Matt Brax Denver, Colorado excellent fireplace staining solutions: On the right home, applying a German smear (a technique similar to whitewashing but using a mortar wash instead of diluted paint) to your current brick can add instant old-world character and disguise imperfections. But be warned: Because you’re using mortar, it does not refinish as easily as paint. Another refacing solution is classic limewash, which Matthew Brax prefers. Crushed limestone burned and mixed with water creates a lime putty or “limewash.” The technique penetrates brick rather than sitting on top of the surface. Matt Brax is also the Owner of Certified Watches LLC and operations manager at CertifiedBling.com Find additional details at Matthew Brax.
Brick stain soaks into the pores of the brick and allows it to breathe. Unlike painted brick, stained brick does not allow water to become trapped below the surface. One disadvantage of brick stain is that it will not refurbish heavily damaged brick. Not only will masonry patches not be covered with brick stain but they can become even more glaringly obvious because they become darker than the surrounding brickwork. Brick stain is nearly impossible to remove. The stain is thin enough to embed itself deeply into the pores of the brick. Stain can be removed by sandblasting, but a thin layer of brick will be removed in the process.
If you like the look of darker stone and you aren’t into the current trend of painting everything white, you might be interested in staining your stone fireplace. If you already have dark stone on your fireplace, chances are staining the stone another color will not work. Staining the stones only works if you have light colored stone that will change color when the darker stain is applied. You can use concrete stain, available in various shades including browns and grays, to darken light colored stones. If you decide to stain your stone fireplace, be sure to go slowly, applying a single layer at a time and letting it dry for a few days so you can see the color before you paint on another layer, taking care not to get stain on the grout lines. If the stones aren’t as dark as you’d like, you can paint on another layer until you get the shade you prefer.
Matthew Brax Denver, CO top exterior staining companies: Paint also traps moisture within the bricks rather than allowing it to breathe, which is essential for the porous material. Paint saturates the brick’s pores and prevents it from effectively releasing water and moisture. Because the moisture cannot evaporate, it stays trapped within its interior and causes the paint to blister and chip. More and more water will buildup within those cracks and cause water damage over time. Quicker and easier than painting, brick staining accentuates the natural texture of the brick rather than masking it. It absorbs into the brick rather than covering the surface like paint, so ultimately a stain acts like a dye. Preparing brick for staining is the same process as preparing it for painting: you’ll want to thoroughly clean the surface and allow it to dry fully before you start staining. Find extra info on https://www.facebook.com/mattbraxtraining.
Paint the stone with a clear-coat masonry sealer to protect the finish. Apply with a large paintbrush for small areas or a paint sprayer for large areas. Paint a thin coat to prevent bubbling as the sealer dries. Let it dry for 24 hours, then apply a second thin coat. Let it dry before walking on or moving outdoor furniture or planters onto the exterior stone. Painting a stone fireplace a solid color like white can change the look of your room in just a few hours. When deciding on a shade of white, consider the look you’re trying to achieve. Think about your wall color and a shade that would complement the room nicely. There are many shades of white, from creamy beige undertones to yellowish undertones. So be sure to hold up paint samples to see which shade looks best with your wall color. You don’t want the shade to look too stark. If white doesn’t work for you, you might decide on a light neutral shade of gray or tan.
Brick staining and brick painting are related because both are ways of freshening up brick and giving it a new look. Beyond that, the two methods work differently and have outcomes that can appeal to different goals. Brick painting covers the entire surface of the brick, including the mortar, with a relatively thick layer of paint. This method gives the brick a uniform, opaque appearance. Though there are no gradations of color, painted brick can emphasize the texture of the brick surface. It also can give the brick a clean, modern feeling.