Everything you need to know about brick flooring, how to install, clean and protect.
I frequently am asked about our brick flooring in our mudroom and powder room. It’s among the most commented on spaces of our home on Instagram and still one of my favorite projects to date.
When we moved into our home just a little over 2 years ago, I felt it needed more character. It felt like dated builder’s grade construction with little to no detail.
My Great Aunt’s farmhouse had brick floors in the side entryway, which captured the dirt as you entered her home. I had seen brick floor pavers in The Great American House, Steve and Brooke Giannetti’s Patina Style an array of mudrooms and entryways and decided to take the plunge and add a little function and character to our home.
I love how brick floors adds warmth, texture, character and integrity to homes old and new. {Photo credit: Phoebe Howard, Traditional Home}
What is Brick Flooring?
Brick flooring is a brick veneer. Thin “sheets” of brick, that often come in sheets to make them easy to lay.
Brick is made of clay or shale that is pressed, dried and fired in a kiln into a durable ceramic. It comes in a variety of colors which never fade due to the firing process.
It has a slight texture which adds interest to design.
Let’s start with a little Q&A about Brick Flooring!
Q: Another blogger asked “Help! I’m about to order the same brick veneers you used in your mudroom for my bathroom floor but on Lowe’s it says they’re for walls only and not suitable for floors. How have yours held up?”
A: I had our flooring guy who we know and trust to evaluate it first. He approved the product, so we moved forward with installation. Nearly 4 years later and we still love them without issue!
Brick is an extremely durable product and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. It’s also tolerant of being damp from wet boots.
In addition, it’s heat resistant, so can be used by a fireplace, oven or furnace without fear.
Are brick floors cold?
Brick floors are slightly warmer than tile, but we used it in a space where we’re rarely barefoot. If you’re concerned about it feeling rough, you can choose a sealer accordingly.
Do you grout brick floors?
Brick flooring is as easy to install as tile!
First, lay a cement backer board.
Use mortar in lieu of grout to make it look and feel as authentic as it is. Type-S mortar will give your brick floor a traditional look. If you prefer, you can use tile grout which comes in a wide array of colors.
It cuts easily with a tile saw or angle grinder.
I selected a grout in a medium color (not too light, not too dark) that looked a little dirty.
The cost of installation is comparable to tile installation. In fact, they install similar to tile in sheets. Our brick installation cost about $1,000.
Is brick flooring easy to clean or how do you clean brick floors?
Before I respond, please don’t judge, okay? We don’t, really. That’s the beauty of it. The brick flooring gets vacuumed weekly and the occasional mop. If something really gunky happens, I break out a scrub brush (only happened once).
They wear beautifully and only look more charming with time. It’s nice to have a fuss-free space, especially the one that attracts the most dirt. I personally love how the mortar between catches rocks, dirt, etc so that they aren’t brought into the rest of our home.
You can of course give them a good scrub it you want to, but their is so much beauty in the patina that occurs over time.
The hard surface makes it easy to vacuum.
How do you seal brick flooring?
Sealing brick is easy! A penetrating sealer that works for tile also works well for brick. Spray or mop it on for an easily cleanable finish.
Penetrating sealer soaks into the brick. A penetrating sealer doesn’t alter the surface or color. Instead, it seeps into the brick and mortar, protecting it.
Alternatively, you can use a polyurethane which adheres over the brick and results in a shiny surface.
A sealant will protect against mold and cracking. Applying a sealer will prevent moisture from buildup up and seeping below the surface.
For optimal results, it should be reapplied once a year to continue protecting the floor.
How to Apply Sealer
Clean the floor with warm water and a mild soap, using a deck brush. Rinse with water. Allow the brick to dry completely.
Using a paint roller or mop, cover the floor “painting” it onto the brick starting on one side and working toward your exit.
Allow the sealer to dry completely (4+ hours) before use or a second coat.
The brick we selected is a very close match to our brick exterior and fireplace, making it feel like it was always there. You can find the brick here.
As always, I’m happy to answer any questions you have.
LET’S CONNECT!
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Hi! Do you mind sharing which sealer you used? We have the same brick pavers and I can’t decide which sealer to go with flat or matte. Yours has a nice soft sheen to them. Love you home!
This flooring is lovely! It has so much character.
Hi Julie, we purchased a beautiful home that’s only 4 yrs old and it has beautiful brick flooring in the kitchen and laundry room. We just got 2 puppies, brother and sister and should I be freaking out because of accidents on the brick flooring? I appreciate your thoughts.
We don’t “clean” our brick beyond vacuum, but if they have accidents on the brick I’d gate them out, personally.
Hey there! I LOVE your brick floors! I am doing a kitchen reno soon and am considering brick as the main flooring for a french country look . After sealing your brick, how do they feel on your feet? Are they rough like exposed brick on a home or do they resemble tile in texture? I hope that’s not a silly questions, but we’ll be mostly barefoot as apposed to a mudroom and I’m afraid of constantly scuffing our feet. Thanks for any help!
They’re not very rough, but definitely not tile either. You have thicker grout (big dips between each brick) so I personally wouldn’t want to be on them barefoot a lot. We’re only on ours barefoot a few steps at a time which is fine.
Thank you for your honest opinion! I recently found a tile that looks like brick so it may be a better option for us since we’re in there a lot. I still love your brick and wish it could work for us. Thanks again for replying 🙂
Hello– Absolutely love your brick floors and have decided to put something very similar in our house. One gentleman told me I needed to have them sealed so that they would ‘hold up’. Was your brick sealed? Thanks so much!
They were. You’ll love them!
Hey Julie, we’re buying a home built in the 50’s that has the original brick flooring. We’d like to lighten them up with a glazed/white finish (not sure what its called), more like your pictures. Do you know any “how to” sites on this technique?
I’m sorry Tim, I don’t! How lucky to inherit brick flooring though! I’d leave it to an expert because it’s an area that will easily wear.
Hi Julie! The floor is gorgeous! I would love to go for something similar in my home, possibly in the garage entry/bathroom/laundry area. Do you think it would hold up to a busy dog as well as occasional water spillage? I am having trouble finding a tile person in the Kansas City area who will install something like this (most are requiring I purchase from their own showroom). Can you share who you used? Thanks!
You need to go through a flooring installation company versus flooring store. I used Sticks and Stones in St. Louis, I wish I had a recommendation there for you! Realtors tend to be great referral resources.
I’ve admired your brick floors for a while on Instagram, learning about easy they are to take care of I’m wanting them even more! Thanks for sharing.
Neelam
Sorry, I’m a horrible influence! I hope you have a great weekend!
Exactly the look I’m wanting in my kitchen. My worries are the transition to the connecting rooms which have wood floors. How are these height wise? Especially if I need to add the backer board to it as well. Thanks for your help. ~Kelly
Mine are the same height as my wood floors and yours should be as well – your wood should be the same thickness as the pavers/backer, but they can always adjust your subfloor if needed. I hope that helps!
Hi Julie~ The link you provided to Lowe’s re the brick…. Is that the same color you used and if not, could you specify which color you did use? It’s lovely!
It is, thanks Jill!
Wow. That brick flooring really is gorgeous. It really makes me think of the southern plantation houses that I used to see in Virginia. The fact that it’s also so easy to maintain sounds perfect. ????
Thanks, Leslie! That was my inspiration – I just love Southern style. Have a beautiful weekend!
Julie,
Lovely post. I have always loved your mudroom and powder room, and the brick flooring “makes” the space. I have terra cotta floors throughout our house, and I love it. Does not show dirt, vacuums easily, and an occasional damp mop.
Sounds beautiful! I always for effortless!