Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Lowdown on Staining Brick

I showed you last time my family room, where I briefly showed you the transformation we did on our fireplace.  Here it is again:

 From this:

To this:


I was not a fan of the coolness of the grey brick and since my husband was bordering on having a stroke at the mention of removing the brick or painting it, I had to figure something out.  So, I took to the internet and came upon this product:

A brick tinting kit made by a company called Dyebrick.   Yay!  After I looked at their gallery of projects and read their testimonials, I knew I had found my answer.  I was able to sell it to my husband because it simply stains the brick, it doesn't change the texture of the surface like paint can sometimes. 
*Since I am going to rave about this product, I feel the need to say that I am not affiliated with them and I'm sure they have no idea that I exist.  Well, I did send them a before and after shot over a year ago, but I am pretty certain they have long forgotten me.

They have a variety of colors to pick from:


For my project, I used the Rustic Brown and Old English Red.  I made two different "strengths" of the Old English Red, which gave me a total of three colors to work with overall.  The company is located in the UK, but does ship to the US.  I was about to order from their website when I decided to do a quick ebay search.  For once in my life, I got lucky and there was someone selling multiple kits!!  And better yet, at a FRACTION of the cost!  Woot! I couldn't believe my luck!  I bought three kits total and this project cost about $110 total.  Pretty cheap considering the impact it had on the room, I think!

From the company's website, some features of dyebrick brick tinting kit are that its:
  • Non-toxic
  • Non-harmful
  • Odourless
  • Zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
  • Absorbs into and becomes part of the masonry
  • Allows the masonry to breathe
  • Can be applied to
    • Brickwork
    • Concrete
    • Stone
    • Mortar
    • Render
    • Blocks
    • Concrete Roof Tiles
    • ...and more!

I wish I had taken pictures of the during process, but unfortunately I didn't.  :(  There's really not much to it though.  No prep of the brick, no taping off, nothing.  You just mix your product and start!  It has the consistency of water and really didn't run all over and create too  huge a mess of my grout.  I used my faithful old Purdy brush to apply it, but if I was doing it again, I would at least try it with a foam brush to see what the result was.  Dyebrick's website has great instructions on how to prepare the product for its use and even some videos on its application. 
.
So, while I say it really didn't mess my grout up too badly, it did get on it some (or a lot in some places), but this wasn't a big deal.  I just used a flat head screwdriver to "scratch" it off my grout when I was all done.  What?  A little tool abuse is acceptable sometimes.  I was multi purposing it!  Looking at my grout now, you would never know I ever had to do that.  Well, maybe if you were inches away, inspecting it.  If that were the case though, I'm pretty sure we would have to have a talk about somethin'...
Here is a picture of where I got some stain on my grout:


And what it looks like after a little screwdriver treatment:


Easy peasy! 
(Actually for the above picture I used my 4 y.o.'s safety scissors, but you get the idea!)


And here are some additional shots of the finished product:








It took me a few days to complete this, but I had a one year old and a three year old at the time, so I had to work when they were sleeping or otherwise occupied.  Any other time I tried to work on it, I looked down and had a little munchkin climbing up my ladder to "help" me.  It was very rewarding to do though and I loved how instant the transformation was.  Cleanup was a breeze.  I have no doubt anyone with a little patience and a paint brush would be very successful with this project!

I also wanted to share with you that this is the time of year that Target starts clearances a bunch of home items.  My Target (and I think its pretty consistent throughout the US) does their markdowns on home items on Thursdays.  Right now, they have a bunch of things at 30% and 50% off and some at 75%.  More things will be at 75% in the coming weeks, so start stalking your local Target store, unless you live near me of course, then STAY AWAY!  ;)  Just kidding,  mostly.
I bought these three cute dish rags for $1.24 this past week.  Who says you can't have something cute to wash your dirty dishes?  I love these because my kitchen has this almost exact color palette!

Cute, huh?  The other things I noticed at 75% right now were some sheets and a few really cute decorative pillows that were not the right colors for me.  Its definitely worth checking out!

Happy shopping!  Let me know if you find anything good!

I am linking up with:
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party:









 
 






25 comments:

  1. Look at you linking up already!! I love this project you did. I may have to head to Target -those are adorable!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi there...welcome to blog land and the party. I ask that you add my link that you are joining the newbie party and to follow along:) Thanks..

    ReplyDelete
  3. New follower from Debbieddos. . . Will love for you to come visit my blog http://suze-vinton.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-tutu.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! That is really amazing. I didn't know tinting bricks was even possible. Great job and it makes the whole room look fantastic! I found you at Debbiedoos!

    Melanie
    www.youmadethat.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a great transformation! Nice work!

    I'm here from Debbiedoo's Newbie party and am a fellow Newbie. It's great to find your blog.

    Pam @ Our Adventures in Home Improvement

    ReplyDelete
  6. You did a great job. Your husband must be so happy with the result. I think it's cute that your little one was trying to "help" you. I am your newest follower. When you are not busy with a project, stop by for a visit!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, welcome to blogland...love the stain on your brick you did a great job! Stop by and say hi!

    Rondell

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great idea!! I found you from Debbie's linky party I am now a follower. Come check me out if you get a chance I am a newbie too. noplacelikehomeally.blogspot.com

    ~Allyson~

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow! great transformation....I had no idea brick could really be stained like that, I've just always seen it painted over. good to know!

    kristen

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks amazing, great idea, I wouldn't have thought to do something like that!

    ReplyDelete
  11. WOW what a great transformation!! That really made the brick pop,looks beautiful,your whole room turned out beautiful! I linked up to Debbie's newbie party also would love if you stopped by. Martina

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey Jodi!
    I have that same brick in my home, but it is a whole wall. You did a great job with the staining and have given me something to think about.
    I'm your newest follower via Debbiedoo's Newbie Party.
    ~Vicki~

    ReplyDelete
  13. wow, great job! what a transformation!!! :) I am your newest follower, please come on over to my blog and follow back

    Theresa

    ReplyDelete
  14. YEAH! You linked up! Great job! Great post too! I had to check it out.....tinting bricks, smart girl!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Okay that is some awesomeness. I SO WISH I had read this post about 4 months ago when I was having my brick issues. Just look at what I ended up doing to my brick----http://toileinthefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/y-is-for-yawn-to-yikes-to-yippee-im.html

    After all is said and done, I think my biggest problem was with the black mortar. If I could have fixed that, maybe I would have liked it. I do; however, have another black mortar fireplace downstairs that I may try this out on! Your fireplace looks amazing! You did such a nice job using a variety of colors on it-that is the exact look I was going for!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow! I've never seen this before. How wonderful! You did a great job! I just found your blog via Debbie's newbie party. I'm your newest follower and would be delighted to have you follow me back!
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow that is amazing! Thank you so much for a solution to my problem. I am your newest follower.

    ReplyDelete
  18. wow, the difference i amazing. i love it. i have a fireplace in our game room with painted brick i wonder what it looks like underneath. would i have to remove the paint before doing this?

    it's beautiful!!


    I am hopping around through the newbie hop to welcome everyone to blogging. I love making new bloggy friends and I especially love helping new bloggers grow their following.

    Stop by my blog when you have a chance. There are so many FUN things happening over on Dandelion Wishes!!!
    We are .....
    *Taking Back Monday, one Etsy giveaway at a time. Come enter to win something awesome EVERY Monday!
    *Airing our dirty little secrets with Friday Confessional. Confess, link up, feel better...I promise!
    *Keeping it positive every weekend with My Happy List. What's on YOUR Happy List this week? Post and link up...it’s a party y'all!
    *And there are crowning’s happening for Queen for the Day...finally, the royal recognition you deserve.

    ReplyDelete
  19. WOW!! It's amazing what can be done with things now adays!! Great job at putting in the new brick! :) I really like it: you did a great job!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow!!! I never would have thought to stain brick, what a huge difference!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! Answering your question about whether or not you can see the wood grain on the cabinets after they're painted. Yes and no. I used a smooth foam roller for the flat surfaces on the cabinet and a regular paint brush for the inset surfaces. Where I used the foam roller you really can't see the wood grain unless you get up close and tilt your head so the light hits it just right :) Where I used the regular brush it is a little more noticable, but again you'd have to be upclose to notice it. I actually like that it's not entirely smooth. That way you can tell it's real wood.

    I look forward to seeing more of your house! I too repainted all of the oak in my house. What a job!

    Shelley

    ReplyDelete
  21. wow, good for you! you would never know they were a "cool grey" before. i think that took courage to do! go you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This looks like a great product and you did a fantastic job, it really brighten up the room. I have brick on the outside, I wonder if it works in exterior settings? I am visiting from the Newbie Party and am a new follower.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That's such a great idea and it turned out so nice! I am a fellow newbie and your newest follower!
    Blessings,
    Janet

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is fabulous! I would love to know if you would like to be featured on Remodelaholic? You usually get a ton of new traffic. I do features in full just FYI or if you'd like you can write a new special guest post, with an intro to your blog a few other links to other posts you've done. Let me know! You usually can just respond to this comment via email if you are interested!

    Cassity

    ReplyDelete
  25. just linked this article on my facebook account. it’s a very interesting article for all.






    Fly Ash Bricks Manufacturer in Chennai Tambaram, Chrompet,Kancheepuram

    ReplyDelete