Breeze blocks can be found anywhere around your home – whether they’ve been used to build your garage or your exterior garden wall. Whilst this structurally sound blockwork boasts many physical capabilities, there’s no denying that they’re simply not that aesthetically pleasing.
Over the years, it was unheard of to paint breeze blocks but as styles as well as products evolve, it’s become much more fashionable to give them a lick of paint.
But can a regular DIYer paint breeze blocks to a high standard? How do you even paint breeze blocks? We’ve put 20 years of experience and knowledge into creating this simple-to-follow professional guide on everything to do with painting breeze blocks so keep reading if you want to paint like a pro.
Can You Paint Breeze Blocks?
You can paint breeze blocks but there are a number of preparation processes to take into account before you get your brush out. You’ll need to make sure the breeze blocks are free from any irregularities and holes, free from lichen and moss, and that the substrate is stable.
Once you are sure the breeze blocks are in a suitable condition to paint and they’re primed, you can go ahead and start painting.
What Paint Do You Use on Breeze Blocks?
The paint you should use entirely depends on whether the breeze blocks are situated inside or outdoors. Breeze blocks indoors are going to be exposed to entirely different conditions compared to breeze blocks that are outside so therefore you should choose something specific for either area.
Interior
When it comes to painting interior breeze blocks, you might be surprised to find that emulsions (yes, the type you paint your walls and ceilings with) is a perfectly viable option (or in my case, the only option).
Whilst some people opt to use masonry paints indoors you need to bear in mind that masonry paints are typically formulated for use on exteriors and because of this they contain many solvents and can cause harm to your health if applied indoors. Furthermore, they will leave a paint stench that is very difficult to remove.
So now you know emulsion is the paint of choice, which emulsion should you go for? My personal recommendation would be something that is high quality and most importantly, in order to cover the blocks in as few coats as possible, high opacity. With that in mind, I would recommend Dulux Diamond Matt.
Dulux Diamond Matt has a quite ridiculous coverage of 16m²/L and the high opacity is unrivaled by similarly priced products such as Johnstone’s Perfect Matt which only covers 13m²/L. This coverage makes all the difference on a porous surface such as breeze blocks and you’ll thank me later when you only need to apply 2 top coats, ultimately saving you time on what is a rather labor-intense process.
Furthermore, the matt finish (although I find that the paint is typically closer to an eggshell when applied to breeze blocks) is going to hide any imperfections on the surface, ultimately making for a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Exterior
Whilst emulsion is the paint of choice for interior breeze blocks when it comes to exterior breeze blocks, emulsion simply isn’t going to make the cut.
An emulsion is simply not durable or formulated to withstand the outside elements so if you chose an emulsion, you can expect to be repainting your breeze blocks when a few drops of rain come your way.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at your options for painting exterior breeze blocks.
My first recommendation would be Johnstone’s Stormshield Smooth Masonry paint. It is rain-proof within roughly 20 minutes which should indicate to you its quality. It also has incredibly high opacity which should save you plenty of time as you won’t need to apply additional coats to get your breeze blocks looking good.
In terms of durability, this stuff is pretty much unbeatable when compared to similarly priced products/the cheaper ones currently on the market. It has an expected life of over 15 years and whilst I can’t vouch for that estimation as I’ve only been using it for a few years, I haven’t seen any issues with flaking which is a common defect for paints applied to breeze blocks.
To further enhance its reputation, I can confirm that many professional decorators in the Devon/Cornwall area swear by it which is telling considering housing in that part of the country is often exposed to wet, coastal conditions.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning its simply absurd covering capabilities. At up to 17m²/L, it makes a difficult job that much easier.
How to Paint Interior Breeze Blocks
With the right tools and paint, painting interior breeze blocks can be a breeze (sorry for the pun). Use our easy-to-follow guide below to learn everything you need to know about painting interior breeze blocks.
Tools for the job:
- 9″ long pile roller
- Synthetic paint brush
- Dulux Diamond Matt Paint
- Cement-based filler
- Stablising solution (if needed)
- Fine abrasive
Cleaning
If your breeze blocks are in great condition, simply give them a good dusting down before starting to paint. Painting over dust can affect the paint’s ability to adhere to the substrate and could result in issues such as flaking paint so it’s important to ensure there is no dust on the walls before painting.
Preparation
Check the surface for any defects. As you’re going to be working on interior breeze blocks it’s unlikely that you’ll have any issues but it’s worth checking nonetheless.
If you do come across any defects such as cracks or mould (which can be common in garages) then take the necessary steps to deal with these issues.
Cracks can be scraped out and filled in with concrete-based filler whereas you can use anti-mould treatment to clear any mould. If the mould is particularly bad, you may need to hire a professional to remove it to ensure it doesn’t reappear in the future.
It’s also worth rubbing your hand across the surface to see how stable it is. If you have parts of the blocks easily coming apart, you’ll want to use a stabilising solution before painting but this is unlikely for interior breeze blocks.
Priming
Instead of using a specific primer for interior breeze blocks, I would recommend simply using a mist coat. Add 4 parts paint to 1 part water to create your mist coat and then start applying to the substrate. Make sure you cover all of the surface and then let it dry for a few hours.
The mist coat will absorb into the breeze blocks and will give your top coats something to adhere to.
Painting
After your mist coat has dried, use a synthetic brush, and start cutting in around the edges and areas that your paint roller can’t get to. I always recommend cutting in and painting section by section to avoid leaving a ‘picture framing’ effect. With this in mind, cut and roll in sections of 1-2 metres at a time.
Bear in mind that breeze blocks need plenty of paint so don’t be shy in loading up your paint roller once you’ve cut in your first section. To be honest, there isn’t too much technique involved when it comes to rolling on breeze blocks, just ensure that you get plenty of paint onto the substrate. Drips aren’t nearly as much a problem as they would be when painting plaster, just ensure you inspect the substrate and backroll any drips out before they have the chance to dry.
Once you’ve completed your first coat, allow roughly 4-6 hours for it to dry.
Now the first coat is dry, follow the same process as above for the second coat and allow another 4-6 hours for it to dry. At this point you’ll want to evaluate the opacity of the paint and whether you’re happy with the paint job. If you think it needs another coat, simply repeat the steps above.
Until you start painting, you’re not going to know how many coats of paint you’ll need. Whilst you should’ve bought the high-opacity Dulux Diamond Matt paint, the number of coats you need will ultimately come down to the quality of the breeze blocks. Concrete blocks are made to different standards so the cheaper the block, the more paint you’ll need. Conversely, the denser the concrete block, the less paint you’ll need to use.
Ultimately, you’ll want to keep adding coats until you’re happy.
How to Paint Exterior Breeze Blocks
The process for painting exterior breeze blocks is much the same as interior ones however there are a few key differences in the preparation phase and the paint you’ll need to use.
Tools for the job:
- Long pile roller
- Synthetic paint brush
- Johnstone’s Stormshield Smooth Masonry Paint
- Cement-based filler
- Stablising solution (if needed)
- Fine abrasive
Preparation
In the preparation phase of painting exterior breeze blocks, it’s much more important than interior breeze blocks to thoroughly inspect the substrate before painting. As exterior breeze blocks are exposed to the elements, there’s a greater likelihood that they could have issues that will impact your finished paint job.
Here is a table of issues to look out for as well as the solution to the issue:
| Problem | Description of problem | Solution |
| Efflorescence | Efflorescence is a fine white powder that appears on brickwork. Commonly caused by salts from sources such as rainwater. When the material dries out, moisture evaporates and efflorescence is what you’re left with. | Use a stiff brush to clean away the powder. Ensure the bricks are dry because the efflorescence will return if brushed when wet. |
| Lichen and Moss | Lichen and moss commonly grow on exterior brickwork when damp conditions are present. | Brush or scrape away the moss and lichen and then use a moss and lichen remover to stop it from regrowing in the future. |
| Friable surface | To identify a friable surface, simply rub your hand on it – if it is loose and rubs away, then the surface is friable. | Apply a coat or two of stabilising solution to the surface prior to painting. You may need to make good any defects after stabilising the surface. |
| Chalking | If your breeze blocks have previously been painted and now the paint is loose and powdery in texture, you have a chalking defect on your hands. | Strip away the powdery surface using a stripping knife before using a fine abrasive to rub down the surface. Apply one or two coats of stabilising solution. Once the stabilising solution has fully dried, go back over the surface with a fine abrasive to create a smooth surface that is ready for a new coat of paint. |
| Cracks | Inspect the surface to find any large or small cracks in the surface. | Rake out any loose or crumbling substrate before filling it with a concrete-based filler. Use a fine abrasive to smooth out the surface, ready for painting. |
If you have any of the issues listed in the above table, carry out the solution. If you don’t have any issues, simply give the blocks a good clean with an anti-fungal solution and water then wait for the blocks to dry.
Priming
Now your breeze blocks are in tip-top shape, you can go ahead and prime them. I like to use an impregnation primer for breeze blocks and will usually use 2 coats. The impregnation primer will give you a perfect seal so that the breeze blocks are no longer porous and thus your paint isn’t going to continuously absorb into the substrate.
Painting
Once the impregnation primer is fully dried, use a synthetic brush, and start cutting in around the edges and areas that your paint roller can’t get to. I always recommend cutting in and painting section by section to avoid leaving a ‘picture framing’ effect. With this in mind, cut and roll in sections of 1-2 metres at a time.
Bear in mind that breeze blocks need plenty of paint so don’t be shy in loading up your paint roller once you’ve cut in your first section. To be honest, there isn’t too much technique involved when it comes to rolling on breeze blocks, just ensure that you get plenty of paint onto the substrate. Drips aren’t nearly as much a problem as they would be when painting plaster, just ensure you inspect the substrate and backroll any drips out before they have the chance to dry.
After rolling, I’d recommend using your brush to fill in any gaps your roller missed, paying particular attention to the mortar.
Once you’ve completed your first coat, allow roughly 2-4 hours for it to dry, depending on the temperature outside. The hotter it is, the quicker the first coat will dry.
Now the first coat is dry, follow the same process as above for the second coat and allow another 2-4 hours for it to dry. At this point you’ll want to evaluate the opacity of the paint and whether you’re happy with the paint job. If you think it needs another coat, simply repeat the steps above.
As mentioned earlier, until you start painting, you’re not going to know how many coats of paint you’ll need. Whilst you should’ve bought the high-opacity Johnstone’s Stormshield Smooth Masonry paint, the number of coats you need will ultimately come down to the quality of the breeze blocks. Concrete blocks are made to different standards so the cheaper the block, the more paint you’ll need. Conversely, the denser the concrete block, the less paint you’ll need to use.
Ultimately, you’ll want to keep adding coats until you’re happy.
Ideas and Examples of Painted Breeze Blocks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Didn’t quite get the information you needed in our article? Why not check out some frequently asked questions we get from customers who want their breeze blocks painted?
Is It a Good Idea to Paint Breeze Blocks?
In my opinion, it’s a good idea to paint breeze blocks. Not only does painting them offer your home and garden a more aesthetically pleasing look but paint can also protect the blocks from defects such as efflorescence and mould/fungi growth.
Do You Need to Prime Breeze Blocks Before Painting?
It’s advisable to prime breeze blocks before painting them. I would recommend using a mist coat to prime interior breeze blocks and an impregnation primer before painting exterior breeze blocks.
If you don’t prime the substrate before painting, the highly porous blocks will absorb your top coats
Can You Paint Breeze blocks with Emulsion?
You can paint breeze blocks with emulsion but this is highly dependent on whether you’re painting interior or exterior breeze blocks.
An emulsion can certainly be used and is encouraged for use on interior breeze blocks however it’s best to use masonry paint on exterior breeze blocks as emulsion would simply wash off when it starts raining.
Can You Spray Paint Breeze Blocks?
You can spray paint breeze blocks, however, it’s not recommended for DIYers as you’ll need to purchase an expensive paint sprayer to get your desired finish.
Furthermore, you’ll need to back-roll spray painted breeze blocks anyway which kind of defeats the point of spraying when you can simply use a paint roller.