Freshen up the walls

[Jadaughter]

The cabin I bought has some work on it, especially surrounding the walls. In the living room there's a brick wall like one of those fancy walls in magazines, but it's not looking too good, so I want to clean it up and give it a refresh. What's the best approach for this?

Also, some of the other walls have thin cracks, nothing major, but enough to be visible. How do I patch so that things hold and not crack in a few months?

 

[TreatHoarder]

@Jadaughter a brick wall in the living room sounds like a great idea! For cleaning, definitely start with a good vacuuming to get all the dust off.
Then, hit it with a stiff brush and some warm water with just a little dish soap, it's gentle but effective.
Once it's spotless and dry, a clear, matte masonry sealer can really make it pop and protect it without looking shiny. If the mortar looks tired, you can actually touch it up. Just make sure you're not blasting it with high pressure indoors, for obvious reasons!

 

[Alarming-Impress-323]

@TreatHoarder there pretty much answered it but just to add, anything too harsh. If it's stained or worn, a little whitewash or brick stain might freshen it up nicely.

For the cracks, use a flexible filler or patch compound that's made for hairline cracks. A light sand and primer before painting helps it stay smooth and hold longer

 

[Valentino]

For the brick, a good scrub with mild cleaner or a masonry safe acid wash will bring it back, seal after to keep it looking fresh