The Beginners Guide to Masonry Paint
Deciding to paint your house is a big decision. It can often be challenging to figure out the right way to paint the different kinds of surfaces on your home. Obviously, if you’re going to put the time and energy into painting your home, you’ll want to use the right paint for the right surfaces.
In particular, many home owners get nervous when they look at painting masonry. Because of the texture of brick, stucco, and other types of masonry, it’s easy to think that there aren’t any paints that can work on those surfaces. You’ll be surprised to learn that there are actually paints designed specifically for masonry, and the process of using them is much easier than you might think.
Masonry Paint: The Ideal Solution
There’s no question that painting on masonry can be more challenging than painting on wood or plaster walls. The texture of masonry simply doesn’t lend itself to easy painting.
That said, there is a special type of paint designed for masonry projects exclusively that’s going to be able to help you achieve your design dreams.
If you use the right kind of masonry paint with the right type of initial preparation, you should be able to end up with a paint job that will remain vibrant for years to come.
The great thing about dealing with paint these days is that you’ll be able to find a wide selection online. This can end up saving you time, money, and hassle over the course of your project — something that will make it easier to complete your paint job.
What Is Masonry Paint?
Masonry paint is any paint that you can use on a brick, stucco, or other surface. That being said, experts will tell you that there are some special qualities that make masonry paint different from other kinds of paint that you’ll find in stores:
- Masonry paint will be able to stay in a nice, thick coat on brick much more easily than other types of paint.
- It can also provide a measure of insulation on an area of your home that might usually struggle to retain heat. This is perfect for anyone looking to save energy and reduce their heating or air conditioning costs.
- The paint is also allows your masonry to breathe. This insulates to keep moisture out of your home. The paint will also allow any moisture in the brick already to filter out into the air.
Figuring Out Your Supplies
The general rule of thumb for buying masonry paint is to calculate the surface area of the building that is made up of masonry. Once you know the area you’re working with, you can then check the estimates on the tins to see how many you should buy. It’s usually a good idea to buy a little bit more than you think you’ll need to avoid having to return to buy more later.
The amount of paint used depends on many factors. This includes your painting technique, the porosity of the wall, and more. There are however some general assumptions you can make about how much you’ll need. For the most part, you can get about 350-400 square feet of wall covered with a one-gallon can of masonry paint.
One thing to remember when dealing with masonry paint is that you’ll want to apply a second coat to ensure the proper insulation and smooth finish. While it’ll take a little extra work on your part, you’ll be glad you did once you’ve had a chance to see your finished paint job.
You might also want to assume that you’ll need more paint for masonry projects than you’d use on other surfaces. This is because the masonry is going to be a bit more absorbent, which will consume more paint on your end.
How To Paint Masonry Surfaces
Before you can have any success with your job, you need to be sure you’ve prepped the surface properly.
The biggest concern when painting any kind of masonry is dealing with the general texture of the material.
There are a couple of important things to consider as you start preparing to paint:
- First, you’ll need to clean the surface of any sort of residual paint or other debris. As you can imagine, your paint isn’t going to adhere very well to your brick if there are things in the way.
- You should be sure to first put down a coat of primer on your masonry. These primers are usually oil based. Your primer is going to serve as a protective coat as well as an additional binding agent for your masonry paint.
- Once you’ve let your primer dry, you can start with your masonry paint. Grab a ladder, put on your smock, and get ready to make your home look beautiful again!
Let Start!
If you’re like most homeowners, the idea of painting your house is probably not something that’s high up on your list of exciting activities. At the same time, you want your home to look fantastic, right?
So if you’re going to go through all the trouble of painting your home, you might as well do it right. When you want to paint your house like a pro, then you’re going to need the right kind of paint to complete the job.
As we’ve seen throughout this post, the type of paint you choose for your project will depend on the surfaces you’ll be painting on. In particular, you need to consider the texture of the surface and whether it needs a special type of primer in order to ensure maximum durability and appearance.
Masonry paint is the right solution to a problem that not too many people know about until it’s too late.
To get that perfect paint job on every square inch of your home – and on every type of surface – you’re going to need some masonry paint.
Do you have tips for getting a great coat of paint on your home or have experience painting on bricks? Help us out and share that information with the Promain team!
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