A fresh coat of paint changes how a building looks from the street faster than almost anything else. For a local Etobicoke business, our crew is painting the exterior of a single-storey red brick building white. This post takes you on site during the job, from protecting the area to spraying the brick and working up near the roof line.
The project at a glance
- Location: Etobicoke
- Type: Exterior painting of a commercial brick building for a local business
- Surface: Red brick walls and the steel frames around the overhead doors
- Colour change: From red brick to a clean white finish
- Approach: A multi-day job done in stages: protection, primer and final paint
Why paint an exterior brick wall?
Older red brick on commercial buildings can look tired and uneven after years of weather. Painting it gives the whole building one clean, consistent colour and a brighter, more modern look. For a business, that first impression matters to customers, visitors and anyone driving past.
Brick is also very different from a smooth wall indoors. It is rough and full of mortar joints, so the paint has to get into every joint and edge to give an even finish. That is why we plan an exterior brick job in stages and spread it over more than one day.
Protection and set up
Before paint goes on, the site has to be ready. On this job the crew:
- Protected the ground. Drop cloths and cardboard went down along the base of the wall and under the work area to catch overspray and drips.
- Taped off the edges. Blue painter's tape ran along the roof edge so the line between the wall and the flashing stays clean.
- Set up safe access. A rolling aluminum scaffold tower with a work platform let the crew reach the upper wall and the areas above the overhead doors.
- Marked the work area. Traffic cones kept the space around the equipment clear.
Good protection is the part of a paint job most people never notice, and that is the point. When it is done well, the only thing that changes is the surface you meant to paint.
Spraying the brick and cutting in the edges
For a large brick wall, an airless sprayer is the right tool. It pushes paint into the texture of the brick and the mortar joints quickly and evenly, which is hard to match with a brush on a surface this size. The crew used spray wands on extensions to reach across the wall from the ground and from the scaffold.
Edges and openings take more care. Around the overhead doors, the crew sprayed the brick and steel door frames while holding a shield against the edge, so the paint landed where it should and not on the opening behind it. Rollers on extension poles were also used on the brick.
Working at height
Part of this building sits above the overhead doors and up near the roof line, with a fixed roof ladder running up the wall. Those areas were painted from the scaffold platform, which the crew rolled along the wall section by section. A stable platform keeps the crew safe and makes it easier to keep the finish consistent at the top of the wall.
Late afternoon on site
By late afternoon, the long side wall was fully coated in white, and the building already looked completely different from the parking lot. The red brick still showing on the end wall is a good reminder of where the job started.
What comes next
This is a multi-day job, and the work continues until the whole exterior has its final coat. We will share how it turned out once the final paint is on.
Planning other work on your property? Our guide to the home renovation timeline in Toronto explains how we plan the order of work. For another commercial project, read about our Cigar Studio wall repair and repaint.
Thinking about painting your building's exterior?
Levand Construction handles painting, repairs and renovations for homes and businesses across Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga and the wider GTA. If your building is ready for a fresh look, contact us to talk about your project.
FAQ
Can you paint exterior brick? Yes. On this Etobicoke job, our crew is painting the red brick exterior of a commercial building white, using an airless sprayer and rollers to cover the brick and mortar joints.
How long does it take to paint a commercial brick exterior? It depends on the size of the building and the weather. This job was planned over more than one day, in stages: protection, primer and final paint.
Why use a sprayer on brick instead of a brush? Brick is rough and full of mortar joints. An airless sprayer gets paint into that texture quickly and evenly across a large wall.
Does Levand Construction work on commercial buildings in Etobicoke? Yes. Levand Construction is based in Etobicoke and works with homes and local businesses across Toronto, Mississauga and the wider GTA.
