How to Stain Brick
A step-by-step guide to staining brick on your floor, wall, or fireplace
Learn how to stain your brick fireplace, exterior wall, interior brickwork, walkway, brick flooring, or other masonry surfaces. As long as the brick is structurally sound and the surface isn't painted, staining brick is one of the best ways to refresh it.
What Is Brick Staining?
Brick stain is a permanent surface finish that darkens or colors the brick. Brick stain is a mineral product that soaks into the brick and becomes a part of the brick. It can never chip, bubble, or pull away from the brick.
Staining Brick vs. Painting Brick
Staining brick and painting brick are competitive treatments for brick. Staining emphasizes the brick's color, while painting emphasizes texture.
Staining Brick
Brick stain covers the surface of the brick with a thin color. This color can either be solid and opaque, much like paint, or light and thin to preserve the brick’s basic color scheme.
Brick stain soaks into the pores of the brick and allows it to breathe. Brick stain will not refurbish heavily damaged brick, and it is exceedingly difficult to remove.
Painting Brick
Brick painting covers the entire surface of the brick, including the mortar, giving the brick a uniform appearance. With no gradations of color, painted brick emphasizes the texture of the brick.
One advantage of painting brick is that the paint covers all of the surface flaws. A disadvantage is that the paint seals up the porous brick and does not allow the brick to breathe.
Transparent
Thin layer
Pores open
Patches visible
Cannot be removed
Opaque
Thick layer
Seals pores
Covers patches
Removable with difficulty
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Clean buckets
- Paint brush
- Wood stirring stick
- Nylon bristle scrub brush
- Waterproof gloves
- Drop cloth
- Eye protection
Materials
- Brick stain
- Mild detergent or TSP
Instructions
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Test the Brick Stain
Locate a section of brick fireplace or other area that is less noticeable and test the brick stain on this area. In some cases, you may even be able to locate an extra brick in a shed or basement to use for testing. If you cannot find spare bricks, pick a section on the side of the fireplace apron, walkway, interior brickwork, or exterior siding.
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Check the Brick For Sealant
Dip your fingers in clean water and flick a few drops onto the brick. If the water immediately soaks in, this means that there is no sealant. You can begin staining the brick after cleaning it, as described in the next step. If the water beads up on the brick, it is likely coated in a clear sealant. Any sealant present will not allow the stain to penetrate the brick.
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Remove Sealant From Brick
If needed, remove sealant or issues like moss from exterior brick with a pressure washer. Pressure wash the brick on a wide spray to avoid damaging the brick. Problem areas can be gently scrubbed with a metal brush. Test for sealant again to ensure it has been removed. Generally, interior brick will not be sealed since it is not subjected to damaging exterior elements like rain, snow, and sun. Do not power wash indoor brick.
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Clean the Brick by Hand
Clean the brick by scrubbing it with the nylon-bristle brush. Clean with a mixture of mild detergent or TSP in a bucket with warm water. Rinse with clean water.
Let the brick dry for a full day before staining as a surface free of moisture is best for the application process. If you clean the brick in the morning and the weather is warm and dry, the brick may be dry enough by the end of the day for staining.
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Protect Your Home and Yourself
Switch out the previous drop cloths for new, dry ones. Tape up to the edge of the brick. Wear waterproof gloves, work clothing, and shoes, plus eye protection.
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Mix the Stain
Mix the stain pigment with water, as directed by the product instructions. Mix thoroughly until all of the pigment is dissolved. Clumps of undissolved stain pigment will stain the brick and be difficult to lighten.
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Apply the Stain
Dip the brush in the stain mix and run the brush across the brick in smooth, overlapping coats, making sure that no area receives more stain than another area.
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Cure the Stained Brick
Curing time depends on the temperature, humidity level, and airflow. Stained brick in warm, dry, lightly breezy conditions will be dry to the touch almost immediately upon application. Areas where the stain may have pooled up, instead of soaking into the brick, may take a day or two to be dry to the touch. For particularly thick, pooled areas, dab with a clean cotton rag to remove the excess.
Tips For Staining Brick
- Add more water to the mix to produce a lighter, thinner stain coat.
- Start with a lighter coat, as it can always be darkened.
- Stir the stain mix frequently since the pigment settles to the bottom.
- Go easy on staining the mortar as it will absorb more stain than the brick.
- When staining any flooring, plan where you will start and end. Usually, start in a far corner and back your way out to an exit.
- Avoid walking over a newly stained area.
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What’s the best type of stain for bricks?
One of the best stains for brick is water-based brick stain since it's easy to apply and allows the brick to breathe. The stain that can be used on brick should be formulated for brick, concrete, or masonry.
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Is staining brick better for interior or exterior surfaces?
Staining brick works equally well for interior or exterior surfaces. Like other exterior coatings, brick stain is subject to UV fading. It will also deteriorate from the exterior surface at the same rate that the brick deteriorates.
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How long will brick stain last?
Interior brick stain can essentially last for as long as the brick lasts, since the stain becomes part of the brick.
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Does stain make brick darker or lighter?
Stain makes brick darker overall. Stain turns both the light and dark areas darker proportionally.