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.