So, you want to paint your brick fireplace or give that exposed brick wall a fresh start for the new year but aren’t sure how to do it? The Benjamin Moore paint pros at 21st Century Paints are here to help you get through it with our best tips for painting interior brick.

Prep Your Bricks

Every excellent painting project begins with proper preparation. Using a wire brush and a mixture of dish soap and water, thoroughly scrub the bricks to remove dust, soot, or other debris. If you paint without cleaning first, the paint won’t bind to the brick and will chip away surprisingly fast. Like standard walls, brick must be dry before moving forward with the process. We suggest giving your brick at least 24 hours to fully dry. Speaking of time, we can’t stress enough how important it is not to paint freshly laid brick. The brick you’re painting should be at least a year old to ensure it has had time to fully dry and acclimate.

Time to Prime

There is no way around using a primer before painting brick. Brick has an uneven surface, and primer will give the paint a more consistent surface to stick to. Use a brush to paint the mortar lines and a roller to cover the remaining area. You may feel a temptation to skip the brush step, but a roller won’t be able to reach between the bricks. Imperfections will be more prominent after you paint the brick, so we suggest filling in any cracks with acrylic caulk once the primer is dry.

Start Painting

Start with a brush to cut in the edges and cover mortar lines. Once that dries, you can move on to using a roller. Choose a roller with at least ½” thick nap to ensure it gets paint into all the nooks and crannies. Begin painting at the top, work your way down, and keep a brush on hand for any drips. We recommend two coats of paint for a uniform finish. Some people choose a flat finish to preserve the natural look of the brick, but a semi-gloss will highlight the surface and is easier to clean.

Consider Stain

Did you know you can stain brick? If the brick you’re working with is in good condition, you can apply the stain as you would paint. The stain will absorb into the surface of the brick and will highlight its unique texture. Use painter’s tape to cover the mortar lines if you don’t want to stain them.

Get Paint for Your Interior Brick Today

21st Century Paints has everything you need to paint interior brick. We are the area’s premier Benjamin Moore dealer and carry products for commercial, residential, and industrial projects. You can also count on 21st Century Paints for specialty products like protective and marine coatings.

Visit us at 7615 Airport Hwy in Holland, or contact us online. 21st Century Paints proudly serves Holland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Findlay, and Sandusky, Ohio; Monroe, Michigan.