Painting - Painting a brick exterior

We have a 1960's brick ranch home and are in the process of re-landscaping the entire property. As part of this huge "project" I would like to give the brick exterior a "whitewash" finish, as seen on older homes that were I presume painted with a lime mixture. Any suggestions on how to achieve this "antique" look? My local paint store could only give a suggestion which was prime (I can't understand this since I don't want a "solid" painted finish), paint then wipe off the excess. We can test any application on the back of the house, but it would really be helpful if we knew exactly what to do before we started. Thanks in advance for your input!

Just some thoughts here.First,any brick job should begin with a masonry conditioner.This will prepare bricks for whatever is to come.This applied with a yard and garden bug sprayer most often mixed 1:1 with mineral spirits.Goes very fast and should not be skipped in your job.Now for the "look",my first thought is H&C Concrete Stain.I think this stain(available in many colors)straight out of the bucket would probably antique the bricks.If to solid,thin a little at a time until close.Always let stain dry some because dry is somewhat different than the wet stain.There are alternatives to H&C,thinned down exterior primer(oil) should serve the purpose but wouldnt suggest a thinned topcoat unless it was a flat oil.Believe it or not on all but the biggest of jobs a bug sprayer is my choice to apply all of these materials.Let us know how it comes out!

Brick must be free of dirt, loose and excess mortar, and foreign material. All brick should be allowed to weather for at least one year followed by wire brushing to
remove efflorescence.Treat the brick with Loxon® Conditioner (a sherwin Williams product) which prevents adhesion problems and delamination.

Loxon conditioner assures you of topcoat adhesion and performance by creating a surface you can paint with confidence. It's an economical alternative to priming and particularly useful where the existing topcoat has deteriorated over time. It also makes a great sealer coat for new construction. Whether you're covering rough brick or smooth concrete, new or previously painted, Loxon conditioner's excellent penetration promises trouble-free topcoat adhesion.




<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KarenPluta:
We have a 1960's brick ranch home and are in the process of re-landscaping the entire property. As part of this huge "project" I would like to give the brick exterior a "whitewash" finish, as seen on older homes that were I presume painted with a lime mixture. Any suggestions on how to achieve this "antique" look? My local paint store could only give a suggestion which was prime (I can't understand this since I don't want a "solid" painted finish), paint then wipe off the excess. We can test any application on the back of the house, but it would really be helpful if we knew exactly what to do before we started. Thanks in advance for your input!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



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Gary Goel/Owner Newkote Kitchen & Bath Refinishing
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gary@newkote.com