Painting brick can be a difficult task, especially if you plan on rolling it on or using a brush. There are a lot of indentions and nooks and crannies in brick and on the masonry, so it can take a long time to fill in these small spaces. Spraying brick with a paint sprayer is the best way to paint brick, but it still has to be prepped before you attempt to paint it with a paint sprayer, and there are other things you should know as well. Read on for some helpful information.

Prep Your Brick Beforehand

Exterior brick has seen a lot of elements throughout the years, so there is probably quite a bit of dirt on the brick and in the masonry. Do a thorough cleaning of the brick to clean off all of this dirt and debris to give you a cleaner surface to work with. Clean it with a long-handled bristle brush and soap and water. Rinse the soap from the brick so it doesn't hinder the paint from adhering to the brick. Once the brick is clean, you need it to dry thoroughly.

Fill in Cracks or Holes

Not all bricks are smooth and perfect; they may have holes and cracks through it, and your masonry's bricks may have the same. To prevent these cracks from later being highlighted by the paint you are going to be using,  you should fill in these gaps in the brick to give it a smoother look without so many imperfections. Use masonry to fill in the holes, or you can use concrete repair to fill in the holes and cracks. Be sure to sand down any areas you filled in.

Find a Good Paint Sprayer

You need to be sure you are using the right type of paint sprayer for your project. You want one that is easy to manage and can use the type of paint you are going to be using for your exterior brick. Paint sprayers can range in price, so if you aren't wanting to spend a lot of money on a paint sprayer, you should look into renting one, or borrowing one from someone you know. Before you use the paint sprayer, practice using it on a piece of wood or in an area of your home that you won't notice as easily to be sure you get a hang of how to paint with a paint sprayer.

Get the Right Paint

Use the right type of paint for this project. You need exterior paint, and should use masonry paint, but any exterior paint will do. Masonry paint is best to use, as it helps your brick breathe and won't allow mold or mildew to grow.

If you have brick on your home that just isn't the look you want for your home any longer, you can paint over it to give it an entirely new look without having to remove the brick from your home. Hire an exterior painting professional to do this work for you to ensure it is done properly.