Your home is due for a fresh coat of paint. That’s easy if it’s wood or stucco, but what’s the best paint for brick homes? That’s a little trickier because brick has properties that require special paint.
Let’s take a look.
Should You Even Paint Bricks?
Some say painting over brick walls is a mistake. Brick needs to “breathe,” and applying a layer of regular paint, which is mostly waterproof or non-breathable, will trap moisture and block airflow.
So should you or should you not paint a brick home?
In fact, you can paint brick but only with paint specifically designed for the job and after preparing the surface properly. Brick walls have a natural charm, but new paint refreshes the look and vibe of your home.
Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros of Painting a Brick Home
- Seals and protects your home from elements
- Reduces deterioration and fading of your home exterior
- Easy to keep clean because smooth, painted surface traps less dirt
- Boosts curb appeal and increases home value
- You’re not stuck with one color for life – more creative opportunities
Cons of Painting a Brick Home:
- You cannot revert to a paintless brick look, like ever!
- Paint may chip from moisture, especially near the ground
- Dirt and debris are more visible on painted brick so you’ll have to pressure wash it more
Why You Need Special Paints for Brick Homes
Bricks are porous and they need to remain so. They naturally absorb moisture from the interior of your home and have to expel this moisture outside to stay dry and strong. This is what they call “breathing” for brick walls.
Regular paints are generally non-permeable, meaning moisture and air cannot pass through once you apply it to a surface. You essentially block moisture’s way out of the brick when you put regular paint on an exterior brick wall. This causes paint and masonry to crack, peel, or lift and become more susceptible to damage from freeze-thaw cycles.
Besides unsightly appearance, trapped moisture inside a brick jeopardizes the strength and integrity of mortar. This is why you need special paint to color a brick wall. Mineral-based or silicate paints work best for brick walls because they are designed to be breathable (more in detail later).
Best Paints for Brick Homes
Here are the best exterior paint types you can put on your brick home and not worry about it peeling away or damaging the structure.
Two of Our Top Recommendations:
Elastodynamic Paint
The best exterior brick paint wall is elastodynamic or elastomeric paint. It’s specifically formulated with high elasticity for painting bricks. It is flexible and is excellent for filling and preventing cracks in brick walls.
Elastomeric paints withstand weather conditions pretty well, including high humidity and heavy rainfall situations. This is because it can expand and contract with temperature changes. The formula specifically focuses on protecting brick and masonry by creating a watertight covering.
Because this paint is breathable, it won’t trap moisture and damage brick. Most brands offer long-lasting formulas that will last about a decade or so.
Acrylic Latex Exterior Paint
Some experts recommend acrylic latex paint for exterior brickwork. Acrylic latex paint offers excellent coverage and a subtly textured finish that preserves the brick’s natural look. It is easy to apply with a paint brush or a roller and is available in a wide range of colors.
Acrylic latex paint is also designed to resist UV, moisture damage, and other weather elements. It also stands up well against mildew and grease and prevents cracks in the brick. It features cross-linking technology that makes it more binding than standard paint and easier to clean. It also won’t peel or blister easily.
Above all, latex acrylic material allows the brick to breathe by quickly evaporating any moisture it absorbs. It’s also highly durable. The only drawback is that acrylic latex may show accumulated dirt more than other painting materials.
Two Other Options:
Limewash
Limewash is a watered-down paint that gives brick walls a vintage, washed-out look. It’s one of the oldest treatments for brick walls and the distressed, whitewashed final look goes really well with certain home designs. Limewashes may also leave some of the brick exposed and give a beautiful finish rich in character.
Limewash is made from crushed limestone, water, and natural pigments and comes primarily in white and off-white colors. Because of all-natural ingredients, limewash makes a good choice if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly exterior brick paint.
However, it may be challenging to apply limewash correctly so you might want to hire a painting contractor for the job.
Masonry Paint
This product is designed specifically for brick, stone, stucco, and concrete surfaces. It’s non-absorbent and breathable, making it a good choice for brick houses. Masonry paints are also resistant to mildew and mold issues and offer a high level of protection against UV damage and weather degradation.
This mineral-based paint also binds to the brick well enough to create a durable and permeable coating for many years to come. You can get masonry paints in a multitude of colors for a solid, contemporary look.
Do You Need a Primer Before Paint?
Yes, properly preparing the surface for your first coat is important. Brick or masonry primers bond to the brick and cover all the nooks and pores with a protective layer. These specialized primers are generally thin in consistency to help better penetration into the brick’s porous surface.
The primer will bind all loose and chalky material on your brick wall and help maintain the color longer. Brick primers are also more alkaline resistant, which means low chances of alkali burns or discoloration on the wall.
Just like any other surface, if you ignore priming there’s a high chance the paint will chip, peel, swell, and fail overall. Apply the primer with a good-quality synthetic bristle brush or a roller if you’re painting a large area and let it dry completely before topping with paint.
Be sure to treat damage on the brick by white deposits or mildew and let it dry fully before you paint.
Factors to Consider
Brick paints should have certain qualities to give long-lasting, desirable results. Here’s a list of considerations to keep in mind when in the market for brick paints.
Durability
If you have to choose between aesthetics and durability, pick durability. Look for a paint that can handle outdoor elements well. It should resist damage from UV rays, mold, stains, and mildew.
Prep Time
Research the ease of application and surface prep time for the paint you’re considering. Does this particular paint require your brick to have texture? Or can it work with textured bricks? This is especially an important concern when you’re painting old brick homes.
VOC and Odor
VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals added to all solvent-based and a few water-based paints to improve their spoilage times, lifespan, and texture.
It’s important to check the VOC of the paint you are buying because it can be a health and environmental hazard. VOCs contain fungicides and biocides that are toxic to humans and the atmosphere. When you apply the paint to a surface, these VOCs evaporate. Breathing in VOCs can cause nausea, headaches, or dizziness and the symptoms may escalate if there isn’t adequate ventilation.
Look for low-VOC or VOC-free paints with minimal (less than 50 grams per liter) or zero VOCs to limit your and the environment’s exposure to harmful chemicals.
Finish
Take into account your desired finish, method of application, and surface preparation when choosing a paint. You can choose from options such as high-gloss, matte, or luster for your brick exterior.
According to EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP), you should only use lead-safe certified paint on masonry surfaces. So don’t forget to check that!
Additives
Does your paint have a primer or do you need to apply one before the paint?
Coverage from a primer followed by a paint is different from coverage of a paint with primer. Paints including primer are easier and quicker to apply but the finish is better if you apply primer and paint separately.
We suggest testing a sample of the paint (either type) to see how it does on your home’s bricks and decide accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many coats of paint does brick need?
One to 2 coats of paint are sufficient for all new brick surfaces. However, you might want additional coats if the area is susceptible to mildew or efflorescence.
How long does paint last on bricks?
An average paint job can last for 5 to 8 years but may last a decade if cared for diligently.
What type of primer is best for brick homes?
Use a specialty primer specifically formulated for bricks. They are usually latex masonry or alkali-resistant primers.
What is the easiest way to paint a brick house? Can I DIY?
Brick has a lot of texture and you need the applicator to fully cover all the ups and downs on the surface. The most efficient way to apply paint to brick is to use a paint sprayer, but a roller works fine too. And yes, it can be a fun DIY project if you have some experience of painting exterior house surfaces.
Final Word
The reddish-brown color and old-school charm of unpainted brick may fade with time. The good news is that you can paint bricks with relative ease and in whatever exterior paint color you like.
However, you need the right paint for the unique texture and personality of brick. And understanding the different available paint types will help you make a better decision. If you’re having a hard time researching for your painting project, simply contact a pro for help.
Main Photo Credit: mirsad sarajlic / Canva Pro / License
