My father-in law in the Virgina Beach area is doing a job painting a brick house. The house was primed with a latex primer recommended by a local paint store for painting brick and then painted with a latex paint. The house was painted a week ago and after the first rain, the paint started bubbling up on the front steps. Only on the walkable surface. The front steps are the same brick as the house, a smooth fired common brick. They powerwashed the steps and the paint came off for the most part, but they are concerened with just reapplying the paint and having the same thing happen all over agian.
Any recommendations i.e. acid etching or sand blasting that might help the paint stick to the steps better? The rest of the house seems to be doing ok.
Thanks
Tim
Replies
Bump
Did you use the same paint as on the house? Most are not made for horizontal surfaces such as floors and steps. Try a porch and floor paint.
Yes, painter is on track.
If a surface isnt covered with an over hang, solids are tricky. Solid paint creates a film sitting on the surface rather than soaking in. Even oil wont do the trick. Any exterior that doesnt have cover should be stained with semi transparent.
As for the brick, real brick isnt fired very high. It hasnt vitrified (melted and turned to solid glass). It soaks up moisture (like terra cotta), and is most likely coming from the back and is lifting your film as the water is trying to escape. Latex is a plastic.
I would suggest asking at a paint place that services contractors and industrial application for an industrial product. You could try something like Drilock to prime, or a concrete solid stain. You will just have to get a better suited paint to match the color you currently have.
-zen
painting brick should be un american, why, why , why. 2+3=7
Brownbagg,
Not my choice either. As I said this is a job my father-in-law helped out on. I don't understand why someone would take an almost maintanance free finish on thier house and make it a mantainance nightmare. It's what the customer wanted!!! I don't know if the contractor explained the up-keep or provided a any kind of guarantee either.
Tim
You buy a cheap tool twice and then you're still stuck with a cheap tool!
There is some butt ugly brick out there. Still I would have to think a long time about painting it.
This is speculation, but latex paints are not made for water immersion. On a horizontal surface such as steps you may have too much standing water. I would consider a concrete floor paint.
Painting steps can make them slippery. You may need sand in the paint.