How to paint exterior bricks?

leahcuro

Hi all about to embark on painting the exterior of my house - it unpainted brick. 

I would appreciate some guidance on paint to use - undercoat, how many top coats and such? 

Worried about the issue of moisture under the bricks hence the need to gain advice regarding undercoat. 

Thanks in advance. 

JacobZ

Hi @leahcuro,

Is there an existing issue with damp bricks? Or are you just looking to prevent any water from getting to them from their outside face?

If there is a problem, it would need to be addressed before any work is carried out, as sealing the outside of the brick is not going to solve this problem. If you have more details, then I can certainly assist further.

Assuming there are no ongoing issues with damp, then the first step in any painting project is surface preparation. I'd suggest pressure cleaning the surface to remove any dirt or grime that could affect the adhesion of your paint.

Once clean and dry, as long as the surface is not powdery, friable or overly porous, then you don't need to use a sealer or binder; you would simply apply 3 coats of an exterior paint such as Dulux Weathershield or British Paints 4 Seasons.

Have a look at How To Paint Your House’s Exterior and How to paint brick for some guidance.

As long as your brick is not currently experiencing damp issues, and it is in sound condition, these methods will apply to you. 

If there was a specific reason for concern, could you please let me know so I can assist further?

Jacob