Painting Bottom Course of House Bricks?

[crazymotorbik...]

Hi,
Been Brassic i have to tackle a lot of the jobs on my house following guides, forum advice etc.

I'm currently working on the brick work that runs below the Slate Damp Proof Course. Although the bricks themselves are not spalled the pointing is pretty knackered so i have been removing and re-pointing.

The previous owners appear to have painted this lower course of brick. I was thinking of scrubbing the old paint back, weather sealing the bricks then painting over the top with black masonry paint. My concern is that weather sealing and painting won't allow the brick to breath and cause damp problems in the house? Can any one clarify this for me ?

I've looked on Google but get mixed answers. Some say its ok to paint others say it will cause issues.

Cheers in advance,
Shaun R.

[andy_uk]

No real need to paint it unless the bricks are extremely porous.
Just repoint if the pointing's had it.
If you do want to paint for aesthetic reasons then use a standard water-based masonry paint which will still allow the bricks etc to breath.
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[mentalboy]

Bearing in mind that you are below the damp course it doesn't really matter what you coat them up with. Anything you put on there serves only a cosmetic purpose, so long as you stay below the slate.
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Make mine a Corona.

[stinkwheel]

There is no such thing as rising damp.

Paint what you want.
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[WildGoose]

[mistergixer]

[crazymotorbik...]

Hey,
all round.

Thanks for the advise. Yes it is purely aesthetic The bricks although not in bad nick have been painted before so look unkempt now the paints started to fade and peel.

Cheers,
Shaun.

[ruck bodgers2]

is it blue brick like soldiers . there a waterproof brick . clean them up with brick acid diluted and a wire brush . and dont get it in your eyes its ghey

edit* ok i just read the rest of your post . that paint will be fine . i dont do much painting usually just the building of . but i cant see any problems in using that . is the wall double skinned
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throw it up the wall

[Pete.]

What did they paint it with? If your mortar below the slate course is rotted and above is not then it's probably damp that's caused the martar to fail. I would probably re-point the courses then paint the wall with RIW to act as a damp proof membrane.
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[ruck bodgers2]

i just had a thought if your worried about it you could get mason bit and drill a a few holes out for some small pvc pipe to act as breathers above the first or second course depending on your drainage outside . or you could chisel your perps out and put a vented brick in where you think best .

https://www.heidelbergcement.com/NR/rdonlyres/37044005-08D1-4C39-AF43-35F33635E2A1/0/air_brick_630.jpg%20
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throw it up the wall

[pike]