How to Stain Brick in 7 Steps

In design, staining is the act of intentionally changing the color of a material, object, or surface via a penetrative dye or chemical. Staining can revitalize the appearance of its target, returning its pigment to an original state, or a stain color can create a seemingly new product altogether.

Before you change your brick color, consider these tips to smooth out your staining process:

1. 1. Ensure that the brick absorbs water. To stain brick, it must be able to absorb water. Fill a cup with water and splash the brick with the liquid; if water beads run off and aren’t absorbed, you’ll have to remove a sealant. Apply a lacquer thinner or concrete sealer stripper to a small area, let it dry, and then test again with water. If water is not absorbed again, you will have to paint, not stain, your bricks.
2. 2. Test out the stain. Different types of bricks will all stain differently. As stains are permanent, you’ll want to test out the stain on a small area and let it dry before deciding if it is the color and look you want on your entire brick facade.
3. 3. Paint in a random pattern. If you go brick-by-brick, left to right, up to down, you may end up with an uneven coloring to your bricks—that’s because when you reach the bottom of your bucket, you may get a darker stain depending on how you mixed. Create a more natural look by painting your bricks in a more random pattern.

Hardware stores supply the materials needed to stain brickwork, which can give the surface of the brick a new color. Follow these steps to stain brick:

1. 1. Secure a stain kit. Kits offer stains in different colors, giving you the option to find the one most suited to your needs. Ask your hardware store if they have samples so you can experiment first to see how it looks on your brick, and you can even mix and match stain products to create a new color. Water-based stains allow for airflow, prevent water damage, and are simple to apply.
2. 2. Clean your brick. Spray or hose your brick with water and then clean it with mild detergent on a rag. This will help get rid of brick stains or mildew. Rinse with water again and let the brick dry completely. For exterior brick, you might need a pressure wash depending on your bricks’ condition.
3. 3. Prepare your workstation. Place down drop cloths, put on gloves and clothes you can dirty, and use painter’s tape to section off areas you don’t want to stain. You can cover the brick grout as a precaution. Keep water on hand to clean up spills or drips, and wear goggles or glasses so the stain doesn’t get in your eyes. (Flush with water for ten minutes if it does.) Staining is best done on still days; wind can make the process difficult.
4. 4. Read the mixing instructions. Mix your stain in a bucket, and find directions on the stain container. Add the appropriate amount of water and stir for a few minutes in a figure-eight pattern. If you plan to mix colors, keep track of how much of each stain you’ve added so you can replicate it for subsequent batches.
5. 5. Start brushing. Take your paintbrush, dip it into the mix, and tap the side of the bucket to remove excess stain. Brush a brick in one clean stroke, then brush over that single brick once more. Turn your paint brush over and repeat on the next brick. After four strokes, you will likely need more stain; dip your brush into the bucket, swirl it around, and repeat the brushing process.
6. 6. Take care of drips right away. Drips are bound to happen, and that’s okay—you need to clean them up quickly. Wipe with a damp cloth, or if they get stuck in grooves, pick at it with an old screwdriver.
7. 7. Clean up and let the brick dry. Wash your tools, and toss out your bucket that will likely be too stained to use for other projects. Your bricks may take a day or so to dry, depending on the conditions.

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