Painting brick is not much different from painting drywall or any other surface in your home. The difference lies in the preparation techniques that will help your painted brick walls or fireplace look beautiful for years to come.
Materials
To paint an interior brick fireplace or to paint the brick on the exterior of your home, you'll need a masonry sealer or a latex primer that's suitable for masonry surfaces. You should also use a latex paint for the final coat as latex can move and breathe with the porous surface of the brick. Make sure that you select interior or exterior paint, whichever is appropriate for your project. If you're painting your fireplace, make sure to purchase a separate paint for the firebox, one that is specially designed to withstand extreme heat. Before you can begin to paint, you'll need a stiff brush to remove any loose particles from the brick, soap and water to clean the surface, and a vacuum to remove all of the debris. Depending on the condition of your brick, you may also need caulk to fill in any openings in the mortar or chips in the brick. If you have a large brick surface to paint, you can use a roller with a large nap. Paintbrushes work just as well on smaller areas.
Preparation
The most important part of any paint job is surface preparation; this is particularly important when you're painting brick as loose mortar and debris that's left on the surface will be obvious in your finished project. The best technique for removing particles from the brick is with a stiff brush. Go over the entire surface, scraping the face of the bricks and the mortar lines between them. Vacuum the debris away before you clean the surface with household soap and water. Let the brick dry completely, and check for open spaces that may need filling with caulk before you apply your paint.
Painting
Some brick painters recommend sealing the brick surface with products specifically designed to condition the brick before you apply the primer. Check with your paint supplier to determine if the primer and paint you are purchasing will work best with a sealer. In most instances, you can apply the primer to your clean, dry brick with a roller or a large paint brush. Let the primer dry completely before you roll or brush on the first coat of paint. You may only need one coat of paint to cover your brick, especially if you had your primer tinted to match. Otherwise, let the first coat dry completely before you apply a second coat.
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