masonry paint that will prevent moisture from getting underneath the paint and that is completely breathable.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor