Brick is an absolutely beautiful building material that draws attention for all the right reasons. Sometimes, however, it can seem a bit outdated or clash with your preferred aesthetic. Because removing and replacing brick can be an arduous and labor-intensive task, it’s not surprising that people look for DIY solutions before considering replacing their current installation. One of the most common options is to paint the brick in question, but is that the best idea and will doing so increase upkeep and maintenance costs as time passes? It’s important to carefully weigh your options before you act to make sure you don’t end up with a mess on your hands instead of the beautifully painted wall or mantle you envisioned.

4 Things to Consider Before Painting Your Brick

It might seem like a straightforward solution but painting your brick in Toronto comes with a set of pros and cons you should keep in mind before acting. We’re going to break down some of the more important elements of brick painting, so your decision is an informed one and you don’t end up facing unexpected and disappointing consequences.

1. Increased Upkeep

Painting your brick can, and often does, lead to increased upkeep costs and effort. The most important factor to consider here is the quality and condition of the bricks in question. If they are in good shape – free from chips or deterioration – then they might be good candidates for painting. If they aren’t in good shape, however, doing so would be a bad idea. Brick is a material often chosen because it contains natural pores that act as a conduit for moisture to pass through and evaporate. Painting covers those pores and leaves the moisture with nowhere to go. This often results in water damaged brick that deteriorates more quickly than it otherwise would. Offering professional brick repair services in Toronto, we can give you more information.

2. It’s a Permanent Option

Painting your walls is often no big deal – it’s just paint, after all, and can come right off or be painted over if you end up disliking the color. It’s important to note this is not the case with brick. Once you’ve finished the painting process, you’re stuck with the color in question. That’s because brick holds onto paint particularly well, necessitating the use of harsh chemicals to attempt to strip it from the material’s surface. And because it’s often impossible to remove the hue entirely, you might very well end up with permanently stained bricks.

3. Paint Amplifies Imperfections

Another reason to tread carefully when it comes to painting your brick is the fact that doing so can draw attention to even small imperfections, as well as larger issues. As we mentioned above, painting your brick can lead to quicker deterioration due to blocking the material’s natural ability to breathe. This can lead to bits of the brick crumbling or otherwise deteriorating, leaving you with an expanse of chipped, rough material that looks horrible when the rest of the surface is covered in paint. And attempting to soldier through the issue with a touch-up will only draw more attention to the problem.

4. You Will Probably Need a Professional

Because painting your brick can result in so many issues, there is a lot of prep work necessary to ensure the process is successful and doesn’t permanently damage the material. Not only does this take quite a while to complete, but it also requires a high degree of accuracy to be effective. Brick painting isn’t a simple DIY project, but rather a labor-intensive process you will likely end up paying someone to complete.

For more information about how to care for your brick, reach out to Turnbull Masonry in Toronto!