Painting Interior Brick
2008/11/06 | Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore
It is very important to clean the brick well. Prior to painting, using an oil and grease emulsifier like Benjamin Moore’s M-83 or T.S.P. (tri-sodium phosphate)
When the brick is completely dry, the surface should be primed with a latex enamel underbody. If there are permanent smoke stains, a stain suppressing primer like Benjamin Moore’s Speedy Primer Sealer should be spot-primed on these areas first.
Latex paint is recommended for brick in any colour that suits your space. Remember to only paint the facing of the brick, and never inside the belly of the fireplace! Any sheen level of paint will work but the higher sheen products are a little easier to clean on a heavily textured surface like brick. However the matte finishes look a little more natural. Personal preference!
TIP:
It is best to use a high pile roller (20mm pile minimum) for painting brick as you need to get into some deep grooves. Sometimes it is easier to brush into the deep mortar areas first, if the brick is exceptionally deep. You should prime first, then top with 2 coats of your finishing paint/colour. If you are using a dark colour, I would recommend having your primer tinted appropriately. Most latex paints allow you to re-coat within 6 hours. Benjamin Moore’s Aura paint can be recoated within one hour.
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