What is a German schmear?
The German Schmear finish is a type of mortar wash. It involves troweling mortar onto a brick wall and then wiping some of it off to expose parts of the brick. It’s a popular choice both for homeowners wanting to remodel an older home as well as people looking for some rugged sophistication on a newly constructed home.
How long does German Schmear last?
The traditional German smear look is white mortar over red bricks. Since the mortar wash remains pliable for up to 45 minutes after application, you can customize the look and feel of it as you apply by scraping off some of the mortar to let the brick show through.
What’s the difference between German Schmear and whitewash?
Limewash is a bit softer than the German schmear and is typically better suited to full coverage looks than heavily distressed looks; German schmear is better suited to heavily distressed looks than full coverage looks. Whitewashing is a good option if you really like the current color of your brick.
What is the difference between German Schmear and limewash?
What is the difference between limewash and german schmear? Limewash is made with crushed limestone. German schmear (or smear) is made with mortar.
Does German smear last?
Also keep in mind that German smear is a permanent treatment that can’t be removed easily, and it only works over bare brick. The mortar won’t adhere to a brick surface that’s already been painted.
How do I get rid of German schmear?
Using the wire brush and some water, scrape the discolored mortar from the brick. Muriatic acid can make this go a little quicker, but it is a dangerous chemical and should be used with caution.
How much does German smear cost?
The Pros and Cons of German Smear By comparison, hiring a masonry contractor to apply German smear could cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the going rate for masons in your region.
Is German smear modern?
German schmear is an old world technique that is still very useful to modern homeowners who want to make their brick homes look white.
How much does a German home smear cost?
By comparison, hiring a masonry contractor to apply German smear could cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the going rate for masons in your region. If you decide to apply German smear yourself, be prepared to dedicate a few days to completing the project on a small- to medium-sized home.
Is German smear expensive?
The process is labor-intensive, but it’s also relatively inexpensive: 1,000-square-feet of brick siding requires about three 80-pound bags of premixed mortar (about $10 each), which brings the total cost of materials to approximately $30.
How do you remove a German smear?
What kind of mortar is used for German smear?
German Smear. A type of mortar wash, German smear is achieved by tactfully smearing a mixture of mortar and portland cement onto the brick, leaving some of it exposed. Typically this process is done with white mortar. You can also achieve a variety of looks with the German Smear depending on how it’s applied and the thickness of the coats.
How much does German Smear cost? Most medium sized homes can be German schmeared for less than $60! Of course this is a diy cost. It is time consuming but very achievable for most home owners. An 80 pound bag of mortar costs between $10-15 and should cover around 300 feet of brick.
How to turn painted brick into a German schmear look?
German Schmear (also sometimes listed as mortar wash or German smear) is a technique in which white or cream color mortar is schmeared/smeared over brick. Some of the mortar is removed while it’s still wet. It generally does not fully cover the original brick. The finished look results in a lovely old-world European finish.
How to German schmear a fireplace?
– Stiff wire brushes – Heavy-duty rubber gloves – Safety glasses – Buckets with water – Muriatic acid (USE WITH CAUTION!) – Large sponges