Many older homes have unattractive brick interiors, such as a fireplace or wall, that makes the home feel like a cave and look dated.
Not all brick is unattractive, however some brick is not as timeless or appealing as others.
An easy way to update the dated brick is to paint it.
Follow the steps below to paint an interior brick wall or fireplace inside your home.
Note that this guide is for painting interior brick, not exterior brick.
Repair
Your brick must be in good condition before you start painting it.
Make sure to patch any cracks that may have formed in the brick.
Replace any missing mortar and patch any cracked mortar.
You might need to replace an entire brick if one is beyond repair. Luckily, you will not need to try and find an exact match to the existing since all bricks will be painted to match. You will need to find a brick with the same size and texture as your existing bricks.
Do not attempt to paint brick in poor condition because the damage will be even more visible when your brick is painted.
Clean
The brick needs to be cleaned very well to prepare it for painting.
If you do not clean it well, dirt will get in your paint and give you a poor quality paint job.
Using dish soap and water, wipe down the brick and scrub it lightly with a scrub brush to loosen dirt.
You can use a wire brush to get out any stuck on dirt.
Rinse the brick with plain water once clean.
Don't totally saturate the brick with water because it will need to be totally dry before painting. The more wet your brick is, the longer it will take to dry, which might take 24 hours or longer.
Mask
Using painter's tape, mask off any areas that you do not wish to receive paint, such as adjacent walls.
Ensure that you are using tape made specifically for painters, not just any cheap masking tape (yes, it makes a difference).
Make sure to be meticulous with your taping so that your paint does not bleed onto surfaces that you do not want painted.
For more information on the best way to use painter's tape, see the article - Painter's Tape Tips & Tricks: Achieve Flawless Lines in Your Next Painting Project
Prime
Using a paint roller made for brick surfaces, paint the brick with a quality primer (oil based primer tends to work best).
Make sure that the primer is made specifically for brick surfaces.
Once you have painted all you can with the roller, cut in the corners with a paint brush and paint any crevices that were not reached with the paint roller.
Keep in mind that brick is extremely porous, so you will need much more paint than if you were painting drywall.
You will probably need 2 coats of primer to properly coat your brick, however make sure that each coat has dried according to the manufacturer's instructions prior to applying the next coat.
Paint
After the primer has dried, paint your brick using your desired paint.
You might choose a flat sheen that is not glossy to hide imperfections, semi gloss sheen for a shiny and durable finish, or a sheen that is somewhere in between.
Apply the paint using a roller first, then use a brush to get into the cracks and crevices as well as cutting in the edges.
You will need at least 2 coats for an even consistent finish.
Make sure to let each coat of paint dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before the next application.
Tip
If you want to white wash your brick, clean and mask, but skip the primer. Paint with a mixture of 50% water and 50% paint (you can adjust the mixture up and down to get your desired result).
If you are painting a brick fireplace, make sure to use high heat paint on the inside. Avoid oil based paint near heat because it is often flammable.
