Interior Brick Wall Concealment Techniques?

Hiding an exterior brick wall can create a rustic contrast in a home. To cover an internal brick wall, there are various options available to suit your preferences. One popular choice is to apply a few coats of white. Before starting, inspect the condition of the brick you want to expose and chip away a small piece of plaster in an out-of-the-way area. Two options to cover the brick inside are painting and drywalling. If the wall is an outer wall, the drywall requires furring strips underneath. Drywall is the best option for the exposed brick wall.

Embrace the rugged charm of a brick wall, no matter your interior design style. Transform your home’s interior by covering brick walls with materials like drywall, wood paneling, or wallpaper to achieve a personalized and stylish look. You don’t have to wait until you buy a house that already has an exposed brick wall or try to demo interior walls in the hopes of finding an exposed brick gem underneath.

Exposed brick walls have long been seen as a holy grail of interiors, the perfect solution for creating a stylish, yet understated feature wall look. For some lucky homeowners, stripping away an ugly brick wall can add a bit of style to your interior. There are 10 ways to update an exposed brick wall—beyond just painting it—create contrast with art, hang an area rug, add lighting, use shadow boxes, and paint it.

In addition to painting, there are 7 ways to update your interior exposed brick wall—create some contrast in textures, limewash it, add windows, frame it, paint it black, and lean large accents against your interior brick wall.

How to make an internal brick wall look good?

To enhance the appearance of exposed brick walls, consider adding contrasting textures like tiles, hanging plants, mirrors, or picture frames, or painting them with a mural or bold block color. For a classic “white-washed brick look”, limewash can be used, softening red tones and lightening the exterior. This allows bricks to breathe and provides a soft, porous finish that intensifies with each coat applied. Adding these elements can create a visually appealing and functional brick wall.

How to cover a brick wall cheaply?

In order to conceal an unsightly brick wall, one may consider painting it in order to achieve a fresh appearance and protection, installing vinyl or wood siding for a new appearance, utilizing climbing plants such as ivy or other plants for a natural look, or applying stucco for a textured finish. These options can serve to enhance the appearance of the wall, provide protection, and impart a distinctive character to the space.

How do you update internal brick walls?

Exposed brick walls are a popular trend that add charm, character, comfort, and texture to any room, office, or house. They can be used in various styles, from industrial and bohemian to vintage and modern/contemporary. To dress up an interior brick wall, consider using open back shelving, hanging art, creating a layered look, adding plants, antique decor, library walls, industrial chic rooms, and creative workspaces.

However, exposed brick walls require some maintenance and may need to be updated as you make changes to your interior design. Here are five simple ways to dress up an interior brick wall to make it a striking feature:

1. Hang art on the wall to create a layered look.
2. Hang plants to create a layered look.
3. Add antique decor to the library wall.
4. Add a library wall to create an industrial chic room.
5. Add a library wall to create a creative workspace.

Incorporating these simple ways can make an exposed brick wall a striking feature in any room, office, or house.

How do you tuck point interior brick walls?

Tuckpointing is a crucial part of brick maintenance, ensuring the longevity of the brick system. It involves cutting brick mortar to a consistent depth, forcing new mortar into the joints, and then pushing the mortar farther into the joints. This process is essential to prevent mortar from deteriorating and requiring tuckpointing after 25-30 years. Tuckpointing is an inexpensive, time-intensive project that cleans up mortar lines and preserves the entire brick system for the long term. It is considered a normal part of brick maintenance, as it helps preserve the brick system for years to come.

Why is tuckpointing so expensive?

Tuckpointing projects often require significant labor costs due to the expertise required for application. Expect to pay between $180 and $800 for an 8-by-8-foot wall, and $10, 000 to $50, 000 for entire houses. Structure height is a significant factor affecting project prices, with contractors generally raising rates for tuckpointing on brick above a certain height, often 8 feet. Quotes for higher surfaces may rise to $10 to $25 per square foot.

Can you cover interior brick?

Interior brick walls can be both historical and elegant. To transform them, consider using various techniques, colors, materials, or preserving their character. Here are 15 tricks to transform masonry from mundane to magical:

1. Create a textured contrast: A raw brick wall can create a rustic contrast in a modern bathroom with smooth, plain, and patterned tiles. The black, white, and grey color palette ties the ensemble together.

2. Add limewash to an exposed brick wall: Limewash is a breathable coating that offers a soft, porous finish, softening the red brick inside. This technique helps create a cohesive and elegant look for a room.

How to cover a bad wall without plastering?

Joint compound is a versatile solution for a smooth wall surface, allowing for multiple coats and reducing mess. It fills gaps and holes between plasterboard and can be applied with a trowel or putty knife. Sanding is another option for old surfaces, but it requires a suitable grit and is best for removing old finishes. Sandpapers can range from coarse to fine, and dust should be avoided before painting. Lining paper is another option for a smooth surface, similar to hanging wallpaper.

It can be used to cover cracks and imperfections, but it’s important to choose the right thickness and grade. Joints between pieces should also be carefully considered to avoid a noticeable finish after painting. Overall, joint compound, sanding, and lining paper are all effective methods for achieving a smooth wall surface.

What is a brick tuck?

Tuckpointing represents a fundamental aspect of the restoration trade in the masonry industry. However, it is notable that not all companies possess the requisite expertise to engage in this specialized practice.

How to hide an interior brick wall?

Plaster sheets can be used to cover up old brick walls quickly and easily, using galvanized nails to prevent rust blooms. Nailing or glueing are suitable methods for attaching plaster sheets. Plasterboard can be fixed over a brick wall by fixing furring strips over the wall, ensuring it doesn’t touch the wall. Timber studs can be used to attach the plasterboard, and a bead of construction adhesive can be applied to one side of the studs. This allows for easy hanging of items due to the cavity.

Is painting interior brick a good idea?

Painting an exposed interior brick wall in an older home can transform it into a more appealing element. Brick is a porous material and requires different preparation requirements than other walls. Inspect the brick for cracks in the mortar or signs of efflorescence, a white residue left behind when moisture evaporates off the surface. Remove this residue and other dirt and debris before painting.

Wash the bricks with soapy water and a stiff bristle brush, then wait for it to dry completely before applying paint. If soap and water aren’t enough, a mixture of TSP can be used to remove stubborn dirt. Mix a half cup of TSP with a gallon of water and give the bricks another pass, allowing them to dry completely afterwards.

Be cautious not to use acid solutions to clean brick, as this can cause paint to chip.