Painting exterior bricks can have both pros and cons, depending on the specific situation. While painted bricks may be trendy today, they may not be as durable in the future. In low-moisture regions, choosing a neutral color can help maintain the home’s resale value. However, if the brick is outdated and has a red, orange, or yellowed exterior, a paint refresh can provide numerous benefits, such as boosting curb appeal.
However, painting brick can also devalue a home, especially if done poorly and obscures historically significant features. Some potential buyers may prefer lower maintenance homes, and unpainted brick is a better option. The overall outcome of painting a home depends on various factors, including the type of paint used and the potential for moisture trapping.
Painted brick may not add value, as someone could buy the brick house and paint it themselves. However, removing the paint is a significant burden, and removing the paint is a significant burden. If the brick is already painted, it won’t significantly impact a home’s value.
Painting brick can give a house a new look and potentially increase its curb appeal. However, painting over imperfections or mold can trap moisture, causing more damage and deterioration. Paint can also destroy a home’s historic value and, if applied incorrectly, could damage its structure.
In some cases, painting a brick home can significantly enhance curb appeal, which can add value. However, it is essential to never paint molded, deteriorating, or chipped brick, as it can lead to further damage.
📹 4 Reasons Not To Paint Your Brick | Catherine Arensberg
Painted brick is VERY popular right now. That fresh white paint looks SO CLEAN. I know. I love how it looks too. But I also think …
Why is it controversial to paint brick?
Brick and masonry structures are designed to breathe, allowing moisture to evaporate naturally. Painting these surfaces can inhibit this breathability, causing moisture to become trapped within the walls, leading to mold growth, rot, and structural damage. Reversing this decision is challenging, as removing paint often requires abrasive methods like sandblasting, which can harm the substrate and cause irreversible damage. Undoing a painted brick facade can be costly and aesthetically challenging.
Does painting brick lower house value?
Painting a brick house can significantly increase property value by improving curb appeal and potentially attracting higher bids from potential buyers. However, the decision to paint a brick house may depend on several factors. Nelson Exteriors, an Atlanta-based painting contractor, can help you weigh the pros and cons of this home improvement project. They offer interior and exterior painting services, and can be contacted at 283-8171 to discuss their services. It’s important to consider several factors before committing to a brick house painting project, as it may not be the best solution for your home.
Is it a good idea to paint exterior brick?
Painting a brick house can be a costly and time-consuming process, as it can trap moisture inside the porous material, leading to mold, mildew, and other damage. Additionally, paint can peel and flake over time, requiring frequent maintenance and touch-ups. Staining brick is a popular alternative, providing a natural, durable, and long-lasting finish that allows the brick’s natural texture and color to shine through. With proper maintenance, staining can last for up to 25 years or more.
There are eight reasons to stain your brick instead of painting it:
Staining provides a more lasting, low-maintenance, and customizable finish that enhances the unique character of the brick.
Staining allows the natural texture and color of the brick to shine through, enhancing its appearance.
In conclusion, staining brick is a superior option for updating the appearance or covering up damage, but it is not recommended for all brick houses.
What are the pitfalls of painting brick?
Moisture retention is a common concern with painted brick exteriors, as it can lead to structural damage, brick deterioration, and mold growth. Proper preparation and sealing are crucial for moisture control, as without them, the paint may trap moisture, causing long-term damage. While painting brick exteriors offers numerous benefits, it’s essential to weigh the potential downsides carefully and align the decision with long-term goals, maintenance preferences, and aesthetic priorities.
Is painting brick going out of style?
Painting brick, a popular trend due to the “modern farmhouse” look, is now gaining popularity. However, this trend can change over time, making it a risky decision for homeowners looking to change a fundamental part of their home or selling in the future. The specific look of a home may not appeal to everyone, and some buyers may appreciate the curb appeal, while others may view it as akin to painting wooden furniture or putting carpet over hardwood floors.
What is the best color to paint the exterior of a brick house?
To create an earthy brick exterior, consider using neutral paint colors like red, orange, and yellow. For a more earthy look, consider shades of gray or brownish colors. Play with combinations and focus on one main brick color. Brick adds texture to the exterior façade, with its patina, richness, and texture adding life to a home’s exterior. Natural materials also add variety and complexity to flat surfaces. Pair paint colors with brick colors found in the sample to create a cohesive look.
How long does a painted brick exterior last?
The lifespan of painted brick depends on maintenance commitment and regional climate. It is recommended to repaint exterior surfaces about every 5 years, ensuring the brick retains its appearance and integrity. Interior painted brick can last longer between touch-ups and repainting projects, as there are fewer direct threats. At Nash Painting, many brick painting projects last close to 20 years due to thorough cleaning and preparation, primed brick with Sherwin-Williams Loxon XP, caulked cracks or holes, and applied no fewer than two coats of paint.
The quality of materials, experience of contractors, and surface preparation all contribute to the longevity of a given paint job. Nash Painting is a company that resists shortcuts and focuses on efficiency, having transformed countless businesses and homes across Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN. To learn more about their services and values, call them at 615-829-6858.
Will I regret painting brick?
Brick is a porous material made of clay and shale, which naturally expels moisture from the home during wet weather. However, when paint is applied to brick, it stops breathing and holds onto dampness, leading to deterioration and crumbling. This can cause structural damage to the home. To avoid this, use high-quality, vapor-permeable masonry paint and be meticulous in applying it. Maintenance costs and time will increase as bricks will need to be repainted. Flaking paint indicates deterioration, which is a hassle for homeowners and can make it harder to sell the home down the road.
Why are people so against painting brick?
Painting over brick is a significant issue as it strips it of its natural ability to breathe and release trapped moisture, leading to eroded walls over time. Brick, in its original state, is porous and designed to absorb and release moisture through cracks and small openings. Once painted, it loses its ability to release moisture and dry out, especially in colder climates. Signs of water damage beneath the paint include blistering, bumping, mortar joint erosion, and paint being difficult to remove.
Removing painted brick is a challenging task, as flaking and weardown of the paint will occur over time. Restoring the brick to its pre-painted appearance is a difficult task, and the paint used may not be changeable or have high maintenance costs. This can make a future sale of a property difficult, as no one wants a property that cannot be changed or has high maintenance costs. A painted brick wall is essentially extra maintenance costs.
Is painted brick a fad?
Painting brick can be a trendy trend, especially if you’re planning to sell your home in the future. However, it may not appeal to everyone, and some buyers may find it unappealing. White-painted brick may provide curb appeal in some neighborhoods, but not in others. Some buyers may find it appealing, while others may view it as akin to painting wooden furniture or carpeting hardwood floors. Bierman recommends painting brick if it fits the place and purpose of your home and is a cost-effective way to transform it.
Why is everyone painting their brick house white?
Homeowners are painting their brick to achieve a white house look, which offers protection and is easy to maintain. However, the pros and cons of painted brick include potential deterioration over time, water trapped within pores, and the risk of pressure washing damaging the paint. The blog post at Redfin warns that restoring the original brick look is nearly impossible due to the difficulty of regaining the authentic look and the potential for damage from the wrong paint.
Additionally, the paint may peel over time, requiring a new coat every three to five years. It is crucial to carefully consider the pros and cons before painting brick to ensure a long-lasting and beautiful home.
📹 The Brickman on Painted Brick
Find Us On Amazon! Colorant Kit for the DIY Homeowner!
Oh dear, I wish that I had watched your article last year, before I had my house painted. Most of the house is roughcast, with brick at the bottom part. The roughcast is fine but some of the brickwork on the main wall is flaking and peeling off, after only 4 months. I am going to have to fix it myself and wrote to Valspar for advice. I don’t think that the painters prepared the brick in any way and I bitterly regret letting them paint it. As I had my reservations about it. It’s done now and needs fixed. So, I am waiting for the better weather to come and will scrape off the flaking paint and sand the brick and clean them. But what primer/undercoat should I get please. I have read that it must contain latex. I would be grateful for any help. Thank you
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you…my house is “ALL” brick one half of the house is all exposed brick in a mid brown very rustic form. Hat is fine The rest of the house is brick as well but they used a cheaper lighter brick very smooth and they bagged it and in a bone pink colour. I’ve updated the toilet walls and kitchen backsplash. The back splash turned out fine what I could see of bagged bricks I scrubbed down with sugar soap and then painted them with the sealer. I’m now ready to paint them with a topcoat but I can’t make up my mind what colour I want which is a fairly generally white colour. I am very happy with the toilet. Near the door at the back of the house some bagging is falling off the walls I would say is because of the moisture in the air any ideas !
Don, I live in the southern part of Louisiana in a brick home built in the 1960`s. It has been painted twice. Once before I purchased it and again approximately 15 years ago. The last paint finish is a beige color. It has begun to form a powder that doesn’t look well on any dark clothing. Need to repaint. Would appreciate any suggestions you could send my way. I am defiantly going to do it myself.
I live in southern new mexico, on a property with very old brick that has already been painted. And the way I have solved the problem above is to use very expensive white truck bed liner as paint. The truck bed liner’s chemistry is much more durable and sticks to the brick but also creates strength more than paint does. So one can do this over pealing paint and if you do a lot of layers of truckbed liner it will not peal further. But of course it is expensive. I have the feeling it might last 10 or more years in full sun and rain only time will tell. but anyway I find often it is good to buy products outside of the marketed category. Think outside the box. So buying boat, RV or truck products for household use is often better for these type of projects.
So now you have me totally freaking out. We bought a house a couple years ago and the brick had already been painted. I know it was primed before and we don’t have any major chipping issues. I have no problem dealing with the maintenance, but I’m now concerned about what it’s doing to my brick underneath. Is this just a total disaster waiting to happen? If so, any idea how long it takes for the brick to rot underneath? I read that the issues you mentioned tend to impact older brick (pre 1940’s) and not so much newer brick. Is this true? Am I better off just letting it do its thing and maintaining any chips or attempting to strip the brick? We live in a nearly 5k sq ft home, I can’t imagine how much it would cost to strip this much brick if it’s even possible. Should I be losing sleep?
Thank you so much for your article & sharing your experience & knowledge. Long story short, I painted a small area using a latex paint, without primer, to see the results. I didn’t want to use a primer if I didn’t have to. The paint was absorbed in a short period of time leaving a nice sheen on the face of the brick later that afternoon. Two days later, & a weather change to rain & high humidity, the paint resurfaced. This was my first clue that the brick is “breathing”. I don’t want to suffocate it with paint. I need an alternative remedy. The house was built in 1948, meaning it seems, that the brick is a higher quality composition. 1. Please, how can I recover the spot that I test painted, (appx a 4 ft square area)? 2. What type of stain base do I use? Thank you & kindest regards,
Hello, Mr. Brickman, thank you for your article. We have a four-sided brick house and I was thinking of having it white/limewashed (i.e., the Romabio limewash), to look like worn-off or aged painted brick. Some of the homes in the fancy neighborhoods have it, and I just love the look. If we get this done, will it have to be maintained often as well? Will it have to be maintained at all? Thank you in advance.