What You Need For Painting Or Staining Brick

Painting or staining brick can seem like a very daunting task, especially on larger homes or commercial buildings. To help you get the results you want, our professional painters would like to offer a few tips on the process of transforming your brick surface.

If you live in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or Guelph and would like New Approach Painting to help with your project, make sure to contact us.

Painting Tool Kit

When performing any exterior project, you’ll want to have all the tools and products necessary to get the job done effectively and efficiently. Painting and staining brick requires many similar tools, equipment, and products to achieve the highest quality finish.

An example of a painting tool kit includes:

1. Drop sheets and tarps

• Drop sheets are used to wrap the ground around the brick building or surface to protect paint or stain from ruining any gardens, walkways, or other ground surfaces.
• Tarps can be used as a spot to host all the tools and equipment. This can also be a surface where you pour the paint or stain into a tray.

2. Cleaning supplies

• This can include a pressure washer, hose, bucket and water, clothes/rags, or exterior surface cleaners like Natura Safe Prep.
• When preparing to paint or stain brick, it is crucial to make sure the brick surface and mortar are completely clear of dirt and debris prior to the application of products

3. Painting tools

• This includes all poles, roller cages, sleeves, brushes, sprayers (if applicable), trays, liners, and cut cans.
• You may also need ladders depending on the size of the brick surface. Having ladder arms, a pivot block, and hooks for your can will help aid in making the ladder work easier and safer.
• We also recommend using a standard 2.5” brush, like a Nour Brilliant Brush. This will assure clean-cut lines, and even paint or stain distribution.
• A high-piled roller sleeve (anything above 15mm) will more effectively push the paint or stain into the brick and mortar.

This example kit is not completely exhaustive, however, it does cover all the basic tools and equipment needed while undertaking an exterior brick project.

The Professional Approach

The following steps cover all the basic procedures required to paint or stain your bare brick.

Painting And Staining (Bare Brick)

1. Thoroughly clean and scrape the brick to remove ALL dirt and falling pieces.
2. Prime the brick with one coat of primer.

• We use products like Sherwin Williams LOXON Concrete & Masonry Primer/Sealer.
• This product seeps into the brick through its pores to block any moisture from getting in, which causes paint to peel off.
• You may also need multiple priming coats depending on the brick material that was used on the exterior of your building.
• This will also allow the paint to adhere to the brick and guarantee the finish you are looking for.
• It is important to note that priming is NOT a necessary step when staining brick, as stain is a penetrating product that needs to seep into the pores of the brick in order to achieve the proper finish

3. Apply two coats of paint using your desired method and exterior paint.

• We suggest Sherwin Williams Resilience or Duration for superior durability and coverage.
• In terms of stain, we suggest using H&C Concrete Stain. Apply one or two coats of stain, depending on your desired finish.

By using the example kit and procedures above, you will be prepared to tackle any brick painting or staining project. If you are uncertain you can handle the work, the professionals at New Approach Painting are always ready to help. Contact us to get your project started today!