Faux Brick Painting

Have you ever thought of painting a Faux Brick Wall on Brick? Do you have brick in your home that has been painted? All too often this is the solution used by homeowners to “freshen up” worn red brick. Maybe the design of the room called for something other than worn red brick.

The easy solution was to paint the brick…mortar included.

While each home and homeowner is different…and we all have our good ideas, how can learn to paint the brick back to original? How about painting the brick with a faux finish to resemble brick? It really is much easier than trying to strip all that old paint.

Question from subscriber:

The following is an email with just that question and my solution to the problem…including a link to some free information.

Hi Debra,

I have four real brick pillars on our house - 2 are four-sided supports for the entryway porch and 2 are one-sided at either side of the garage.

All this brick was painted white (horror of horrors) when the house was built 13 years ago - I would like to restore the brick to a natural brick appearance — I have not been able to find a local painter who does this special work and am wondering if your instructional materials would applicable to this particular project.

I do not want a single color brick so there would obviously be some artistic skills required to replicate the multi-color design (with natural variations) from brick to brick - Can you help me?? Any advice/suggestions??

My Answer:

I have faced this problem many times. Imagine being paid to paint a brick wall back to looking like bricks after someone covered them with paint. The fact that the grout is usually painted as well makes painting in the faux brick wall back to original looking brick and mortar… a challenge.

The techniques taught in the Faux Brick Wall Video and eBook for mixing colors and painting in “bricks” one brick at a time… are very useful. They are the techniques I use to faux bricks for clients.

The trick is to paint the grout first. You can be as messy with the grout color over the bricks as you want. Just get the grout color in to every nook and cranny before you start painting the bricks. This will make your life so much easier.

Then just worry about painting the face of each brick. One at atime…so you will get the variations.

Thanks for the question.

Want to see the process in step by step photos?

Here is a link to photos and actual step by step of repainting brick to look like brick. Check out the inventive way they painted in the grout using real mortar!

Click on each of their photos to see all the details up close!

Faux Brick on Brick Finish

It’s summer and I’ve been thinking a lot about my patio and it’s ugly gray color. The idea I have is pretty standard… a faux brick patio paver design.

I found some great stencils to use. Check out Brick Floor Stencils.

Now… I’m on the hunt for the best paint for concrete patios. I’m looking for paint I can apply myself, something doesn’t require a professional application. But.. I still want the paint to be long lasting on my cement patio.

First I need to find a base coat paint. I already have the grout color… the concrete is gray after all. :0) But… I want to roll on the base coat brick red color. Then… I will go back and distress, highlight and shadow the grout lines and bricks. This is the technique I teach in the Faux Brick Painting Video.

I’ve read that their is quality porch and patio paint available.

Anyway… I’ve gone on the hunt for great patio paint:

Their are professional grade concrete stains that are pretty reasonable in price. Their are tons of colors and look like they will give good coverage. I think anything that penetrates the cement will give good coverage and last longer than just surface coatings of paint.

I think I found it… and I can purchase it at the local big box hardware store!

Paint For Concrete Patios

This book makes me drool.. every time I pick it up I want to head outside and “decorate” my yard.

I have a plain concrete slab for my patio. It’s huge… and gray. This book has loads of pictures of brick patio and floors.

Making Garden Floors: Stone, Brick, Tile, Concrete, Ornamental Gravel, Recycled Materials and More

I know we are going to be installing more patio area with brick so I want my boring gray patio to blend in.

I could have chosen to add a concrete overlay, but this is a huge time and money commitment. And… my concrete is in good shape already so I just want to use paint.

Brick Floor Stencils to the rescue!

I’ve been on the hunt again for all the newest brick stencils. I know that I can draw them on… I mean, I do teach you how to make your own template in the faux brick painting video…

But… when I am going to be painting on my hands and knees for any length of time… Like More Than 10 minutes… I want to use something that is going to give me fast results. At least for part of the process…

Here is my list of all the brick floor stencils I could find ( click on them to see what they look like):

• Four Square Brick Floor Stencil - Good For Patio!

• My Favorite Herringbone Brick Stencil... I have this one!

• Royal Design Studio - Herringbone Patio Stencil

It was tough to find really nice brick stencils. I like to find good quality brick floor stencils, but I don’t want to pay a huge price. I usually purchase more than one set… so I can whiz through the project.

Click here for more information on: Faux Brick Stencil Kit