Can You Paint a Brick House (and Should You)?

Brick is a popular siding choice among homeowners in the Denver area and throughout the Front Range. From a compact Georgian townhouse to a sprawling mid-century modern, brick is popular because it speaks to a classic timeless look that is beautiful and durable. In addition to its beauty, brick is also easy to maintain, eco-friendly, sustainable, energy efficient, and flame resistant. 

There's a lot to love about a brick house. But even if you appreciate all of its special qualities, maybe you'd like to cover the earthy brownish-red brick with paint. Or, if your brick exterior is aleady painted, it may be time for a refresh. 

One of the easiest and fastest ways to give your brick exterior some visual impact and instantly update your curb appeal is with paint. But, the question is, can you paint a brick house? Read on to find out whether or not you can freshen up your brick exterior with paint.

Can You Paint a Brick House?

Yes, it's quite possible to paint your home's brick exterior. But even though the answer is a defnitie yes, you still can find conflicting and confusing information on the internet about the wisdom of painting brick. 

Like any quality paint job, careful prep and quality materials are keys to a durable, long-lasting finish. After properly preparing the brick exterior, pros use a masonry-specific primer and paint. Sherwin Williams Loxon XP is one of the high-quality masonry-specific paint that professional painters highly recommend for brick exteriors. 

We hope this article will reassure you and give you the confidence to go forward with your brick painting project. If you still have concerns, refer to our exterior painting services. When you trust a pro to paint your exterior brick, you can be assured the result will be beautiful, long-lasting, and durable.

Before you make your final decision, read through the advantages and disadvantages below so you'll feel you're making the right choice. 

Pros and Cons of Painting Brick Walls

While paint is the magic transformer of the home improvement world, you need to understand the pros and cons of painting your brick walls so that you won't regret your decision. 

Pros of Painting a Brick House

• Provides a quick and affordable update to your home's exterior while boosting curb appeal.

• Painting is far easier than changing out the siding and paying for an expensive and time-consuming reno project.

• Paint is an ideal cure for outdated or unattractive architecture. Or, if your home has been clad with ugly bricks, you can easily transform ugly into beautiful with paint.

• Paint adds an extra layer of protection to your substrate, especially in our Denver metro four-season climate. Paint acts as a sealant to keep out rain, snow, and ice. 

Cons of Painting a Brick Home

• Increased maintenance. Brick doesn't show dirt like a painted surface will. If your brick is painted, you may need to clean it more often because the paint will show dirt, debris, mold, and mildew. You'll need to power wash the painted exterior on a regular basis to keep it clean and fresh-looking.

• Paint is permanent. Brick absorbs paint into its porous texture so it's costly and time-consuming to remove if you decide you want to go back to the original brick.

• Should you paint a brick house of historical value? Regulations established by an historical society or neighborhood association may prevent you from being able to paint. Or if your home is built from coveted salvaged brick it may be far too special to paint. In those cases, think of alternative ways to liven up your home such as painting shutters, trim, or your front door.

Expert Painters Just a Click Away – Get a Quote from Singletrack Painting Today!

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Brick House?

The national average to paint 2,000 square feet of exterior brick wall space ranges from $3,000 to $9,000 or from $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot. According to HomeGuide, pricing will depend on the number of stories, labor required, the condition of the brick, prep, your geographic location, and the all-important paint type.

Painting a brick house is more expensive compared to the cost to paint a house clad with other siding materials. Brick is porous and absorbent so more paint is required for proper coverage. Also, a masonry-specific paint is more expensive than standard exterior paint. In the Denver metro area, you can expect to pay from $2 to $4.50 per square foot to paint your brick siding. 

What Are the Best Colors to Paint a Brick House?

There’s so many beautiful colors to choose from! However, muted, toned-down hues are a better choice for brick exteriors than saturated colors. The Sherwin Williams Color Snap Visualizer is a fun and informative way to get a good idea of how a hue will look on your home. Check out trending colors from Sherwin Williams like Pure White or Shoji White. Other popular creamy off-whites that are beautiful on brick are White Dove and Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. 

Although whites and creams are timeless colors, if subtle drama is your goal, consider Benjamin Moore's Soot, or Sherwin Williams' Cast Iron or Pewter Cast. These rich colors are dramatic and eye-catching especially with creamy white window and fascia trim.

Ready to Transform Your Brick Walls? 

If you're in Denver or the Front Range and ready to bring your vision into reality, a professional residential painting company can help you achieve your dreams. From power washing or rinsing to prep and precise painting,

Singletrack Painting provides expert exterior brick painting that will upgrade and transform your home. If you have questions about our range of services, or would like a complimentary estimate, contact Singletrack today!

Discover More Educational Resources