Paint exterior masonry

Clean, repair and paint exterior brick or render safely, choosing the right primer and paint for a lasting, weatherproof finish.

PM-01Check the weather and any planning restrictionsPick a dry spell with no rain forecast for at least 24 hours before you start and 24 hours after each coat. Aim for a surface temperature above 5-10°C, out of direct blazing sun. If your home is a listed building, you need Listed Building Consent before changing its external appearance, including paint colour. If you're in a conservation area, check with your council in case an Article 4 direction restricts painting or colour changes.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

Listed Building Consent is a legal requirement for external decoration of listed buildings. Some conservation areas have Article 4 directions restricting exterior painting or colour changes — check with your local council first.

PM-02Protect the areaLay dust sheets along the base of the wall to catch debris and drips. Tape over door and window frames, sills, vents and light fittings with masking tape. Move or cover plants, garden furniture and outdoor sockets nearby.

2 each · Dust sheets

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2 roll · Masking tape (exterior grade)

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PM-03Clear loose material and vegetationUse a stiff bristle brush to knock off loose or flaking old paint, moss, and cobwebs. Cut back any climbing plants or ivy well clear of the wall. Scrape out any crumbling mortar joints so they can be repaired properly.

1 each · Stiff bristle brush

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1 each · Wallpaper scraper (for mortar joints)

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PM-04Treat algae, mould and green stainingApply a fungicidal wash to any green or black staining and leave it to work for the time stated on the bottle, usually a few hours. Scrub gently, then rinse with clean water. Let the wall dry fully before moving on — this can take a day or two in cool weather.

1 5L · Fungicidal wash

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PM-05Wash down the whole wallWash the masonry with water and a mild detergent, using a garden hose or pressure washer on a low setting to rinse off dirt and dust. Keep the pressure washer nozzle well back from soft or old render to avoid gouging it. Let the wall dry completely before you fill or paint — a damp wall will trap moisture under new paint and cause it to fail early.

PM-06Fill cracks and repair damaged renderFill small hairline cracks with a flexible exterior masonry filler, pushed in with a filling knife. For larger cracks or missing render, rake out any loose material first and repair with a proper masonry repair mortar, following the pack instructions. Leave all repairs to cure fully — usually 24 hours or more — before painting over them.

1 tube · Exterior masonry filler

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1 5kg bag · Masonry repair mortar

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1 each · Filling knife

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PM-07Prime bare or very porous areasNew render, freshly repaired patches, and any wall that's never been painted before need a coat of masonry stabilising primer. This binds dust and evens out how the wall soaks up the topcoat, giving a more even finish. Apply with a large brush or roller and let it dry fully — check the tin for drying time, usually 4-6 hours.

1 5L · Masonry stabilising primer

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PM-08Cut in the edgesUsing a smaller paintbrush, paint a neat band around window frames, door frames, corners and any trims where a roller can't reach. Work from the top of the wall downwards. Keep a wet edge as you go so joins between brushed and rolled areas don't show.

1 each · Angled paintbrush (exterior)

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PM-09Roller the first coatLoad a medium-pile masonry roller and work in sections, top to bottom, overlapping each pass while the edge is still wet. Work in manageable sections so you're not painting into already-drying edges. Let this coat dry fully according to the tin before recoating.

1 tin · Masonry paint (10L)

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1 set · Medium-pile masonry roller and tray

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PM-10Apply the second coatOnce the first coat is fully dry, apply a second coat in the same order — cut in the edges first, then roller the main areas. Two coats give proper coverage and weatherproofing; masonry paint often looks patchy after just one. Check the whole wall in good daylight for any thin or missed patches.

PM-11Remove masking and inspectPeel off the masking tape while the paint is still slightly tacky, pulling it away at a shallow angle to leave a crisp edge. Walk the full length of the wall and touch up any drips, holidays or thin spots with a small brush.

PM-12Clean up and store leftoversWash brushes and rollers in water if you used a water-based masonry paint, or with the correct solvent if it was solvent-based — check the tin. Fold and dispose of dust sheets and used filler tubs, and seal leftover paint tightly for future touch-ups. Store the tin somewhere frost-free.

1 1L · White spirit (if solvent-based paint used)

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