Updating a brick home
A brick exterior provides years of durability--but, over time, brick can become faded and lose some of its natural beauty. Exposure to the elements can erode mortar between the bricks and they may begin to crack. It is important to take action before this damage becomes severe. There are several different options available when it comes to updating a brick exterior. Most are low cost and require only minimal effort.
Instructions
1. Power wash the exterior of the home. Dirt and grime can build up over the years and dull the appearance of brick as well as the mortar in between. Power washing will remove this buildup and help restore some of the natural beauty of the brick and the original color of the mortar. This step is necessary whether you plan to paint or stain the brick, or just keep it as the original color.
2. Examine the bricks and mortar for any cracks or damage. These will need to be repaired before proceeding. If you have extensive damage to the bricks, you may need to call in a masonry expert to fix it. However, most problems should be limited to chipping away of brick facades and peeling of the mortar.
3. Repair any damage to the brick exterior. You can purchase mortar and carefully fill in any cracks that may be present. You will need a bucket of mortar and a trowel for this step. These items are typically available at local hardware stores.
4. Select a new stain for the brick and re-stain it. If you want to restore the brick to its former color, you can purchase a masonry stain. This is a labor-intensive option and will require that each brick be stained individually, avoiding the mortar between the bricks. While this does take time and effort, the finished look will be very similar to the original brick when it is first done.
5. Choose a paint color for the brick and paint the exterior. One of the easiest ways to update a brick exterior is to paint it the color of your choice. This is also the least labor-intensive way to change a brick house's exterior since you will not have to worry about avoiding the mortar when you paint.
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