Unpainted stone walls can lend a property a sense of history. They tell everyone that the house has been standing for a long while, and it’ll remain so for a long while to come!
But if you’d like to make your space that little bit more modern, while preserving that distinctive stone look, then you might consider breaking out the paint. This is a bit of a tricky task, as if you go about it the wrong way, you might end up with peeling paint later on. Let’s take a look at how to paint stone walls the right way, whether they’re on the exterior or interior of your property.
Prepare your Wall First
Before you apply any paint, you’ll need to make sure any loose particulates are removed from the surface. This means scrubbing it with a wire brush, and probably some sandpaper. Blow away any brick or stone dust – but don’t vacuum it up, as this sort of dust can play havoc with many modern domestic vacuum cleaners.
Clean Away Any Oils
After the dust has been removed, you’ll need to get rid of any lingering oils and greases that might have become baked onto the surface. To get rid of it, you’ll need to wash the walls. This can be done with hot water, but if you’d like to go further you can use a more astringent chemical cleaner like TSP before rinsing and leaving to dry.
Don’t forget to Prime
Your first layer of paint should be a primer. This will bind to the underlying stonework, and prevent your paint from peeling away as moisture spreads out from within the stone. Primers come in a range of different varieties; some are designed for stone, others for timber. Make sure you’ve got one that’s appropriate for the surface. Apply a single coat and allow it to fully dry.
Use a Thick Roller
Depending on the roughness of the surface, you’ll want to choose an appropriate roller. The ones that work best with stonework are the very large, fluffy sort: they’ll get within the nooks and crannies, and they’ll hold a significant amount of paint – which is important, as your stonework will be slightly absorbent, and therefore require a little more paint than you might expect. You’ll likely need several coats, depending on the sort of paint you’re using.
…or a Spray
For a really flawless finish, you might instead choose a spray-on solution. This will mean more wasted paint, but it’ll ensure that your wall is as evenly-coated as possible.
You’ll find equipment you need from reputable online firms like CornerStone Walls.
Go for something Matt
Satin, matt and gloss paints are all available, and the sort you choose for your stone walls will vary according to your taste. Generally speaking, excessive shininess doesn’t work well with stonework.
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