Let’s face it, concrete and brick can be boring, especially as they age. Concrete and brick walls are common in Markham and can be found in basements, foundations, and exterior of homes.
There are a lot of options for painting your concrete or brick wall. Even just adding color can make a dramatic difference. You could also try concrete stamping or play with some texturizing.
Concrete and brick can be more difficult to paint on and require special sealers, primers, and paints, but the effort is worth it.
What Kind of Paint to Use on Painting Concrete Walls and Brick Walls
Concrete and brick can be difficult to paint. Concrete breathes and sucks up paint so paint with special binders is required for these jobs. Oil or acrylic paints will not adhere to concrete so you want to avoid these.
Masonry paint is a good choice for concrete and brick walls.
Two-stage epoxy floor paint is also a good choice. This kind of paint is popular for basement floors, driveways, and garage floors.
A water-based concrete stain is used by people who are looking to add colour to their concrete.
Instructions for Painting a Concrete Wall or Brick Wall
1.Clean
As with all painting projects, it is necessary to start with a clean surface. For exterior walls, use a pressure washer to get rid of all the grime, dirt and dust that accumulates. For interior walls, you can clean with soap and a scrub brush.
- Make Necessary Repairs
Again, as with all painting projects, you need to repair damage before you can apply a fresh coat of paint. The most common things you will find with a concrete or a brick wall are cracks and nicks.
- Seal Concrete Walls
To keep moisture from wrecking your paint job, it’s important to seal the concrete. To do this, be sure to lay a drop cloth to protect your flooring. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. One of our recommendations is to pour the sealer into a separate pail. You also need to leave the sealant to dry overnight.
- It’s Prime Time
Some primers have sealer built in. There are also primers with paint built in. Get recommendations from a professional as to the right primer for your job.
Lay a drop cloth, and if outside, be careful as spray can travel fast and far.
Apply a coat of primer. If the wall is still noticeable from the outside, apply a second coat.
If you are using a primer-paint-in-one product, apply to the wall in a thin even coat.
For brick walls, you can use a paint spray gun as it makes it easier to get inside the grout.
- Paint the Wall
It’s essential that you are using the right paint. Paint for concrete and brick can be found at hardware and paint stores. Use a roller or spray gun to apply the paint in thin, even layers.
Once again, you will want to be sure you’ve laid a drop cloth and protected any areas that could potentially get overspray or paint.
When you have the look you want, you will want to go over the surface again with a concrete sealer.
Painting a Concrete Wall or Brick? Unique Ideas
There’s so much you can do with your brick or concrete walls. Colour and design is a unique way to make a statement. It’s easy to add dimension to your walls when painting your concrete wall. Colour, murals, concrete stamping and texture brush strokes can really freshen up a drab concrete wall.
If your concrete or brick wall is looking drab it might be time to paint. While some will do it yourself, you may also want to hire a professional. After all, concrete and brick require a different process and different paints than regular walls and drywall surfaces.
It’s time-consuming. You have to do the prep, wait for things to dry and painting brick and concrete requires multiple coats. The whole job can take a week or longer.
Get an Exterior Painting Quote from a Contractor, you Can Trust!
If you’d like to see how much it would cost for a professional to do the job for you, contact us at (647)494-8558 for a quote. Our professionals have years of experience with painting concrete walls and brick.