Painting

Brick is a good way to make your home interior and exterior have an “earthy” look that will last for long. Brick is durable, fire resistant and it is a good insulator. However, brick is porous therefore it absorbs moisture and water. For this reason, brick surfaces require protective coating to prevent moisture and water infiltration that may lead to serious problems.

Sealing and painting brick can be challenging. Apart from having the basic painting skills and having the tools to work, you also need to have the following information readily available before you start painting your bricks.

Relatively, painted brick is permanent

The aspect of permanence is a serious issue to take keen off before you start painting brick walls. You can remove paint from any surface, including brick, but making the brick return to its original masonry and its natural beauty, takes a very complex process that needs an expert. This means is to costly, almost un-affordable to an average homeowner

Causes of water damage should be dealt with

Before you paint brick, look for any signs of water damage like mold spot, damp spot and peeling paint then fix whatever is causing it. If you don’t fix that, the spots will continue getting exposure to water and moisture and may end up cracking and causing the paint to peel off. You should allow the moisture that has been absorbed to dry first before painting. Using the best brick waterproofer helps a great deal to make your brick safe.

Too much alkalinity is damaging to the wall

Another issue to consider before painting brick is alkalinity. Though bricks are neutral, the mortar that sets them usually has soluble mineral salts, known as alkalis. The free alkalis affect oil-based paint products making the entire paint film disintegrate. This process is called saponification.

There is an entire psychology and equation behind paint colors, which shows a correlation between visual appeal and the effect a particular pigment can have on your mood. In an effort to preserve the artistic and psychological value derived from paint, it’s important to ensure your home’s walls aren’t tainted with dirt or stains. Not only will routinely cleaning your walls ensure your home maintains its aesthetic allure, but it will also help extend the lifespan of your painted walls. Here are some tips to help you clean away any unwanted grime that has taken residence on top of your walls.

Get Rid of Dust Bunnies

Employ the help of a Swiffer or similar microfiber cloth to remove dust, lingering cobwebs, and dirt that have accumulated on your walls. If you want to get creative, try using a vacuum with a soft brush or use the old-fashioned approach and wrap a clean cloth around the handle of a broom. If available, attach one of the extension tools to your device to expand your reach to the ceiling and areas that are higher-up. Performing this small task every 2-3 months will help elongate the life of your paint and should only take about 10 minutes to sweep an entire room.

Cleanse High-Moisture Areas

Rooms prone to a high level of moisture, like bathroom or kitchen areas, need periodic washing to remove residue buildup from cooking and shower steam. This includes rooms that are furnished with a wood-burning stove or fireplace, where the fumes will have a similar effect on the walls. Clean at least once a year by using taking a wet sponge and gentle soap solution and delicately cleansing the area, concentrating on small sections at a time. After rinsing the space, pat the wall dry with a towel.

Inspect Walls Before You Act

It’s best to evaluate the area and ensure it’s safe to clean before taking any action that may jeopardize the integrity of the paint. Semi-gloss and gloss paints, most commonly seen in baths, kitchens, and on woodwork, are safe to clean. While a majority of satin and modern flat paints are safe to wash, you should first test a small patch (in a space that is hidden or unnoticeable) to ensure no paint ends up on your sponge. Hint: if paint is present on your sponge after doing a trial run on a particular spot, you do not want to continue washing that area. You’ll also want to stay away from TSP (trisodium phosphate), which is known to dull your paint’s finish, erasing your wall’s luminous shine.

Bustling, Frequented Rooms

Rooms that receive regular visits from family members will require washing. You can focus solely on areas around light switches or locations where dust and dander typically accrue, rather than cleansing the entire room. Loose pet (or human) hairs that tend to assemble behind sofas, TVs, and radiators, as well as any dirt that may accumulate in those spaces, will need to be washed if dusting does not eliminate them.

Routine maintenance is an important part of caring for your living quarters. Dusting and washing your walls will help extend the life of your wall paint, as well as preserve the investment you made in adorning your space with a decorative design.

Author’s short bio:

Jason Coke is https://nortexpainting.com’ founder with over 10 year experience in the housing industry, brings a unique vision to the painting industry on how deliver products and services to customers. Mr. Coke’s experience is diverse and includes collaboration with some of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area’s top interior designers and decorators. He also has been involved in construction of homes with one of the nation’s largest home builders.