I need ideas on how to brighten the exterior of our home
by
Anon
+3
We have a new home with dark brick...(we did not pick it out). I saw dark brick painted white on TV, but I wonder about the cost and if it lasts. It was a certain technique. Can anyone guide me on this? We can paint our 3 car garage doors white. We only have one small window in front...will put white shutters there...Flowers are planted...Entry is a u-shape, door is white...can put flower urns, lattice work, trellis, maybe lights at the path...Ideas on replacing the concrete pathway? ANY IDEAS WELCOME!!
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Do not paint the brick. Brick needs to breathe. It looks nice, but is not practical in the long term.
There are plenty of paints available that are specific to your needs. The other options are whitewashing and doing a process called German schemear. If you check a site called Homeadvisor.com you can get an idea of how much you will pay to have this done. The schemear process would be considerably more expensive than just painting or whitewashing.
this may be of interest to you....https://www.spray-net.com/brick-painting-staining/
Painting exterior brick is a challenging project, which requires a tremendous amount of preparation and physical labor. Before you start, research the proper selection of products to clean and coat the brick surface, which will be appropriate for your climate and the kind of bricks you have. Not all bricks are created equal! There are several different types, each needing a chemically compatible approach for prep and finish phases.
Efflorescence, the white powder that forms from salts migrating to the surface, must be removed with a wire brush. Clean off dirt, mold, and mildew with a power washer, using a high quality cleaning solution. If that doesn't do the trick, it may be necessary to sandblast to achieve an absolutely clean surface. Any residual mold will continue to grow.
Brick must be allowed to dry thoroughly for several days, even if it appears dry on the surface. If it's not completely dry, water will be trapped inside the brick. It will cause bubbling and peeling of the painted surface as efflorescence emerges.
Fix cracks and make sure mortar is in good repair. If not, repainting is necessary. In some cases, a brick conditioner should also be applied and allowed to dry for several days.
Please post a picture of the front of your house. That way we could see exactly what you have to work with now, and then would be able to offer some practical suggestions related to your situation, rather than just random ideas.
Brick is coming back - I love mine brick house for the low maintenance. Remember, once brick is painted, it always will have to be repainted like a wood house.