Painting Surface
Brick
Brick is a porous fired-clay masonry material with a textured surface that absorbs moisture and paint while allowing vapor to move through the wall.
Paint compatibility with brick
Brick accepts masonry, elastomeric, or latex coatings when dry and sound; moisture, salts, mortar condition, and vapor flow guide paint choice.
| Paint | Compatibility | Preparation | Primer or ground | Finish | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masonry paint | Excellent with a suitable masonry formula | Remove dirt, loose material, and efflorescence; make sure the brick is sound and dry. | Product-specific; some masonry paints are self-priming on prepared brick. | Choose an interior or exterior formula suited to the location and moisture conditions. | — |
| Elastomeric paint | Excellent on compatible exterior vertical brick | Correct moisture problems, remove dirt, chalk, loose coating, and deposits, and repair damaged mortar or cracks beyond the coating system's limits. | Use the specified masonry primer or sealer when the brick condition requires it. | Flexible breathable exterior finish when the complete system suits the brick and exposure. | — |
| Latex paint | Good with a masonry-grade product | Correct moisture issues and remove dirt, loose material, and efflorescence. | Use a masonry primer when required by the paint system. | Use an interior or exterior product suited to the location. | — |
| Reflective paint | Good with a reflective coating approved for masonry | Remove dirt, loose material, and efflorescence; make sure the brick is sound and dry. | Use a compatible masonry primer when required by porosity or the selected coating. | Reflectivity depends on direct illumination and sufficient light coat buildup. | — |
| Bituminous paint | Good on sound brick and masonry where a bituminous waterproof barrier is appropriate | Correct active water problems, remove dust and loose material, and let the substrate reach the moisture condition required by the product. | Porous masonry may require a compatible bitumen primer. | Opaque black barrier finish with different vapor and weathering behavior from ordinary masonry paint. | — |
| Cement paint | Good on sound porous brick when the coating system explicitly approves masonry | Correct leaks and efflorescence, remove loose material and contamination, and ensure the surface condition matches the product instructions. | Primer or pre-wetting requirements vary with the coating chemistry and brick porosity. | Opaque mineral finish that can preserve a more masonry-like appearance than some film-forming paints. | — |
| Acrylic paint | Good for decorative use | Remove dust, loose material, and surface deposits; let the brick dry fully. | Seal porous brick or use a compatible masonry ground when needed. | Choose a compatible system for handling or exposure. | — |
| Spray paint | Good with a masonry-compatible product | Remove dust and loose material; clean and dry thoroughly. | Use a compatible masonry primer when the product or brick condition requires it. | Product-specific. | — |
| Chalk paint | Good for decorative projects | Use sound, clean, dry brick; porous brick may need additional coats. | Usually product-specific. | Apply the recommended wax or protective coating when needed. | — |
| Milk paint | Good on sound, unsealed brick | Correct moisture problems and remove dirt, loose material, and efflorescence; let the brick dry fully. | Usually unnecessary on raw porous brick; sealed or coated brick requires testing and product-specific preparation. | Use a compatible protective finish for exterior exposure or frequent handling. | — |
Sources: Liquitex surface preparation, Rust-Oleum spray-paint guidance, Behr Masonry, Stucco & Brick Paint, Behr Elastomeric Masonry, Stucco & Brick Paint, Real Milk Paint application guidance.
Painters who used brick
These painter profiles include documented work on brick walls; the examples describe the material-specific support in each artist’s profile.
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Kiptoe
Kiptoe paints murals directly on brick walls, working across the masonry joints and texture as part of a large outdoor composition. His brush-applied acrylic and spray paint adapt to the rough surface; this is distinct from his studio canvases. The masonry remains visible around the painted forms.
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Ella Ponizovsky Bergelson
Bergelson’s mural projects also use exposed brick, making the masonry itself part of the image. The rough support differs from smooth plaster and glass, so the painted marks respond to the wall’s existing surface. Her project documentation shows brick as a site-specific substrate in the built environment.
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Annie Sloan
Sloan’s brickwork tutorial demonstrates Chalk Paint applied across masonry, preserving the uneven texture of the bricks and joints. The documented project connects her decorative paint system to a specific architectural surface, with preparation and application discussed in the accompanying instructions.
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Jonathon Marc Mendes
Mendes treated fireplace bricks with a paste of Saltwash and Old White Chalk Paint, spreading it with an old credit card. His project builds an aged surface over the cleaned masonry, then uses further color to suggest worn brick around the stove.
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Brooke Cambridge
Cambridge’s professional painting projects include brick among the masonry surfaces treated in residential work. Its uneven, absorbent texture requires preparation and an appropriate exterior coating. The source material documents brick as a building surface in her practice, distinct from drywall and concrete floors.
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Brian Santos
Santos’s practical guidance covers brick as a masonry surface for residential coating work. Its porous texture requires attention to cleaning, repair, and suitable paint selection before application. The sources document brick in his home-improvement instruction, distinct from the drywall and wood surfaces encountered indoors.
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Nick Slavik
Slavik’s restoration practice includes historic brick homes in Chaska, Minnesota. His company describes assessing whether brick should be painted or restored, treating the masonry’s condition and the building’s historic character as reasons to choose an appropriate surface treatment.
Sources: Kiptoe original artwork, Ella Ponizovsky Bergelson biography, Annie Sloan biography, Jonathon Marc Mendes: About, BLC Painting: About; Annie Sloan: painting brickwork; Jonathon Marc Mendes: painted fireplace bricks; Nick Slavik: historic Chaska brick homes.
Brick paint articles
The linked guide examines painting brick pavers, including the surface preparation and coating choices that matter when working on outdoor paving.