Painting bare brick attic wall

[huw169]

Hi all
We are making our attic more usable, so a bit of tidying needed. The end wall is brick and a bit scruffy. I intend on tidying it up with a view to painting it white as the room needs brightening up.

Any tips on how to seal and paint so it doesn’t all start flaking off in a few months?
Thanks

 

[RandomGrinch]

Hi,
I am in exactly the same situation.
I was hoping others might have some ideas.
Your wall looks in a pretty decent state! Many of my bricks are spalling and flakey.
I was going to give this a try, just because I had it lying around.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-stone-tile-sealer-1ltr/5163v
It states it's breathable which should be good for the lime mortar.
Time will tell if its any good!
I have seen others apply render, but that won't be breathable. Alternatively, just cover it up with a stud wall!

 

[Mr Chibs]

In my last house I painted an exposed chimney breast (lime mortar) and in 15 years only half a brick went flakey (salt deposits).

I hadn’t sealed it, just used emulsion.

If the surface is flakey you could use, Everbuild 406, this hardens and Stabilises friable surfaces, then paint over.

 

[huw169]

Thanks guys. It cleaned up really well, and as the rest of the room and roof will be white, so we elected to just IPA seal it.

 

[Lower]

Judging by the soot stains, the roof has been leaking where its flashed to the chimney. Has that been fixed?

 

[huw169]

Yes, that is years old.

 

[huw169]

End result, just to close the loop.

 

[Mr Chibs]

Looks good, but where are the power tools all I see is office stuff

If it gets excessively dusty up there, you can use ltp Matt stone sealer on the bricks.

better not painted after all

 

[huw169]

Yep, me and my tools got quickly evicted once it was done LOL
PVA sealed all the bricks and it all feels well bonded.
Thanks, we're chuffed with how its turned out.
Even put in some fixed paddle stairs to access it.

 

[Gareth22]

Hi all
We are making our attic more usable, so a bit of tidying needed. The end wall is brick and a bit scruffy. I intend on tidying it up with a view to painting it white as the room needs brightening up.

Any tips on how to seal and paint so it doesn’t all start flaking off in a few months?
Thanks
View attachment 239688

Hi Huw,

My attic wall is similar to yours and has black on the bricks. You mentioned you cleared it up but was wondering how you did that? Did you get someone over and if so was it quite an expensive and big project? Thanks!