Faux Brick Walls

We will be making "brick" walls and sections... Using joint compound

Supplies and tools needed:

1. you will need Joint Compound, a 4.5 gallon container is around $25. at any Hardware store, I bought this at the Home Depot.

2. masking tape to make the joint lines, 1/2 inch looks the best but it's hard to find...I buy the 1 inch tape and cut it down with a razor knife. A level, carpenters pencil or marker

3. a few different size putty knife's and a tape measure.

4. 1 brick to use as a template

5. brick colored flat latex interior wall paint, light gray flat wall paint, (you can use white) and some flat black paint

6. a bit of 80 grit sand paper

7. paint brush, floor tarp, water and rags

1.Using the brick as a pattern, set it on the floor and trace it on to the wall. Every few feet use the brick and trace a top line on the wall. Then use the straight edge level to connect the lines all the way across the area.

2. Using the 1/2 inch tape, apply it directly to the wall just on top of the line...this is now your grout line.

3. Using the brick now repeat that step for the next row of brick on top of the tape....I keep repeating this until all of the "rows" are done.

4. Now using the brick, set it back on the floor and draw a line on the side, this is the layout for the brick

5. start using the tape vertically...repeat this step all the way across...you will now have a "row" of brick laid out with the tape.

6. Now start the second row by starting the first brick at the center of the first...this will give you the alternating patter.

7. just repeat until you have the section covered with tape!

Not much to this, you want to lay it on about 1/2 an inch thick, try not to cover all of the tape as you will need to peel it off. I sort of just goop it on and smooth it over the area.

Be sure to peel off the tape BEFORE the compound dries...or you will not be able to get it off! I work on peeling off small sections at a time...if you push one finger down on the tape you can peel the tape off up to where you are pushing and it will break off.....I use a bucket to throw the compound covered tape into.

After the bricks have dried...about 24 hours I will tape around a few bricks and apply another coat of compound, just to build up a few of them and help sell the look.

1. I use the putty knife to knock down some of the sharp edges, you can also knock it down a bit with some sand paper.

2. For smaller brick sections I use more compound to build up the surrounding areas of the brick to make it look as if the stucco has fallen away exposing the brick.

!. Using the brick colored flat paint I brush it on each brick...for large sections you can also use a thick roller and just roll it on.

2. In a small container I use the brick color and add some black...just enough to change the color...then I paint random bricks in the different shade.

3. On the darker bricks, after they dry I go over with a dry brush of the light colored paint. It gives more of an aged look.

All of the grout lines were hand painted with a light gray....keep a wet rag handy to wipe off the paint you will get on the brick!

After the grout lines are dry I go over the wall with the gray or white paint...I "clean" off some with a wet rag....this washing effect really sells the look of real brick.

Finally the outer edges of the stucco are painted the same color of the wall.

This can really change the look of a room!! You can also always try different colors on the bricks and distress the surrounding paint to really get a different look!