Brick Wall Protection - Brick Stain, Paint, etc

Now that you've applied a silicone based sealer, it's unlikely that anything else you apply will either adhere or penetrate.

I wouldn't recommend putting paint on any of it.

It is normal for old brick to experience some surface flaking. It shouldn't affect the structural integrity of the home. To help prevent water penetration, I would reapply the silicone sealer about every 2 years.

Thank you for the explanation on the worthless silicone protection i put on.

I did not put it all around, just tested it in a small zone to see how it would do. nothing really - does that work for you, if you applied it somewhere ?

I don't see any real rising damp also, it's just the flaking in some bricks (got chips out of windows sills and steps - they would not be in contact with foundations).

Any good stuff I could use and is not expensive ?

I can't think of anything that's going to prevent chipping. The silicone sealers will provide moderate protection from water penetrating the brick from the outside.

One thing that may help is clear elastomeric coating. This will provide a completely waterproof coating and may prevent future chipping.

If water is wicking up into the brick from ground level, I would address that first.

If the problem is only in the lower couple of feet of the walls, it suggests rising damp. Do you have an adequate DPC (damp-proof course)? Is there any soil buildup etc. above the level of the DPC?

Nice catch. I didn't pick up on that.

It may be necessary to dig out around the foundation of the house, hose off dirt, allow to dry thoroughly, and apply an asphalt sealer to the foundation to prevent water penetration and subsequent wicking.

one thing I do know is that Latex Paint is very hard to get off Brick. My mom got scammed while I was out of state working and the guy came early and spray painted the trim around her house, including the windows.

For over 4 years now I have tried everything to get it off from paint removers to heat. My next option is sandblasting with nut shell then black sand if the nuts don't work.

So if it sticks when I don't want it too with no flaking then it might stick when you want it too.

Try a water soluble paint stripper, maybe even one of the citrus strippers out there. Apply it to the overspray and keep it slightly damp with a garden sprayer set on mist.........................once stripper dries out it stops working. After allowing to sit for about 1/2 hour and keeping damp, come back with a pressure washer..............it should come right off.

tried all that - nothing worked but chipping away at it