Brick Walls Indoors: Exposed or Imitation

Exposing the building's own brickwork or choosing a brick-effect finish: preparation, maintenance and which spaces each option suits.

A brick wall brings warmth, texture and a touch of industrial character to an interior. But the same look can be reached in two quite different ways: freeing the building's own masonry from its plaster, or applying a brick-effect finish over a smooth wall. Which one is right depends on the condition of the wall, the purpose of the room and how much day-to-day care you are prepared to give it.

Exposing existing brickwork: start with a small test

There is no way to know in advance what the brick behind the plaster looks like. In some buildings you find neat masonry with even joints; in others a mix of brick types, cement smears, infilled openings and cable chases. So before stripping a whole wall, it is worth opening a small patch somewhere inconspicuous.

The test patch also shows how easily the plaster comes away. Hard cement plaster can pull the face off the bricks, making the result impossible to recover. It also needs to be established beforehand whether the wall is load-bearing and which services run through it.

Preparing exposed masonry

If the brickwork is to remain a visible surface, it goes through several stages.

Plaster residue is removed mechanically, then the surface is washed with a brush and water.
Cement and salt stains are removed with a cleaner designed for the job, tried on a small area first.
Loose and crumbling joints are raked out and repointed.
Once the wall is fully dry, it is treated with a clear sealer or varnish made for brick.

The last step is often skipped, but it matters. Untreated brick sheds dust, absorbs stains quickly and cannot be wiped clean. A sealer closes the surface and may darken the colour slightly, which is another thing to check on the test patch.

On an external wall, exposed brick needs separate thought regarding insulation. Removing the internal plaster can change the wall's thermal behaviour, and in the cold season there may be a risk of condensation on the surface. In such cases a specialist's opinion should be sought.

Imitation options

If there is no usable masonry, or the wall is plasterboard or concrete, imitation is the logical choice.

Clay brick slips are thin slices of real fired clay. In look and feel they come closest to genuine brickwork, they are durable, and they are fixed with a suitable adhesive and then pointed.
Gypsum or decorative concrete brick tiles are light and can be painted any colour, but they are more vulnerable to knocks and moisture. Gypsum versions are not suitable for wet areas.
Brick pattern formed in decorative plaster is worked in place on the wall, with joint lines cut by tool. The result depends heavily on the craftsman.
Panels and wallpaper are the quickest solution, but up close and in side light the imitation is noticeable.

With tile options, weight has to be considered. For heavy clay slips on a plasterboard partition, the frame and boards must be checked as suitable for the load.

The room's purpose changes the choice

In a living room or study, a brick wall is mainly decorative. In a kitchen, a beauty salon or a café, hygiene comes first: a porous surface soaks up grease, paint, hair dye or cosmetics, and cleaning becomes hard. In such spaces the brick texture is either well protected with a sealer or chosen in washable materials, and directly behind a work station it makes sense to keep a smooth, easy-to-wipe surface.

Brick is visually heavy and absorbs light. In a small room with few windows, bricking every wall closes the space in; a single feature wall works better. Brick painted in a light colour keeps the texture while keeping the room bright.

Lighting brings out the texture

The texture of brick is most visible with light falling from above or from the side, close to the surface. Directional fittings arranged along the wall from the ceiling create a play of shadows. The same effect exposes the weak points of an imitation, so if you choose one, test the lighting on site.

Before you decide

Open a small patch to see the real condition of the brickwork.
Check whether the wall is load-bearing and which cables run inside it.
Consider whether the space involves moisture, grease or paint contact.
Test the sealer's effect on colour on a sample area.
Plan the lighting together with the brick wall.

Zaferoğlu İnşaat shows wall textures, including brick solutions, in computer models together with the lighting and furniture plan as part of its interior design projects. Not sure there is real brick under the plaster? Send a photo of a small test opening and we can compare it with imitation options.

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