Painting Bricks and Mortar - Good Idea or Bad?
By Owen Whetzel
Between industrial users and the home handyperson thousands of hand and power tools are purchased each day. Here are some tips you may want to consider when you make your next purchase:
If you're planning to paint interior or exterior bricks and mortar, that haven't been previously painted, you may want to plan now for the day, when you'd like to see the natural appearance of the brick and mortar again.
It became fashionable in the mid '60s to paint the bricks and mortar surrounding a fireplace white or adobe color. From the late '70s to the turn of the century it became fashionable to remove the paint and have natural-appearing bricks. Unfortunately, people found out that stripping all the paint from bricks and mortar was virtually impossible, because of the porosity of the material. Sand blasting, a messy and expensive solution, doesn't always produce the desired results.
Now, in 2004, the trend to paint masonry to match decor and color scheme is booming. However, before you do, there are a few steps you can take that may make reversing the process in the future possibly easier and less expensive:
Before painting, scrub bricks and mortar using a high-quality pre-painting solution, such as Jasco TSP No-Rinse Substitute. First, soak bricks and mortar with clean water, until as much water as possible has absorbed into the materials. Then use a non-metallic stiff-bristle brush dipped in the cleaning solution, to repeatedly scrub in a circular motion an area about 12-inches by 12-inches. Repeat, if necessary. Safety tip: Protect your eyes with safety goggles, wear a respirator, gloves, and since the cleaning solution could be irritating to skin, wear protective clothing. Protect surrounding areas from inevitable splattering.
Thoroughly rinse the bricks and mortar with clean water and allow them plenty of time to dry.
To dry bricks and mortar apply a non-glazing masonry sealer. Seal the face of each brick and the mortar with one or two coats (some sealants are one-coat only) of the sealer, making certain you do not miss spots. Sealing is important in the event you want to attempt to remove paint in the future, as it minimizes paint colors from penetrating into bricks and mortar. Allow the sealant to thoroughly dry.
Check with a paint salesperson or the manufacturer to determine, if a primer is necessary. Some masonry sealers are compatible with quality latex paints, which means that you can use the same paint that you use on walls or trim, rather than one specifically made for masonry.
A sponge brush or roller works well to apply primer and paint to bricks and mortar, although some people prefer brushing. Be careful not to apply any coating too heavily.
The final word of caution: Before undertaking the project picture the amount of work it will take to restore the bricks to their natural appearance. "I'll always have them painted," you say, but history has shown us that decorating styles change and change can sometimes be a major project.
Owen Whetzel has earned an outstanding reputation as an expert among both professionals and do-it-yourselfers, in his writing and lecturing about building, remodeling, home improvement, woodworking and do-it-yourself projects.
Owen has collaborated on books and magazine articles, was a regular guest on The Discovery Channel's highly successful home repair show, "Fix-It Line," and from 1991- 2000 he hosted "Wednesday How-To Night" on San Jose's PBS-TV affiliate, KTEH.
He has written columns on home repair for the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News. In 1990, he was honored to have contributed to the newspaper winning the Pulitzer Prize (General News Reporting), for its detailed coverage of the October 17, 1989 Bay Area earthquake and its aftermath.