10 Tips from Painting Companies in Las Vegas on Brick Painting

Whether you have a brick wall or fireplace in your home or a few exterior walls, you might dream about slapping on a fresh coat of paint to give it an update. Many people assume they can do the work and that they don’t need to hire house painters. The problem is that brick is often porous and can absorb a lot of excess paint. You also risk creating a messy look that will cost more to paint over later. Find 10 simple tips for painting brick that painting companies in Las Vegas use every day.

Clean the Brick First

Don’t reach for a brush or roller until you clean the brick first. A pressure washer works great on exterior surfaces, but you need to use a low setting to avoid damaging the bricks. A brush with stiff bristles works just as well on interior surfaces. Dilute ½ cup of bleach with a gallon of water in a large bucket. Dip the brush into the mixture, scrub it across the brick, and repeat as needed. Avoid using any acids that can damage the bricks. Let the area dry before you paint it.

Use the Right Tools

Though you can paint with an ordinary brush, painting companies in Las Vegas often use paint sprayers or rollers. If you don’t want to buy a sprayer for the job, you can usually rent one from a home improvement store. Always experiment with the sprayer to make sure you select the right setting. Rollers are a better choice for inside jobs. While a sprayer can leave behind a light mist or coating of paint, a roller lets you apply paint where you need it.

Avoid Bad Weather

If you decide to paint when the humidity level is high, it can take forever for the paint to dry. The same is true when you paint on a cooler day when it’s raining outside. As brick is porous, it can pull in moisture from the air and make the finished job look rough or patchy. You can use fans to circulate the air if you have to paint on a rainy or humid day.

Block Nearby Areas

The chances are good that you want to paint the brick but not any nearby areas. A residential painter uses painter’s tape to create their workspace. You can do the same thing with masking tape. While it sticks to your walls or floors, it comes off easily without leaving behind any residue. For larger areas, consider taping newspaper to the surfaces to block any spots you don’t want to paint. Use tape to block off your trim and baseboards, too.

Repair the Surface

Never paint any bricks around your home if you see any signs of damage. Most home improvement stores sell products that allow you to fix a hole in a brick or other forms of damage without removing it. If the brick crumbles or shows a lot of damage, you need to remove it and the mortar before you replace it. Acrylic caulk works well on smaller chips and cracks.

Use Primer

Applying a coat of primer first will cut down on the amount of paint you need. The porous nature of brick causes it to absorb most forms of moisture that include your paint. Choose a primer designed for interior or exterior painting based on where you plan to work. Let the first coat completely dry before you continue. You may need two or more coats of primer before you paint the brick.

Consider Sealer

Consider using sealer before or after you apply primer. Masonry sealer keeps the masonry safe and forms a barrier between it and your paint. You usually apply one layer and wait 12 hours or longer for it to dry before adding a second coat. Most brick surfaces only need two coats of sealer. If you want to use less paint, apply a combo of masonry sealer and primer first.

Select the Right Paint

Working with painting companies in Las Vegas will help you avoid the hassles of picking the right type of paint. When you use the same paint you use on standard walls, you risk the brick rejecting it. As the brick ages, the paint can also peel away from it. Companies make masonry paint designed just for brick walls. Another option is elastodynamic paint, which is more elastic. As you paint, it spread out to cover a larger surface area. This type of paint can also fill in any gaps, chips, or cracks you see in the bricks. Choose colors that complement your home’s design, too. Some of the popular Las Vegas exterior house colors include soft shades of brown that mimic the desert environment.

Paint the Mortar

Each section of brick has a layer of mortar in between. Also known as a mortar joint, it keeps the bricks safe and secure. Whether you choose a roller or a sprayer, not all of the paint will reach the mortar. Once you finish painting, go back over the surface with a roller. Try to spread the paint onto the mortar joints and make it blend with the rest of the area. While this can take some time, it gives you a cleaner look in the end.

Painting Companies in Las Vegas Check Their Work

In the same way that painting companies in Las Vegas check their work, you’ll also want to check your own work. Do not remove a single piece of tape until you ensure the paint is dry and that you like the finished look. You may need to go back over some of the areas with a brush or roller to blend them together or paint areas you missed the first time. Look over the brick after you take down the tape as well. You never know when the tape might pull off a small section of paint or if it hid a spot you wanted to cover.

Brick Painting Made Easy

Painting companies in Las Vegas make painting brick much easier. They have sprayers big enough to paint a large section with a single gallon and other tools that help them complete the work much faster. You can also get help picking the right color. By the time you get home from work, you’ll find the painted brick that you always wanted. Reach out to a local company today to see how quickly they can paint your brick.