​Create a focal point with an exposed brick wall

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
Hems Studio, Barc Architects Barc Architects 商业空间 磚塊
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Until the middle of the 20th century, lots of buildings and exterior walls were constructed with bricks due to their strength, durability and easy installation process. Sometimes these bricks were covered with plaster to ensure a smoother appearance. But as time progressed, the plaster sometimes cracked, resulting in exposed areas of raw brick. And while some gasped at this and demanded a recoating of plaster, others realised just how striking an exposed brick wall could be. 

Things haven’t changed much in modern times, where an exposed brick wall has become one of the most sought-out ways to create a feature wall, both inside and outside the home. However, creating this striking look takes careful preparation, attention to detail and patience.

But of course homify is always ready with some advice and tips to help you achieve beauty…

1. An exposed brick wall: Choose your wall

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Decide carefully which wall in a room you want to flaunt exposed brick with, as it will immediately draw the eye of all who enter. Painting a feature wall is much easier, as one can easily paint over that new colour should another wall become the new focal feature. However, even the most colourful or bold paint hue can’t come close to the rich rawness of an exposed brick wall.  

The easiest wall to strip will be one that has no doors or windows – working around edges just slows you down, plus it requires filling and careful repairing when you’re finished. Consider how many sockets and radiators are on that wall as well. 

homify hint: An exposed brick wall looks better with a raw, industrial/contemporary look. Thus, we recommend changing the style of any face plates and radiators to metal (if they are not already).

2. An exposed brick wall: Prepare the wall

It’s always a surprise revealing old brickwork, as one can never be certain how it will look until it’s completely finished. 

Once you’ve chosen your feature wall, drill a pilot hole to be sure there is actually brick back there. To ensure the bricks are of adequate quality to become a focal feature in the room, uncover a test site (approximately 30cm²). This should give you a rough idea of the quality of the bricks you’re working with. 

If you’re not happy, then stop the process; if that brick look is exactly what you want, get ready to continue…

3. An exposed brick wall: Protection is vital

Like any building project, one needs adequate protection. Therefore, ensure you have the necessary goggles, gloves, masks and sensible clothing. 

Keep your furniture in mind, too. Seal off the rest of the room to ensure nothing gets damaged in the process of stripping that wall. Don’t cut corners when buying plastic sheeting – get the toughest kind you can find and lay it all over the room, floor and furniture, and place cardboard directly under your work space. 

And as this project is going to create quite a lot of dust, ensure you have two buckets ready for removing the old plaster.

4. An exposed brick wall: Patience is a virtue

The person who tells you that stripping a wall back to brick is an easy job is a liar – it’s not! However, it is certainly one that is worth all the effort. Think of it as more of an archaeology project than a demolition job. It requires careful, patient attention to get the best result. 

So, don’t just randomly attack that wall with a crow bar or hammer. This will only lead to more dust and a bad finish. Starting at your test area, hit the wall with precision across a 930cm² radius (give or take). Then, pry the plaster off with a putty knife, which will hopefully come off in chunks. 

Just know that some parts of the wall will be trickier than others to reveal, but keep going at it with patience – it’ll be worth it!

5. An exposed brick wall: Finishing it

Sponge down the newly exposed brick to minimise the dust. To deep clean those brick surfaces, use a stiff wire brush and a mix of equal parts powdered soap and salt, combined with enough water to make a paste.

Should you encounter stubborn plaster residue, use brick acid to achieve a smooth finish. Alternatively, a sandblaster could also work. 

Rake out the joints to 2.5cm and flush point with a lime mortar. Afterwards, finish the wall with a terracotta sealant.

6. An exposed brick wall: How to cheat

We fully understand your love for a brick wall that supplies endless character, warmth and texture. But we also know that not all of us are gifted DIYers that can achieve an exposed brick wall with positive results. Fortunately, there exists other ways to pull off the same look. 

• Brick wallpaper: How about a paper mural? Designers thinking out of the box have ensured there are various wallpapers available on the market that look positively identical to a raw, brick wall.  

• Faux brick panelling: A quick and easy option involves brick-clad panels, which you can get at big box hardware stores, for starters. They go up in large sheets, and can be painted any colour you choose (which actually provides a bit more variety than the real deal). 

• Brick drywall: A more detailed project involves more faux “bricks” created from interior stucco or drywall mud. The installation process is much easier, yet the end result is equally striking.   

• Brick veneers: Thankfully, there exist brick veneers that look identical to the real deal, or thin slivers of brick that are applied to the surface much like ceramic tile.  

• Brick stencil: If you prefer something that can easily be painted over later on (an ideal option for renters), do some brick pattern using a stencil and paint. 

What a perfect time to present these 13 wall finishes that'll give your bathroom zing!

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