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How to Create an Aged Faux Brick Wall Covering for a Comfy Home

Written by Milan Jara on 17th Mar 2022

Faux Brick Wall Panel

You can create an aged faux brick wall covering on any wall in only a few simple steps. Read our post to see the materials you need and the steps to follow.

You can create an aged faux brick wall covering on any wall in the living room, bedroom, or dining room using two methods: faux brick wall panels or single-piece faux bricks.

The installation method you choose will depend on your preferences, but installing faux brick panels is much easier and faster than installing single-piece faux bricks.

Single bricks are challenging to install since you have to do them one piece at a time, unlike the paneling method, where one wall panel covers a larger area.

The good thing with single faux bricks or imitative brick wall panels is that they go over an existing wall. You don't have to worry about structural integrity since they are meant for decorative purposes. That said, ensure that you are placing them on a structurally sound wall, such as one made of real brick, brick veneer/thin brick, stable drywall, real stone, concrete/plaster, or stone veneer.

Aged Faux Brick Wall Covering Using Brick Panels

Here's what you'll need to install an aged brick wall covering using faux brick paneling.

Tools You'll Need

  • Table saw/wet saw
  • Tape measure
  • Nail gun/screwdriver
  • Level
  • Gloves

Materials You'll Need

  • Faux brick wall panels
  • Construction adhesive
  • Screws/nails
  • Concrete patching caulk
  • Grout sponge
  • Paint colors, such as white, glazed pears, very mist, canyon dusk, or wright brown

Steps for Creating an Aged Faux Brick Wall Covering Using Decorative Panels

Faux brick panels come pre-assembled as large blocks of brick material, which makes them easier to install than single bricks.

The following steps will help you install your own aged faux brick wall panels.

Measuring and Cutting the Panels

Measuring helps you determine how many decorative panels you need for the project.

First, measure the entire wall surface you want to cover. Calculate the total area to make it easier to do the math. Next, measure elements like the fireplace, windows, doors, and power outlets that you will not cover with the paneling.

Determine the total area for the parts you are not going to cover and subtract the sum from the total area. To get the estimated number of panels needed, divide the result by the size of one panel. Add some extra pieces, just in case.

Use the measurements obtained above to cut the wall panels to size using a table saw. Cut all the required panels at the start to avoid wasting time going back and forth between cutting and installing.

At this stage, you can label the wall and the back of the panels where each piece will fit.

Clean the Wall

Whether you are installing the panels on an entire wall or sections of it, ensure the wall is clean and free of grease, debris, or dust.

Attach the Panels

It's easy to attach the wall panels once you have cut them to the correct size and labeled them accordingly. Apply enough construction adhesive on the back of the panels or the wall and begin placing the panels from right to left.

The installation process should be systematic. Start from the bottom right side and move toward the left. Before embarking on a new row, always ensure the one below it is complete. Use the level to check each panel against its neighbor along the row.

For each wall panel you install, use a nail gun or screwdriver to drive in nails or screws that will hold the panel in place. Avoid overusing the nails - eight to ten nails is enough for each full panel.

The nails should be distributed evenly along the edges and in the middle and corners of the panel.

Paint the Panels

Paint the Panels

Pour the paint colors (apart from white) into a large shallow container without worrying about them mixing up since you'll still want them to mix slightly to achieve the desired aged look.

Cut the grout sponge into two and use one part to draw some paint from the container, making sure to get a good mix of the various colors. Dab the sponge randomly on the bricks and lightly blot on the colors. Repeat the process each time the sponge runs out of paint.

Apply Whitewash

Apply Whitewash

Old bricks get that aged look because they fade over time and start turning white. The white paint comes in handy for this look. Pour the paint into a container and dip the edges of the other half of the grout sponge in it.

Lightly dab random spots of the bricks with the white paint without over-applying it.

Apply the Caulk

Apply the Caulk

Apply the concrete patching caulk to complete the finishing and make the panels look more like real old bricks. Wear your gloves and apply thin beads of caulk along the outlines of the bricks. You can spread out the caulk evenly using your fingers.

Enjoy your creation!

Aged Faux Brick Wall Covering Using Single-Piece Bricks

Here's what you'll need for creating an aged faux brick wall covering with single imitative bricks.

Tools You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Level
  • Wet saw/table saw
  • Trowel
  • Wood
  • Screw gun
  • Grout bag

Materials You'll Need

  • Faux brick
  • Grout
  • Mortar
  • Mastic

Steps for Creating an Aged Faux Brick Wall Covering Using Single Bricks

If you opt to use single faux bricks, the installation process is more challenging and takes more time. You could call an installer to help you with the project to save time, but that will be more expensive. Below are the steps to follow if you want to go the DIY route.

Clean the Installation Surface

The installation surface should be free of moisture, dust, mold, or grease. If there is oil-based paint on the wall, be sure to sand it down.

Ensure a Flat Working Base

You need a flat base to ensure the bricks install nicely on the wall. If you are creating an accent wall, you want it to be near-perfect because it will be the room's focal point.

Place a level on the floor. If the floor isn't level, do not install your bricks off the floor. Instead, place a piece of waste wood at the base of the wall, using the level to make sure it is straight. The wood acts as your guide for fixing the bricks.

Cut Some Bricks in Half

Cutting some of the bricks in half helps avoid vertical seams in the installation by alternating between full bricks and half bricks.

Cut a good number of the bricks in half at once to avoid wasting time coming back to the table saw during the installation process.

Start Installing the Bricks

As you install the bricks, leave spaces between them - about 0.5 inches wide for applying grout. You can use scraps of wood for this step to ensure the width is the same and that the distance between rows is equal.

To install the bricks, start from the bottom corner of the wall and move across to the left and upwards from one complete row to another.

Use the trowel to apply enough mastic to cover each row, one at a time. Now fix a full brick onto the applied mastic and then place a half brick above it. Use this format to stagger full bricks and half bricks on the wall to avoid vertical seams.

During the installation, the grout joints you made should guide you so that the bricks are spaced evenly. Check with the level to ensure the first brick of every row is level.

Once each row is complete, repeat the same procedure for all the others until you reach the ceiling.

Apply the Grout

After attaching the bricks, leave them for one or two days to dry so that they don't fall off when you touch them. Once dry, fill the grout joints between them with mortar using a grout bag. Leave the mortar or grout to dry.

Apply Paint for an Aged Look

The paint and whitewash application processes for the single bricks are similar to that of painting brick panels discussed earlier.

The idea is to randomly apply each paint color, keeping in mind that the real brick you want to imitate doesn't fade evenly. Some parts fade more than others.

Again, enjoy your creation!

Conclusion

Once you have the right tools, materials, and instructions, you can create an aged faux brick wall covering on your own in any interior wall of your home to turn it into a feature wall.

If you can't decide between faux brick wall panels and single faux bricks, you can seek the help of an interior design expert. A professional faux brick installer can also help with the installation if you are pressed for time or don't have the right tools and technical know-how.

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