Technical Bulletin: Guidelines for Painted Brick

For customers considering painted brick, please note the following guidelines. These requirements must be followed to maintain coverage under Acme Brick Company’s 100-Year Limited Guarantee for Single Family Residences (the “Limited Guarantee”).

Selecting Paint Products

For exterior masonry applications, Acme Brick Company recommends using only mineral-based paints. Romabio offers products specifically designed for exterior masonry that provide high breathability, durability, and a wide range of colors and finishes. The Brick Industry Association’s (BIA) Technical Note 6, “Changing the Appearance of Brick Masonry,” offers guidance on proper methods for painting exterior masonry. Any brick painted in a manner that does not follow BIA guidance is excluded from the Limited Guarantee.

Selecting Brick

• Only paint brick suitable for painting.
• Textured brick should have consistent texturing throughout the run, as variations may remain visible even after painting.
• Do not paint brick with manganese or metallic additives.
• Brick with loose coatings should not be painted unless coatings are removed by pressure washing.
• For a list of brick suitable for painting, contact your Acme Brick sales representative.

Construction Guidelines

• Use recommended joint and tooling details; avoid raked joints.
• Incorporate drainage wall details such as clean airspace, flashing, and weep holes.
• Refer to the brick tag attached to each cube of brick delivered.

Paint Application

• Follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, preparation, and application.
• Romabio provides detailed documents with application guidelines.
• The Limited Guarantee does not apply to the performance or durability of the paint applied to the brick.