Brick, stucco and masonry
A finish that lets the wall dry out
Brick and stucco take water in and let it out. A coating that seals the face traps it, and the paint is what fails first.
Limewash and mineral paint are open to water vapor, so they work with the wall instead of against it. We use them on brick, stone, stucco, cement render and masonry, after the wall has been cleaned and checked for loose mortar and cracks.
When it fits
Painted brick that is peeling in sheets
Brick you want to soften without sealing
Stucco that has faded or been patched
Chimneys, steps and foundation walls
The exterior season
When the work happens
Exterior coatings need dry weather above freezing. In Madison that is most of late spring through early fall.
Wash and wall check
Cleaning, loose mortar and cracks looked at before anything goes on.
Apr-May
Limewash and mineral paint
Coats go on in dry weather, with drying days between.
May-Sep
Plaster and interior work
Rain and cold do not matter indoors, so winter belongs to it.
Jan-Dec
Patches
Test patches are done at any time the weather allows.
Apr-Oct
Prep, by surface
What we do to the wall first
- 01
Brick
Cleaned by the gentlest method that works
Loose mortar and cracks marked
Painted brick tested before the paint comes off
- 02
Stucco and render
Cracks and hollow areas found by tapping
Patched and left to cure
Primed where the stucco calls for it
- 03
Painted-over masonry
Paint removed in a test area first
No sandblasting, heat guns or dry sanding
Wall left clean and dry
Finished walls
Brick and stucco, coated
Sample photos.
Questions
About brick and stucco
My brick is already painted. Can you limewash it?
Not until the paint is off. The method depends on the paint, and the wrong one damages the brick face, so we test a small area first. We do not use sandblasting, heat guns or dry sanding on old paint.
When do you paint exteriors?
In dry weather, above freezing, which in Madison usually means late spring to early fall. Interior plaster work runs all year. The calendar on the brick and stucco page shows the months.
How long does it last?
That depends on the surface, the product and which side of the house takes the rain. We tell you what to expect for your walls at the visit, and it goes in the written estimate. We do not quote years from a brochure.
What does the warranty cover?
Terms, limits and exclusions are in your written warranty, and we go over it with you when we give the estimate.
The test patch
See it on your own wall first
We paint a square of mineral paint or limewash in a spot you pick, in the coats the wall would get. Look at it for a week, in morning light and under lamps, then decide.