How to Age and Distress Bricks

Zest it Up
by Zest it Up
7 Materials
$20
2 Hours
Easy
I wasn't loving how brand new and clean the bricks on my fireplace were so I grabbed some speckling paste, stain and an old rag and went to it! I was SUPER nervous because I knew there was no going back, but was so happy with the end result!! Quick tip while you do this, just keep walking away and standing back to make sure you are digressing the bricks evenly. Otherwise throw on some good tunes and get to work!!

Now don’t get me wrong, this is a lovely fireplace. Just a little too “perfect,” new and reeeeeeeddddd! I always seem to admire pieces I find in the thrift store or antique store that show some age because I just love the character each piece has. My fireplace wasn’t saying much of a story other than “HELLO” when you walk in. Time to tone down the red, but how? I just went for it! I tried looking around online for tutorials and found some about using a white wash and others with moss, but none really had the look I wanted. So with that I took a deep breath and said, “what’s the worse that can happen? I paint it?”
Supplies
  • spackling
  • wet rag
  • scraper
  • wood stain
  • sand paper
  • brick sealant
 
Start with your spackling-it's like icing a cake and then scraping some off! easy!
Next I found some Ash wood stain I was using for my shelf project and rubbed that onto the brick with an old towel to tone down the white.


Here you can see all three stages, some bricks with speckling and some with stain and other are yet to be touched.
Next I sanded off the bricks with some medium grit sandpaper, this I did by hand.
After sanding, take a wet cloth (preferably an old terry towel so it has some texture to get in the grooves) and wipe/rub down each brick. You are wanting to wipe off the white and stain it’s less dramatic and more natural looking.
After wiping down the bricks, do it again! I found that the first time you get most of the white powder off but the second time with a clean rag works even better for the finishing touches.
Final step is to seal the "aged, vintage" look!


Don't you just love a great before and after? Oh happy day!
Suggested materials:
  • White spackling
  • Scraper
  • Wet rag
See all materials
Zest it Up
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 3 comments
  • Zest it Up Zest it Up on Jul 17, 2014
    Thanks Hannah!! I know I look back at old photos and can't believe how much of a difference it made, gotta love the instant gratification projects like these :)
  • Catt Kaminsky Catt Kaminsky on May 14, 2020

    What kind of seal can you use? I have polycrylic will that work?

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