A red brick home’s warm, inviting appeal is hard to deny. There is something effortlessly timeless about the classic appearance of bricks, making them a popular building material—not to mention that bricks are sturdy, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly.
If you live in a brick home and are looking for a change, adorning your red bricks with a coat of paint is a great way to freshen up your home’s appearance with a new look—and add undeniable curb appeal, too. Below, we’ll explore the benefits of painting brick homes and some considerations to make before committing to this permanent (but exciting!) project.
Valuable Benefits of Painting a Brick Home
1. Paint offers protection from the elements.
Brick is a porous material, which means that a brick exterior is prone to deterioration over time.
A coat of paint serves as a “seal” on brick exteriors and can protect against moisture infiltration, wind, dust, and harmful ultraviolet rays. After painting bricks, you’ll find they are stronger and can stand up against snow, hail, rain, and sun damage.
2. A coating of paint leads to easy-breezy maintenance.
Brick is already known for being low-maintenance, but when it occasionally comes time to spruce up unpainted bricks—cleaning the rough, porous surface of each brick of moisture damage (like mold and algae) and dirt is not exactly a walk in the park.
A coat of high-quality paint creates a smooth, even, waterproof surface on each brick, so after painting your bricks, they will be much easier to clean. Unlike other siding materials, you can power wash a painted brick exterior, which makes cleaning off dirt, dust, and debris a breeze.
3. Fresh paint adds attractive curb appeal.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to paint a brick exterior is the revitalized appearance that comes along with it.
Red, brown, and orange bricks are naturally beautiful but provide a traditional appearance that might not appeal to modern buyers. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color, like white or cream, gives your property an eye-catching, contemporary look.
4. A painted brick exterior allows for more design flexibility.
Painting your brick exterior allows you to get creative with the color of the doors, shutters, roof, gutters, trim, and other exterior details.
For example, white brick homes with black windows, roofing, and other details are trendy, as are dark grey homes with stark white details. Consider adding a “pop” of color to a white-painted brick home with a front door painted red, teal, or another cheery color.
Tips for Painting a Brick Home: Important “Dos” and “Don’ts” to Consider
All the attractive benefits of painting a brick home might make you feel ready to pull out the paintbrush right now! However, before making this decision, we encourage you to think through these “dos” and “don’ts” of painting a brick house.
DO: Understand that painting brick is a permanent decision.
Once you paint your brick exterior—there is no turning back. Paint removal is costly (and may not be possible), so this is a permanent choice.
While you can change the color of your bricks (for example, if you decide to change from white to grey paint down the road, that is possible), you’ll never be able to return to the unfinished, reddish hue of the traditional bricks again.
DON’T: Forget to touch up the paint regularly.
As we mentioned earlier, paint creates a protective barrier between a brick exterior and the elements. However, this barrier is only effective if the paint stays in great shape, so you must regularly address chipped and cracked paint.
Repainting every 7–10 years is usually a safe bet, but this timeline will vary depending on the brand and quality of exterior paint used for the project. It’s smart to verify with the contractor who initially completes the project when to repaint and which color should be used.
DO: Clean the painted exterior more often.
Traditional, unpainted brick doesn’t show dirt, dust, mildew, and algae as quickly, so cleaning regularly isn’t as much of a concern.
After painting your bricks (especially if you choose a lighter color, like white), cleaning them more often is crucial to keep them in great shape. Fortunately, as we mentioned earlier, power washing should do the job fine, so while you will need to clean more often, it should technically be easier and less of a hassle than cleaning unpainted bricks.
DON’T: Paint your home without HOA approval.
Do you live in one of Indianapolis’s many historic districts? If so, there may be restrictions on which colors you can paint your brick home—if painting is even allowed at all.
Before budgeting for an exterior paint project, secure approval from your homeowners’ or neighborhood association. As we mentioned, paint on bricks is permanent, so acquiring approval first will save you the nightmare of realizing paint is not permitted on your brick home.
DO: Work with a professional painter for long-lasting results.
When painting bricks, the quality and process matter.
For example, certain types of paint work well for bricks, and others don’t. Bricks need to be deep cleaned and completely dried before painting begins. A professional painter will know these “ins” and “outs” of painting brick exteriors, which is why it’s best to leave this job to the experts.
Invest in Professional Exterior Painting from JD Hostetter & Associates for a Modern, Revitalized Brick Home
Whether you dream of a creamy-white farmhouse facade or a moody, grey exterior with contemporary appeal—painting a brick exterior is a fantastic way to add personality, charm, and curb appeal to any home.
Have you contemplated all the considerations and determined that a painted brick house is the right choice for you? If so, read about our exterior paint services in Indianapolis to learn about the benefits of painting your home with our team at JD Hostetter & Associates. We can’t wait to serve you!
