Painting outside of house

[Mike Walker]

Hi,
I have a semi-detached house, the front, and side are covered by
stone chip stuff , the back is plain exposed brick.
I've got a painter coming to paint the outside and I asked him
to paint a clear water proof coat first to all sides, then
cover the front and side with a coloured paint.
He has told me I've no need to apply a water proof
coat first.
I thought it was best to apply a water proof coat first, to protect
the bricks, but he said it will not allow the bricks to breath.

Is he right, if not, what is the water proof stuff called, I remember
seeing something on the telly, I think it was from ronseal ?!?

Thanks
Mike.

[BigWallop]

"Mike Walker" <mike.w...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1PzSa.1740$Ai3....@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...

Personally Mike, I'd take the painters advice on this. Applying a coating
to the brickwork can actually make it hold moisture in that is already there
and in time of frost will actually cause it to swell and blow the bricks.
The harling on the front and side was maybe applied to stop water ingress
through a bad surface in the past (?) but the harling still allows the
masonry below to breath and sweat.

The WeatherShield coatings, without going to deeply into the application,
are mainly applied to facing bricks and only when they are completely dry or
brand new. So yes, to sum up, I'd take the painters advice. Do a web
search on Maintaining Brickwork for some good web sites on the subject.

[Mike Walker]

Thanks, Mike.

"BigWallop" <spamguard@spam_guard.com> wrote in message
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