Changing the appearance of brickwork can make a surprisingly large difference to the character of a home. Whether the existing bricks have faded, look mismatched after an extension, or simply do not suit the appearance you want, brick tinting can be an effective way to alter their colour without replacing the entire wall.
Professional brick tinting can produce a subtle, natural-looking result when the colour and application are carefully controlled. However, the process can look very different when homeowners attempt to tackle it themselves using DIY products or improvised techniques. The biggest problem is often not the initial application, but the difficulty of correcting mistakes once colour has been applied unevenly.
Brick Makeover specialises in changing and improving the appearance of brickwork, making it important to understand what can go wrong before deciding whether DIY tinting is suitable for a particular project.
Here are ten of the most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting to tint brickwork themselves.
1. Choosing the Wrong Colour
One of the easiest mistakes to make is choosing a colour based on a small sample rather than considering how it will look across an entire wall.
A colour that looks suitable on a small piece of brick can appear completely different when repeated across hundreds or thousands of individual bricks.
Brickwork is rarely one uniform colour. Even walls that appear relatively consistent from a distance normally contain subtle differences between individual bricks.
Why Colour Choice Matters
A tint that is too dark can make a wall appear much heavier than intended. A colour that is too red, yellow or brown can also make the finished wall look artificial.
The surrounding brickwork should be considered when choosing a tint.
Factors include:
- Existing brick colour
- Mortar colour
- Brick texture
- Age of the brickwork
- Natural weathering
- Light levels
- Nearby buildings
- The desired final appearance
The objective is usually not to make every brick exactly the same colour. Natural-looking brickwork often depends on variation.
2. Testing on an Inconspicuous Area and Assuming It Will Look the Same Everywhere
Testing a tint before starting is sensible, but one small test patch is not necessarily enough.
Brick can absorb colour differently depending on its condition, age and surface texture. A clean, dry brick may react differently from one affected by weathering, staining or previous treatments.
The direction and intensity of sunlight can also change how the colour appears.
Test More Than One Brick
A more useful test should include several bricks and, where possible, different parts of the wall.
This allows you to see how the colour interacts with variations in the brickwork.
It is also worth looking at the test area in different lighting conditions. A colour that appears suitable in bright daylight may look considerably darker in the shade.
3. Applying Too Much Product
One of the most common DIY mistakes is assuming that more tint will produce a better or more noticeable result.
Brick tinting generally works best when the colour change looks integrated into the brick rather than sitting heavily on the surface.
Applying excessive product can make the brickwork look painted rather than naturally coloured.
The Problem With Heavy Application
Over-application can create:
- Dark patches
- Visible brush marks
- Uneven colour
- Loss of natural brick variation
- A painted appearance
- Difficult-to-correct sections
Once too much product has been applied, achieving a consistent appearance across the rest of the wall becomes considerably more difficult.
4. Ignoring the Existing Condition of the Brickwork
Brick tinting is not simply a case of applying colour to a wall.
The condition of the brickwork needs to be considered first.
Dirt, algae, old coatings, efflorescence and other surface contamination can affect how a tint is absorbed and how the finished colour appears.
If the wall is not properly prepared, the result can be inconsistent.
Preparation Makes a Difference
Before any tinting takes place, the brickwork should be assessed carefully.
Look for:
| Issue | Potential effect on tinting |
|---|---|
| Dirt | Uneven colour absorption |
| Moss or algae | Patchy appearance |
| Efflorescence | Discolouration |
| Previous coatings | Poor or inconsistent adhesion |
| Damaged bricks | Different appearance from surrounding bricks |
| Damp areas | Altered colour and absorption |
| Heavy staining | May remain visible through the tint |
Preparation should be appropriate for the condition of the wall rather than treated as an afterthought.
5. Trying to Make Every Brick Identical
This might sound logical, but perfectly uniform brickwork can actually look less natural.
Traditional brick walls normally contain variation. Some bricks are darker, lighter, warmer or cooler than others.
A successful colour change should generally work with these characteristics rather than eliminating them completely.
Natural Variation Is Important
When homeowners attempt DIY tinting, there can be a tendency to make every brick match exactly.
This can create a flat appearance.
Professional brick tinting can involve varying the treatment between individual bricks so the finished wall retains a degree of natural variation.
This is particularly important when trying to blend newer bricks into older brickwork.
6. Tinting the Mortar by Accident
Brick and mortar behave very differently, and unwanted tint on the mortar can significantly affect the final appearance of a wall.
The mortar joints create the pattern between individual bricks. If the colour bleeds into them, the entire wall can appear different.
Why Mortar Matters
Imagine a wall where the bricks have been tinted successfully but the mortar has also picked up noticeable colour.
The result may appear:
- Darker than expected
- Less defined
- Patchy
- Artificial
- Visibly different from the surrounding building
Careful application is therefore important, particularly around mortar joints.
7. Using One Technique Across the Entire Wall
Brickwork can contain considerable variation.
Some bricks may be more porous than others. Some may have smoother surfaces, while others have deeper textures.
Using exactly the same amount of product and exactly the same technique on every brick can therefore produce inconsistent results.
Brick Tinting Requires Control
The appearance of a wall can depend on subtle changes in application.
A darker brick may require a different treatment from a lighter brick if the objective is to achieve a balanced overall appearance.
This is one reason DIY tinting can become more complicated as the size of the project increases.
A small garden wall may seem manageable, but a full elevation of a house contains a huge number of individual bricks and variables.
8. Working in Poor Weather Conditions
Weather can have a significant effect on any exterior brickwork treatment.
Rain, high humidity, strong sunlight and very low temperatures can all affect how a product behaves.
Applying tint to damp brickwork is particularly problematic because moisture can change absorption and produce an inconsistent finish.
Weather Conditions to Consider
| Condition | Potential issue |
|---|---|
| Rain | Product can be diluted or washed away |
| Damp brickwork | Uneven absorption |
| Strong sunlight | Product may dry too quickly |
| High temperatures | Shorter working time |
| Cold conditions | Slower drying |
| High humidity | Extended drying time |
| Wind | Uneven application and faster drying |
A project should therefore be planned around suitable conditions rather than simply choosing a convenient weekend.
9. Attempting to Correct a Bad Area Without Understanding the Cause
When a section of wall looks wrong, the natural reaction is often to apply more tint.
Unfortunately, this can make the problem worse.
For example, if one area appears darker than the surrounding bricks, adding another layer may create an even more obvious difference.
The first step should be understanding why the area looks different.
Common Causes of Uneven Colour
An uneven result could be caused by:
- Different brick absorption
- Inconsistent preparation
- Excess product
- Insufficient product
- Dampness
- Existing staining
- Different application methods
- Changes in lighting
Trying to solve every problem simply by adding more colour can quickly lead to a wall with multiple overlapping shades.
10. Underestimating the Amount of Time and Skill Required
DIY projects can appear straightforward when viewed online.
A brick tinting project may look like little more than choosing a colour, applying it to the bricks and waiting for it to dry.
In reality, achieving a convincing result can require considerable patience and attention to detail.
A large wall can contain thousands of bricks, each with slightly different characteristics.
The Scale of the Job Changes Everything
Consider the difference between these projects:
| Project | Approximate complexity |
|---|---|
| Small garden wall | Relatively limited |
| Small extension | Moderate |
| Front elevation | High |
| Full house | Very high |
| Large property | Significant |
| Multi-property development | Specialist project |
As the surface area increases, even small inconsistencies become much more noticeable.
A slight difference across ten bricks may not matter. The same inconsistency repeated across an entire elevation can completely change the appearance of the building.
DIY Brick Tinting vs Professional Application
There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to improve the appearance of brickwork yourself. However, homeowners should understand the difference between applying a product and achieving a professional-looking result.
| Factor | DIY approach | Professional approach |
|---|---|---|
| Colour selection | Homeowner chooses product | Colour assessed against existing brickwork |
| Preparation | Depends on homeowner | Surface condition assessed beforehand |
| Application | Generally one technique | Technique can be adapted |
| Brick variation | Difficult to control | Individual variation can be considered |
| Mortar protection | Requires careful DIY application | Controlled application |
| Large areas | Time-consuming | Specialist equipment and experience |
| Corrections | Can be difficult | Experienced applicator can adjust technique |
| Final appearance | Depends heavily on skill | Designed for a consistent, natural result |
The main advantage of professional work is not simply the ability to apply colour. It is the experience involved in assessing how the existing brickwork is likely to respond.
When DIY Brick Tinting May Not Be Suitable
There are certain situations where attempting the work yourself can carry considerably more risk.
Large or highly visible elevations are an obvious example.
If the front of your home is being treated, mistakes can be immediately noticeable from the street.
Similarly, expensive properties or buildings with distinctive brickwork may warrant a more controlled approach.
Older Brickwork
Older bricks can have considerable variation in texture and colour.
They may also have experienced decades of weathering.
Trying to make this type of brickwork uniform with a single DIY product may result in an unnatural appearance.
Instead, the existing variation needs to be taken into account.
Why Brick Tinting Can Be Useful
When done correctly, brick tinting can provide an alternative to more disruptive changes to brickwork.
It can potentially help with situations such as:
- Mismatched extension bricks
- Colour inconsistencies
- Faded-looking brickwork
- Unsightly variations
- New brickwork that does not blend with an existing building
- Renovation projects
- Changes to the appearance of a property
- Bringing different areas of brickwork closer together visually
The aim is not necessarily to make an old wall look completely new.
Often, the best result is one that looks as though the brickwork has always had its final colour.
Matching New Bricks to Existing Brickwork
One particularly useful application of brick tinting is dealing with extensions.
Finding an exact match for older bricks can be surprisingly difficult.
Even when a manufacturer produces a brick with a similar colour and texture, the new material can look noticeably different from the weathered original.
A tint can potentially help reduce this contrast.
Why New and Old Bricks Look Different
Differences can result from:
- Weather exposure
- Manufacturing batches
- Natural ageing
- Dirt and staining
- Changes in brick manufacturing
- Different mortar
- Different levels of sunlight
- Changes in surrounding materials
A carefully planned tinting process can help the two areas appear more visually connected.
What Homeowners Should Ask Before Tinting Brickwork
Before starting a project, it is worth answering several questions.
Is the existing brickwork clean?
Is the colour consistent?
Are there areas of damaged or heavily stained brick?
Are the bricks and mortar in suitable condition?
Is the desired finish a subtle colour adjustment or a significant change?
How visible will the treated wall be?
How much variation should remain between individual bricks?
These questions can help determine whether DIY application is appropriate or whether specialist assistance would be more sensible.
Getting a Natural-Looking Result
The most important principle with brick tinting is restraint.
Brickwork has character because it is not perfectly uniform. A convincing result should normally preserve some of that character.
The best finished walls should not immediately look as though they have been treated.
Instead, the colour should complement the existing brickwork and appear integrated with the building.
This requires careful consideration of colour, preparation, application and the individual characteristics of the bricks.
For homeowners considering a DIY project, understanding these ten common mistakes can help prevent some of the most obvious problems. Brick tinting may look straightforward, but achieving a subtle and natural finish across an entire wall requires considerably more control than simply applying colour to brick.