How to prevent painted brick from peeling

Q. We are cleaning up an old cemetery which has red clay bricks numbering the lots. After cleaning the bricks, we used a yellow paint made for street markings. Now the paint has peeled off the brick. What kind of paint will stick to the bricks? Waldo E. Austin Parsons, Kan.

A. First, allow clean bricks to dry very, very thoroughly. It may take a couple of weeks of good drying weather, since red clay bricks readily absorb water and are reluctant to release it.

Now, prime clean, dry bricks with a ''surface conditioner'' available in paint stores. It is a long-oil, slow drying, deep penetrating primer. It soaks well into the brick, providing a foundation for a good acrylic finish coat.

Color? To suit your fancy and the decor required.