Paint an exposed brick wall indoors

Clean, repair and paint exposed brick indoors with a breathable paint, protecting floors and edges for a neat finish.

AB-01Clear and protect the roomMove furniture and rugs away from the wall, or out of the room if you can. Lay dust sheets over the floor and skirting and tape the edges down so they don't slip as you work. Open a window for ventilation, since paint and primer fumes build up fast in a closed room.

2 each · Dust sheet (cotton twill)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Masking tape 50mm x 50m

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-02Clean the brick thoroughlyVacuum the whole wall with a soft brush attachment to lift dust, cobwebs and grit out of the mortar joints. Brush over stubborn spots with a stiff-bristle brush, working top to bottom so debris falls to the floor rather than back into gaps you've just cleared. Wipe over with a dry cloth, and avoid washing the wall with water unless you really have to, since brick and mortar take a long time to dry out fully.

1 each · Stiff-bristle brush

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 pack · Soft cloths (pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-03Deal with salts and loose mortarIf you see a white powdery bloom on the brick, that's efflorescence — salt coming out as the wall dries. Brush it off dry; washing it just draws more salt to the surface. Rake out any crumbling or powdery mortar with a filling knife and repoint small gaps with ready-mixed mortar, then leave it to cure for at least 24 hours before you paint. Skip this step entirely if the brick and mortar are already sound.

1 each · Filling knife

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Ready-mixed mortar (small tub)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-04Mask up the edgesRun masking tape along the skirting board, the ceiling line, and any door or window frames that meet the brick. Cover light switches and socket faceplates with tape too — you're only protecting them from splashes, not doing any electrical work. Press the tape down firmly so paint can't creep underneath.

1 each · Masking tape 50mm x 50m

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-05Prime dusty or bare brickIf the brick has never been painted, or still feels dusty after cleaning, brush on a coat of masonry stabilising primer. This binds any loose surface dust and stops the brick soaking up your paint unevenly. Let it dry fully, usually a few hours, before you paint. Skip this step if the brick is already painted and sound.

1 each · Masonry stabilising primer 2.5L

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Paintbrush 50mm

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-06Choose a paint that lets the wall breatheIf this brick is a solid, single-skin wall — an old external wall now sitting inside, for example after a loft or side-return extension — use a breathable paint such as a mineral or lime-based masonry paint, or a breathable matt emulsion. Ordinary vinyl silk or gloss seals the surface and can trap moisture inside the wall, leading to damp problems later. If the wall is a modern internal partition with no external face, a standard matt emulsion is fine.

1 each · Breathable masonry paint or matt emulsion 5L

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-07Cut in and apply the first coatUse a paintbrush to cut in around edges, corners and mortar joints first, pushing paint well into the gaps. Then load a medium-pile roller and work it over the flat brick faces in overlapping strokes, covering a small section at a time. Keep a wet edge as you go so you don't get hard lines where dry paint meets wet.

1 each · Masonry paintbrush 50mm

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Medium-pile roller sleeve and tray

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

AB-08Let dry, then apply a second coatLeave the first coat to dry fully — check the tin, but allow at least 4-6 hours for most masonry paints. Look over the wall in good light for thin patches, especially in the mortar joints, then apply a second coat the same way. Two coats give even colour and better long-term protection than one thick one.

AB-09Remove masking and clean upPull off the masking tape while the paint is still slightly tacky, pulling it back on itself at a shallow angle for a crisp edge. Wash brushes and rollers straight away in warm water for water-based paint, or with the right solvent for oil-based paint. Fold dust sheets in on themselves to trap any drips, and leave a window open for a day or two so the wall dries out fully.

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides