Exposed brick work

6 years ago

Hi there - we're in the middle of a house renovation & extension & we'd like to leave the brick work exposed in our new kitchen and yoga room ideally paint it white. What type of paint is best and does it need cleaning/ treated first? Thanks!

Featured Answer

Jane Bateman

6 years ago

Those bricks are beautiful. I wouldn't paint them. If you kept the rest of the room simple it wouldn't be 'too much'.

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Comments (11)

Jonathan
6 years ago
You should check with building regs to ensure it meets fire and insulation regulations.
If you do need to cover it you could add brick slips and paint them.
Claire Newton
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Jonathan - I didn't realise fire regs would be an issue... I'll ask.
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Hi there, I would leave the brick work as it is (i.e. mortar unpainted). It's not that the paint looks bad, it's just that the plain bricks are easier to work with when you're adding colours and textures into the room. For example, if you added a patterned rug or piece of art, it's more likely to go with the plain bricks! Exposed brick walls can also look nice with floor length, heavy curtains in a soft material like velvet. Check this out for some inspiration: https://www.houzz.com/photos/house-of-bricks-contemporary-living-room-melbourne-phvw-vp~15031539 I hope this helps! Good luck with it. Amy from Topology
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PRO
User
6 years ago
Clean with a wire brush to flake out any loose mortar. Re-point if you need to on any loose areas. Then use any masonry paint. If it's a newly built room, then maybe you'll need to consult with Building regs dept, but if it's an existing but with just a change of use, then unlikely, but very good point. Nobody wants to come a cropper!
PRO
User
6 years ago
I agree with Jane, keep them as there are without paint. We are working with clients in Devon at the moment and they have kept a beautiful exposed wall in their kitchen and it looks stunning. They have no regrets.
PRO
David Rudge Associates
6 years ago
Bricks are a fired clay product and will give you 4 hours fire resistance so do not worry about fire. If the wall is internal then no problem re heat insulation, however if the wall is an external wall then the insulation to a new wall should meet the current heat insulation standards for a dwelling.How you meet the requirements will depend on the construction. If a new structure it should have been checked by the Building Inspector. If an existing wall then check out the construction to assess where and how it can be insulated - cavity fill would be most discrete if you wish to avoid heat loss. Traditionally almost any paint can be used but will need regular freshening . if you like the bricks then simply seal them with a proprietary brick sealant and no more painting of that wall.
annarocks123
6 years ago
If you decide to leave the bricks bare, you don't need to use a fancy brick sealant, just give then a good brush down and then use a water:PVA mix, about 4:1, and give them a good coating. That will stop bits and dust falling down and embedding in your floor. Try one cosy of the water/PVA, run your hand over it, if it's still shedding, give it another coat.
PRO
David Rudge Associates
6 years ago
Yes indeed Annarocks. That will work very well. Mander Bros of Wolverhampton used to market a ' thinned version ' of pva in the early 70's ready for use as a brick sealant before they went into demise. It is very effective and can give a gentle sheen to the brickwork and stops the dusting. Enjoy messing about, but try on a sample first to see the effect, and then go for it.
minnie101
6 years ago
I would consider other materials in the kitchen if you're looking to paint as painted white bricks can look quite cold and your bricks don't have that much texture to them. I'd personally just seal them but it could work if you have lots of wood etc to bring warmth
Nate218
6 years ago
I would recommend that you prime the bricks first with a product called Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3. You can then apply any paint over the top of this (including fire protective coatings if one is required). If you do require fire protection, then I would recommend Zeroflame Fire Retardant Paint.

http://www.zinsseruk.com/product/bulls-eye-1-2-3/

www.zeroflame.co/products/Fire-Retardant-Paint
mauricewilliams
6 years ago
Great post and helpful comments

Exposed brick work

Jane Bateman

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Claire Newton
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Exposed brick work

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Claire NewtonOriginal Author

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Claire Newton
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