Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Changing color of exterior brick?
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docbotanus
05-04-06, 07:42 AM
Our 25 year old two-story home has dutch-lap vinyl siding on the upper (that I plan to replace eventually) and brick on the entire first level that is a motlled orange color, with some bricks that are brownish, tan or black-orange. I hate the color, and would replace it someday if we have the dough.
For now, I'm trying to live with, and considered several options-
1) Have it professionally stained- we had a quote from Nawkaw-we were quoted about $5000, with each brick stained individually. My hesitation is cost, and concern that the result is too monochromatic.
2) Try to tone down the orange tone by sponging the the brick with masonry paint or stain(though I'm not sure of the durability of such a technique) to make it look more red, reddish brown, brown, or even a dirty white (with only part of the underlying color showing through the topcoat).
3) Paint the brick an opaque color(white?) or whitewash/limewash it like many older homes. Again the concern is final result and durability.
Does anybody have any experience with any of these ideas, or any materials recommendations? By the way, my wife thinks I'm insane. Please tell me I'm not.
For now, I'm trying to live with, and considered several options-
1) Have it professionally stained- we had a quote from Nawkaw-we were quoted about $5000, with each brick stained individually. My hesitation is cost, and concern that the result is too monochromatic.
2) Try to tone down the orange tone by sponging the the brick with masonry paint or stain(though I'm not sure of the durability of such a technique) to make it look more red, reddish brown, brown, or even a dirty white (with only part of the underlying color showing through the topcoat).
3) Paint the brick an opaque color(white?) or whitewash/limewash it like many older homes. Again the concern is final result and durability.
Does anybody have any experience with any of these ideas, or any materials recommendations? By the way, my wife thinks I'm insane. Please tell me I'm not.
Tscarborough
05-04-06, 07:46 AM
Any of those methods will work, but remember this: Once you paint/stain/wash a brick, you can't go back.
docbotanus
05-04-06, 10:21 AM
The commitment to any coloring technique is my concern-from the maintenance standpoint. I don't want to be a slave to it, refinishing every year or two, and am curious about other's experiences with any of these techniques. I should mention that I'm in the Chicago area, so thermal extremes and humidity are definitely factors to be considered. If I had the money to spend, I'd probably replace (or cover if possible) the existing brick with somthing like Eldorado Stone veneer.
I have a small not-so-decorative wall of the brick that will be coming down, so I'll probably experiment on that with these techniques if I can choose one.
I have a small not-so-decorative wall of the brick that will be coming down, so I'll probably experiment on that with these techniques if I can choose one.
BRICKLAYER
05-04-06, 05:10 PM
if you have a couple of bricks to experiment with try this.
buy various types of morter pigment you can buy them at any masonry supplier. in a tupperware dish add 5 teaspoons and then one teaspoon of portland cement or mansonry cement whatever is available. add water untill it becomes coloured water and mix it very very well so theres no chunks floating around. you can paint this on a brick and it will change the colour of the brick and it will hold up for a very long time, if you dont want to colour the joint just avoid the joint and color each brick individually, you can also change the appearance of masonry by changing the colour of the joint, you can either repoint it compleatly or just paint the joints with a mixture of just pigment and water and apply it with a toothbrush. it is always a good idea but not necessary to seal it when you are done to prevent it from fading and disscolouring with time. note that applying the sealer will make the coulor change a slight bit though.
buy various types of morter pigment you can buy them at any masonry supplier. in a tupperware dish add 5 teaspoons and then one teaspoon of portland cement or mansonry cement whatever is available. add water untill it becomes coloured water and mix it very very well so theres no chunks floating around. you can paint this on a brick and it will change the colour of the brick and it will hold up for a very long time, if you dont want to colour the joint just avoid the joint and color each brick individually, you can also change the appearance of masonry by changing the colour of the joint, you can either repoint it compleatly or just paint the joints with a mixture of just pigment and water and apply it with a toothbrush. it is always a good idea but not necessary to seal it when you are done to prevent it from fading and disscolouring with time. note that applying the sealer will make the coulor change a slight bit though.