Painting Old Brick - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Dick · 03-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. One of my three story (row house) apartments is in desperate need of a makeover. The brick is in reasonably good shape aside from the fact that it needs to be repainted. I did a search and nearly two years to the day I found a short thread on this topic. Unfortunately, the issue about what type of paint to use was never fully addressed. I am wondering if anyone out there has had an experience repainting old brick and if so, what coatings would you recommend?

Thanks.

Dick

Mr. Mike · 03-21-2009, 11:55 AM

Go to the paint store and tell them, they will give you the right product, and don't forget to hire a professional.

Edit to add: Hey Dick where did you go to the DIY forum?

Dick · 03-21-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mike

Go to the paint store and tell them, they will give you the right product, and don't forget to hire a professional.

My experience over the years with people at paint stores varies... There is a lot of disinformation out there. BTW, I may not be a 'professional' painter ie: make my living as a painting contractor, but I go through hundreds of gallons of paint a year and have picked up a fair amount of skills, rolling, cutting in, and spraying.

Quote:

Edit to add: Hey Dick where did you go to the DIY forum?

Not sure what you mean by DIY. Because I am not a contractor per se, do you want me to get off this forum?

Dick

Mr. Mike · 03-22-2009, 06:30 AM

No we would like you to stay, we just get so many people that post only one time and we never see them again. Great to see you back.

WisePainter · 03-22-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

make my living as a painting contractor, but I go through hundreds of gallons of paint a year and have picked up a fair amount of skills, rolling, cutting in, and spraying.

If you aren't a professional painter, how are you going through hundreds of gallons of paint a year?!?

Tinstaafl · 03-22-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

If you aren't a professional painter, how are you going through hundreds of gallons of paint a year?!?

Well... I always get at least as much on me as on the walls.

WisePainter · 03-22-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinstaafl

Well... I always get at least as much on me as on the walls.

you are a dirty, and gross person.
good luck convincing anyone to hire a painter like you.
you are ruining the image i have toiled to so hard to change, and you are single handedly going to destroy the painting industry.

nice going...jerk.

Dick · 03-22-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

If you aren't a professional painter, how are you going through hundreds of gallons of paint a year?!?

What does it mean to be a 'professional painter'? If I get some business cards printed up would that mean that I am now a professional?

Hundreds of gallons = many buildings + not a slum landlord.

Dick

WisePainter · 03-22-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

What does it mean to be a 'professional painter'? If I get some business cards printed up would that mean that I am now a professional?

Hundreds of gallons = many buildings + not a slum landlord.

Dick

yeah, business cards.

who let this guy in?

Tinstaafl · 03-22-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

nice going...jerk.

Mr. Mike · 03-22-2009, 09:38 PM

Mr. Dick,

You need a paint rep from a paint store to open an account for you and look at the surface and make a recommendation. We live all over the world and some paints may not work as good in some areas as they may others. A rep will help you with that.

I use a porter paints product and every time I do a raw brick building I call my rep and he gets it ready.

sparehair · 03-22-2009, 10:37 PM

So there you have it dick. Nobody knows the answer to your question on this forum so they're all flamin' you.

I haven't painted a whole lot of brick. I would be concerned with the surfactants (the white powder that can leech out the brick and mortar). I would pressure wash. Prime with a masonry primer and paint with a quality exterior grade paint. I'm sure I'm missing many of the nuances. I suppose you could get into measuring ph maybe water content of the brick yada yada.

Now I'll get flamed for suggesting pressure washing (you'll blow out all the mortar) and who knows what all else. Use the right tip and the right touch and you will be fine with the pressure washer.

NAV · 03-23-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

What does it mean to be a 'professional painter'? If I get some business cards printed up would that mean that I am now a professional?

Dick

Dick, to be a professional painter you would be able to specify the appropriate material for a substrate as simple as brick.

anyway - go with an elastomeric coating and apply the material at the specified film thickness. Dont skimp on material to save money. I like to use VIP Elastomeric paint - Thoroseal makes some good products too - Call BASF.

Dick · 03-23-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mike

Mr. Dick,

You need a paint rep from a paint store to open an account for you and look at the surface and make a recommendation. We live all over the world and some paints may not work as good in some areas as they may others. A rep will help you with that.

I use a porter paints product and every time I do a raw brick building I call my rep and he gets it ready.

I do already - with MAB, but their prices in my area skyrocketed when they were taken over by SW - or so it seems... Then I went to the dark side and start getting my material from Lowes. Mainly because it was convenient since I was always in there.

I think I am going to open an account with SW. There is one nearby. I haven't been waiting around for a definitive answer here. Not after some moak ask how I got in. I did a Google search and found that after prepping many guys go with a Zinsser’s 123 Acrylic primer and then two coats of a 100% acrylic paint. I won't cut corners on the paint because of the time involved prepping. An alternative is one of the elastomeric paints however, the price is at least 50% more and the coverage may be less. Plus it seems in the past, I have had problems with elastomeric paints. I can't remember if it was a humidity issue or the temperature in the late afternoon took a tumble.

Just to be clear - you mentioned that you have covered raw brick. This brick has flaking red paint on it. The best I'll be able to do is pressure wash and scrape/sand but I'll never come close to getting it all off.

Dick

Dick · 03-23-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NAV

Dick, to be a professional painter you would be able to specify the appropriate material for a substrate as simple as brick.

Understood. Curious then that you are the first (professional painter) to actually make a specific recommendation. See my post to Mike. I won't rule out an elastomeric coating. I'll discuss it today with an SW rep. Thanks.

Dick

Quote:

anyway - go with an elastomeric coating and apply the material at the specified film thickness. Dont skimp on material to save money. I like to use VIP Elastomeric paint - Thoroseal makes some good products too - Call BASF.

**ProWallGuy** · 03-23-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

BTW, I may not be a 'professional' painter ie: make my living as a painting contractor, but I go through hundreds of gallons of paint a year and have picked up a fair amount of skills, rolling, cutting in, and spraying.

While in my 40+ years on this planet, I have met many, many women. And with a decent percentage of these women, I have picked up a fair amount of skills in dealing with their south-of-the-border mommy parts. But I by no means consider myself a professional gynecologist, nor do I make a living at it. So on that note:

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