If you are looking to refresh your brick fireplace or the brick exterior of your home, you may be considering staining or painting the brick. Before you get started, it is important to understand what all is involved in brick staining versus brick painting and to make sure you have the right tools and materials to get the job done and achieve the desired results.

Brick Stain Facts You Need to Know

Before you get started staining, you will need to determine what type of brick stain is right for your project. You will then need to gather all the necessary tools and materials you need to get the job done. In most cases, the hardware store will provide you with stain samples so you can test and mix products to ensure you get the right shade for your brick.

New brick is an extremely porous surface and it won’t hold paint very well, which will result in a less than ideal paint job. If possible, you should let the brick age for approximately a year to ensure that it has sufficient time to weather before painting. Natural-bristle brushes made with animal hairs are used for applying oil base paints, varnishes, shellac, polyurethane and other oil base finishes. The natural 'flagging' (splitting or fuzzy tips) of these brushes creates split ends in the bristles that hold more paint and help assure a smooth paint release and finish. Apply to the brick with a clean rag and, using a scrub brush, work the paste into the surface. Let sit for 10 minutes before you rinse. Boric acid: Add about one tablespoon of boric acid powder to. BRICK RED Airbrush Paint 1 oz Color: Brick Red is a popular go-to color for painting brick structures. A base coat of Brick Red can be finished with a variety of tan or gray washes to provide the mortar color to your model and to weather the brick. Part of our Building Collection.

The two main types of brick stain include:

Premixed stains with sealant – With this type of stain, you will get a watertight coating. This may sound like a great idea, but over time it could lead to water damage. This is recommended for small areas or for damaged or porous brick. When you add a sealant to brick, it creates a vapor barrier and traps the moisture in the bricks, in the winter when the water freezes, it can cause the brick to crack if the water can’t evaporate.
Water-based stain – This stain is recommended for the majority of projects. Water-based stains are easy to apply, allow for breathability of the brick, and prevents water build-up.

Once you’ve chosen the type of stain you want to use, you will need to gather materials such as:

• Drop cloths
• Rags
• Paintbrush
• Painter’s tape
• Hose
• Power washer
• Soft brush

How to Use Brick Stain

To get started, you will first want to clean the brick and check if there is any existing sealant that needs to be removed. You can do this by throwing a cup of water onto the brick’s surface and looking to see if it beads up and runs off. If it does, you will need to wash away the existing sealant before you stain the brick.
The sealant can be removed using lacquer thinner. If there is no sealant, you will still need to wash the area down with a mild detergent and water before staining.

Once you have washed the area down, put down drop cloths to protect the surrounding area and make sure to put on protective clothing and safety glasses before you get started. BE sure to put painter’s tape over areas that you do not want to stain.
If you are mixing the stain colors to get your desired shade, be sure to carefully measure and write down the amounts of each color to ensure your color is consistent across the area you are staining.

Now that you’ve prepped the area and mixed your stain, you’re ready to get started. You will want to apply the stain using a brush in a single smooth motion across each brick. If you are painting a brick surface that has no material in between the bricks, brush in overlapping strokes to cover each surface twice.
You can use the corner of the brush to touch up spots as you go, and for more consistent color, be sure to stir the stain each time you dip the brush in. You also want to brush the stain onto the bricks in a scattered pattern, rather than all in a row for a more natural look. If you make a mistake or you have drips, be sure to clean them up immediately with a damp rag.

Should I Stain or Paint My Brick?

Staining brick is a straightforward process, but you may still be wondering if painting your brick is a better option for your home. If you have decided to stain your brick, but you’ve realized you can’t remove the sealant from the brick, painting the brick could be your only option.
If you are set on staining your brick, consult with the professionals at MasterBrush Painting today. Our team of professional painters has the expertise and the skills to remove the sealant for you and help you achieve the stained brick look you desire.

Let the Professionals Handle all Your Staining and Painting Needs

Don’t worry about the hassle of trial and error with staining or painting, let your local Pittsburgh experts at MasterBrush Painting handle all of your brick staining needs. Contact us today to learn more!

• Exterior Home Hazards to Look Out For - February 25, 2021
• Commercial Paint for Improved Warehouse Safety - January 28, 2021
• Reasons to Repaint Your Office Exterior - December 28, 2020

Sometimes it pays to skip the remodel! Rather than pulling out an outdated brick fireplace, save money and still transform this feature into one you'll enjoy for seasons to come—with just a bit of paint.

Photo: Zillow Digs home in Oakland, CA

Sometimes, even despite attentive maintenance and care, brick masonry fireplaces amass a fair amount soot, mildew, and efflorescence that cumulatively dates a modern home. While a teardown of this brick feature for something more modern can be cost-prohibitive to many homeowners, you can still brush off outdated design before winter’s cold arrival by brushing up your fireplace exterior—with paint. Unlike drywall or wood, brick has a unique texture that should be taken into consideration when painting. Follow this tutorial to fix up your bare brick masonry fireplace in under a weekend.

Photo: fotosearch.com

Step 1

Due to the tendency of brick to accumulate grit, you should wet and clean the brick fireplace prior to painting it to ensure better paint adhesion. Using a stiff-bristle brush doused in soapy water, first scrub the face of the brick fireplace with a brush to remove dirt or efflorescence—that is, white, powdery, mineral deposits. If your fireplace also contains leftover soot, follow with a mixture of 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate and 1 gallon of water.

Then proceed to remove any visible mildew with a solution of one part bleach to three parts water. Sponge the diluted bleach over your brick, let it soak in for for half an hour, and scrub the surface with a wire brush. Once you’ve wrapped up cleaning, allow the brick to dry for at least 24 hours before painting.

Step 2

Inspect the fireplace for small cracks in the brick. If you find any, pick up some acrylic caulk from your nearest home improvement store and use it to fill in. Check your bottle’s instructions for required dry time before you move on.

How To Paint Brick

Step 3

Using painter’s tape, cover the areas around the fireplace that you do not want to paint, such as where the brick meets the floor and walls. Protect the floor and the fireplace hearth from splatter by laying out a drop cloth.

Step 4

Pour your masonry primer into one of the 5-gallon buckets and insert a bucket screen on end; this painting tool will assist in both minimizing mess and achieving an even coat on your roller. Now dip the roller into the bucket, roll it along the screen, and repeat until it’s completely loaded with primer.

Brick Brush Photoshop

Carefully apply the first coat to the entire surface of the brick, ensuring that you cover the surface as well as the mortar joints. Switch to a brush to paint deep joints that the roller misses. If your brick structure reaches the ceiling, you may also opt to bring in a telescopic roller extension pole to help you access hard-to-reach areas near the top of the fireplace.

Wherever you had cleaned off efflorescence in Step 1, go back and apply an additional coat or two. Then, wash up your painting tools and allow the primer to dry completely overnight.

Best Brick Paint Brush

Step 5

The next day, set out to prep your acrylic latex paint the same way you had your primer in the second 5-gallon bucket with its own bucket screen. (While you can choose any paint finish, a matte paint really complements the natural texture of the brick.) Then, dip your roller into the bucket and coat it evenly with paint. Generously apply a top coat of the paint to the brick using overlapping strokes to cover nooks and crannies as best as possible, and leave it all to dry.

Exterior Paint Brush

Step 6

Perform any paint touch-ups as desired with the brush, and then give all of your tools a thorough wash before the paint dries. When you’re finished, pull back the painter’s tape and the drop cloth from the fireplace area. If you encounter paint splatter where it shouldn’t be, just wipe it away using a soft cloth damp with warm water—the sooner, the better! Otherwise, all that’s left to do to enjoy your newly refreshed fireplace this season is to stock up on kindling.