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Surface - Brick and Block

What is Brick and Block?

Brick and block are masonry building materials used for constructing walls. Bricks are generally made from fired clay or concrete. Mortar is the cement used between each brick to bond one brick to another. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks (commonly referred to as ‘Hebel’) are a lightweight and very porous concrete block. Hebel is common as a base for a render finish. 

Preparation

All surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned and powerwashed to remove contaminants. Brush down the surface with a hard bristle broom to remove dust. Where mortar has been used, new brick and blockwork must be left for 4 to 6 weeks to cure properly before applying the paint system.

Specialty Accessories

The following accessories can be recommended for brick and block paint projects:

  • Pressure Cleaner
  • Stiff Bristle Brush or Broom
  • 15mm to 32mm Nap Roller
  • Mould Cleaning Agent
  • Goggles
  • Step Ladder
  • Scaffold

Expert Tips

Where mortar has been used between each brick, you should wait for 4 to 6 weeks to cure properly before applying the paint system. The curing process for mortar is important as it allows the alkalinity content to drop to a level where it won’t affect paint adhesion. It also ensures the moisture content in the mortar falls below 10%, and the time allows efflorescent salts to migrate out of the mortar. There are ‘green render sealer’ products that are available to minimise this curing period, but allowing the mortar to fully cure is recommended for best performance of the paint system. 

Oil-based prepcoats should be avoided on masonry surfaces even after curing, as the alkalinity of the surface reacts with the alkyd resin of the paint and affects adhesion.

The Australian Standard AS/NZS Guide to the Painting of Buildings specifies only two coats of a quality acrylic exterior topcoat is required for exterior brick, FC sheet, concrete, masonry, cement render or AAC blocks (Hebel). It also states that additional prepcoats, topcoats or both may be required depending on the substrate colour, texture or porosity. For this reason we recommend a 1 x Prepcoat and 2 x Topcoat system as best practice. 

Prepcoat

A quality, non-alkyd masonry primer is recommended. 

Examples of Prepcoats Suitability Retail Trade
Dulux Professional Total Prep (Acrylic)
Berger Triple Prep (Acrylic)
Dulux 1 Step Primer Sealer Undercoat (Acrylic)
Porter's Limeproof Sealer Undercoat (Acrylic)
AcraTex AcraPrime (Solvent-Based)
AcraTex AcraPrime (Acrylic)
AcraTex Green Render Sealer (Acrylic)*

This table is a guide only, there are many other products offered by a variety of brands that may also be suitable.

* Suitable for render, cement, brickwork or blockwork less than 4 weeks old (green).

 

Topcoats

A quality, 100% acrylic topcoat is recommended.

Examples of Topcoats Suitability Retail Trade
Berger Gold Label Interior/Exterior (Acrylic)
Dulux Professional Exterior (Acrylic)
Dulux Professional Interior (Acrylic)*
Dulux Professional Interior/Exterior (Acrylic)
Porter's Ultra Flat / Eggshell / Low Sheen (Acrylic)
Porter's Stone Paint Fine / Coarse (Acrylic)
Berger Everlast (Acrylic)*
Dulux Wash&Wear (Acrylic)*
Berger Solarscreen (Acrylic)
Dulux Weathershield (Acrylic)
Acratex AcraShield (Acrylic)

This table is a guide only, there are many other products offered by a variety of brands that may also be suitable.

* Suitable for interior use only.