Can You Paint Brick Pavers?

Brick pavers are an excellent choice for constructing walkways, driveways, or patios. They are long-lasting and with adequate preparation and proper installation techniques, you can install brick pavers on various surfaces. However, compared to all the colors in your interiors and exteriors, your brick pavers may look quite lifeless.

Have you ever got the idea of painting your brick pavers or at least a question came to your mind like can you paint brick pavers? Our straightforward answer is, yes, with proper preparation, you can paint brick pavers.

In this guide, we are going to discuss how you can turn your lifeless brick pavers into a part of your colorful backyard or garden decorations.

Can You Paint Brick Pavers?

Yes, as we have said earlier, you can paint. If you make the right preparation and follow proper guidelines during the application, you can paint your brick pavers. However, keep in mind that your pavers will have to withstand extreme weather conditions, from freezing cold to heavy rainfall.

Besides that, your pavers will be exposed to heavy traffic, sun, and harmful UV every day. So, before you start painting your brick pavers with any regular paints, you need to make sure the paint can withstand harsh weather conditions as well as high traffic.

And like most other things in the world, painting brick pavers has pros and cons. If the paint is not suitable for the bricks, it will not last long and the brick pavers will look even worse than before.

That’s why we say it’s okay to paint your brick pavers, but make sure the paint is suitable for the surface and you take proper preparation before applying the paint. If you can ensure these and some additional conditions, you are ready to paint your brick pavers.

Also Read: Hydro Dipping Methods with Acrylic Paint

Can You Spray Paint Brick Pavers?

If the pavers are looking old and faded, it’s normal to think about spray painting in the first place. That’s because spray painting is probably the easiest way to paint something. However, painting brick pavers with spray paints might not be an as good idea as it sounds!

You see, when your brick pavers are exposed to sunlight and other harsh weather conditions, the colors fade away unequally. Some pavers may look darker while others are comparatively lighter. And this can be a reason that the homeowner would want to repaint the pavers. If your case is similar and that’s why you are thinking of repainting, we got something to tell you.

Not all pavers can absorb the paint equally. So, even if you spray paint the whole area maintaining a uniform coat of paint, you may end up with the same problem that you started with; uneven darker, and lighter tones in the pavers.

If you insist on going with spray paint, you can try painting on a smaller area first. Make a good preparation before using spray paints and make sure you choose a spot where people won’t notice the painted area easily. We recommend avoiding spray painting while the outdoor temperature is too high or there is too much humidity in the air.

When choosing the paint, make sure to check if it is suitable for brick pavers or not. Plus, you need to think about the durability of the paint as well.

Your brick pavers will remain outdoors for years and will be exposed to sunlight, UV, humidity, and so on. That’s why make sure you choose paint that is suitable for the outdoors and can withstand extreme weather conditions.

The application process would be the same as spraying on furniture or other stuff. Apply thin and even coat all over the area. After applying the paint, if you notice the brick has absorbed the color and the tone looks lighter, no worries, just add another coat. After that, let it dry properly.

After you are satisfied with your final coat and the brick pavers are completely dry, you can give it a try with a sealer because you don’t want all your hard work to disappear after a few days. After applying the sealer, wait for a few days and see how they look. If you are satisfied with the color, you can move on to paint larger areas.

Next Read: Can You Wash Acrylic Paint?

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Brick Pavers?

Since your pavers will have to withstand a lot of heat, moisture, traffic, and so on, regular paints will not be quite effective here. That’s why you need a paint that will strongly adhere to the brick surface in all weather.

To be more specific, look for acrylic concrete paint or good-quality paving paint.

And due to high traffic and exposure to extreme weather conditions, paving paint might not be enough. You need to use a primer and a sealer for better paint adhesion.

How Do You Prepare Brick Pavers for Painting?

Before start painting, you need to prepare the surface first. Preparing includes a few things.

Step 1: Removing the Weeds

It’s normal to have weeds growing around the pavers. The first thing you need to do is to remove those weeds.

Step 2: Removing Dust and Dirt

Use a push broom to clean all the dust and dirt.

Step 3: Cleaning with Water

After all the dry dirt and dust are gone, you need to use water to clean away the remaining grime and stain. Fill a bucket with water. Take liquid dish soap and pour 4-5 drops of it into the bucket. Now take some water from the bucket and pour it over the areas you want to clean and start scrubbing afterward. You can use a floor cleaner brush for this task.

Finally, thoroughly rinse the area with water after cleaning. To get better results from painting, you can start the preparation stage one to two days earlier before you will apply the paint. This will give the pavers enough time to dry.

Continue Reading: Sealing Acrylic Paint on Glass

How to Paint Brick Pavers?

After the preparation step is over, it’s time to start painting the brick pavers. Here are the things you need to get started:

• Paint tray
• Concrete primer (Acrylic)
• Acrylic concrete or paving paint
• Paint roller
• Concrete sealer

Now, let’s start the process.

Step 1: Applying Primer

First, take the can of acrylic concrete primer and stir it well. You can pour it into the paint tray for convenience.

Submerge the roller into the primer. Start rolling roller brush back and forth onto your brick pavers using fine strokes. Try to spread the paint everywhere as evenly as possible.

After you are done, wash the paint tray and the roller and let them dry. To make sure the primer is properly dry, let the pavers rest for one to four hours.

After the waiting period is over, you can touch the pavers to check if the pavers are completely dry or not. If the pavers still feel damp, wait for one or two more hours before applying the paint.

Step 2: Applying the Paint

Take the can of acrylic paint and stir it well. Pour it into the tray; it will make your work easier. Now dip the roller in the paint and start applying the paint on the surface the same way you applied the primer.

After the first coat is applied, you need to wait for about two hours to ensure that the first coat is dry. But that’s a lot of time. If you leave your paint tray and roller in the sun, they can dry out easily. That’s why you can use plastic wrap to cover the tray and roller.

After the waiting period is over, remove the plastic wrap from the tray and roller and apply a second coat. After the second coat is applied, let the pavers rest for two days.

Step 3: Applying Sealer

Open the can of sealer, and pour it into the tray. Dip the roller into the sealer. Now evenly apply the sealer all over the painted areas. Don’t forget to cover the joints. After you are done, wash the roller and allow the brick pavers to rest for two hours or more.

To complete your project successfully, keep these things in mind:

• Never apply paint, primer, or sealer if the temperature is too high because you don’t want bubbles to appear on the paint.
• Avoid painting, priming, or sealing when there is too much humidity in the air.

Can You Change the Color of Brick Pavers?

If your brick pavers look strained or faded, yes, you can change the color by painting with the right type of paint.

If you want to paint the pavers for craft only, you can do that as well. You need to make a good preparation first, and then the rest of the process will remain quite the same. Since brick has an uneven surface, you can use a penetration sealer to fill out the pores. This will save your paint as well.

After the sealer is cured, you can apply your desired paint according to the manufacturer’s instructions to change the color of your brick pavers.

This video can be supportive:

What Is the Best Paver Paint?

This may depend on various things. First, the paint should adhere to the brick surface well.

The best paver paint should be able to withstand heavy traffic, UV rays, scorching sun, humidity, snow, and salty coastal weather if you live in coastal areas.

If the paint fulfills most of these conditions, you can consider that a good paint for your pavers.

Final Thoughts

Driveways, pavers, and walkways go through a lot of traffic every day. That’s why over time they become faded.

But no more dealing with dull-looking pavers, in this guide, we discussed how you can paint your brick pavers and bring a shiny new look. So, follow our guide and turn your faded pavers into a part of your colorful outdoor decorations.