How to Antique Brick

Whitewash

• 1

  Clean the surface of the brick. Scour with a wire brush to loosen flaking paint or other debris. Rinse the brick and let it dry thoroughly. Clean the surrounding area for any dirt or other material that could adhere to the whitewash. Spread a tarp or drop cloth to protect from splashes and spills.

• 2

  Mix a batch of whitewash paint. Tim Carter, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and the professional expert on AsktheBuilder.com, recommends this recipe: Mix five parts ivory hydrated lime to one part table salt. Add water and mix to a batter-like consistency. Carter notes that 50 lbs. of lime and 10 lbs. of salt cover at least 2,000 square feet, so adjust your proportions according to how much brick you want to whitewash. Purchase lime from a building supply retailer who serves plasterers and concrete contractors. Buy salt in bulk from bakery suppliers.

• 3

  Tint whitewash, if desired, by adding dry pigments. Stirring in charcoal dust will give the whitewash a duller, grimy patina, with or without additional color. Mix small color batches first and experiment on an extra brick or an inconspicuous spot of the brick to be whitewashed. Let your color trial dry several days to reveal how the tinted whitewash will actually look. Purchase dry pigments from the same building supply retailers who sell lime.

• 4

  Spray the surface of the brick with water to increase absorption. Apply whitewash with a brush or roller; Carter recommends a stiff brush. For an aged appearance when the whitewash dries, vary the thickness of your application. A thinner coat of whitewash in spots will allow the brick color to show through, just as it does on old brick walls. Areas of whitewash can even be rinsed off several hours after application for a truly distressed appearance. If you apply more than one coat, allow the previous coat to dry thoroughly. When you're finished, clean the brush or roller and bucket immediately with soap and water.

Thinned Latex Paint

• 5

  Clean the brick surface of dust, grease and stains. Scour any loose paint or debris with a wire brush. Rinse the brick and let it dry thoroughly. Spread a drop cloth or tarp to catch spills.

• 6

  Choose a flat white latex paint in a warm tone, not bright white. In a bucket, mix one part paint to one part water and stir well. If you want minimum color coverage on the bricks, add more water.

• 7

  Brush the thinned paint on the bricks, working with a few bricks at a time. Wipe off the paint with a rag before the wash dries. Remove more or less wash to vary the amount of original brick color that shows through. Wash and wipe the mortar lines as well. If you prefer the mortar lines as they are, paint bricks individually or tape over the mortar lines to mask them. However, this will take a lot more time and care.

• 8

  Allow the paint to dry thoroughly. Clean the brush and bucket with soap and water.

Tinting

• 9

  Clean the surface of the brick. Scour with a wire brush to loosen flaking paint or other debris. Rinse the brick and let it dry thoroughly. Clean the surrounding area for any dirt or other material removed from the brick.

• 10

  Choose a tint made specifically for masonry. The tint should be formulated to penetrate the surface of the brick and bond with the clay. Depending on the manufacturer, tints are available in various colors. You can purchase brick tints and related products online.

• 11

  Protect the area around the brick with a drop cloth or tarp. If you don't want to tint the mortar lines, mask them with tape. Tinting the mortar, if you prefer, is fine. It depends on the effect you desire and whether you want to invest time in taping over the mortar lines.

• 12

  Mix, stir or otherwise prepare the tint according to manufacturer's instructions. Test the tint on an inconspicuous area of brick. If you have a spare brick or are able to purchase one made of material similar to the brick you want to age, experiment with that brick first. Use different sections of the brick to leave the tint on for various lengths of time, wipe off more or less tint or compare the results using a brush, roller or other application method. Observe color penetration and see if the effect in general is what you're going for. Plan a strategy for tinting the overall surface based on your results.

• 13

  Apply the tint to the bricks according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a roller, brush or any application method the manufacturer recommends. Let the tint soak in and wipe it off according to your antiquing strategy.

• 14

  Apply additional coats of tint depending on manufacturer's instructions or if you're unsatisfied with the depth of color from the first coat. Follow manufacturer's guidelines regarding drying times between coats. Apply a protective sealant if the manufacturer recommends it as part of the tinting process. Otherwise, let the final coat of tint dry for several days. Clean brushes, rollers and other applicators according to product directions.