How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Brick House?
Paint is the final defense for your home. Without the protective qualities of paint, it's easy for moisture and insects to enter the siding and start to damage both your home's structure and its contents.
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But there are more advantages to painting than sealing and protecting. Fresh residential painting puts the finishing aesthetic touch on your home's exterior, bumps up curb appeal, and helps your home maintain its value. A new exterior paint job will actually increase your home's value. As you can see, the cost of painting a house is definitely a worthwhile expenditure.
The national average price range to paint a brick house is between $1.40 to $4.50 a square foot. However, the cost varies state-by-state.
In Colorado expect to pay from $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot of wall space. If you're ready to paint your brick home but aren't sure about the expense, this article breaks down the many cost factors for you.
Breaking Down the Cost of Painting a Brick House
Let's take a look at all of the costs that add up to the total expense of painting a brick house. This article is aimed at brick exterior painting, but if you're planning on an interior brick painting project, your costs will be based on the square feet of wall space, materials, paint, and labor. For DIY, subtract labor costs, overhead, and profit. Here's the breakdown:
Labor
Ranging from $250 to $600 per day per painter, labor includes planning and setting up the job, prepping, painting, and clean-up. Prep is complex and includes everything from removing old paint, caulking, masking, and minor repairs. The average brick paint job requires 3 painters for 3 days. At $350 per painter per day, the labor cost would be $3,150.
Pressure Washing
If pressure washing is required, and it usually is when new paint is applied, expect to pay from $250 to $500.
Materials
Sundries such as brushes, rollers, trays, tape, caulk, respirators, masking, and drop cloths, will add up to about $200 to $300.
Primer and Paint
Paint and primer costs vary considerably. Just remember – you get what you pay for! In general, 1 gallon of primer and 1 gallon of paint will cover 250 square feet.
Primer: A brick primer can range from $15 to $50 per gallon. To cover 2,000 square feet of wall, primer could cost from $120 to $400.
Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint: Cost ranges from $30 to $70 per gallon. To cover 2,000 square feet of wall with one coat, your paint would range from $240 to $560.00. For two coats, paint would cost from $480 to $1,120.
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Factors That Affect the Cost of Painting a Brick House
Check out these factors that play into the total cost of painting a brick house:
Size of House
The square footage and the number of stories are major factors that affect the cost. The larger the home, the more time is required to paint which adds up to increased labor costs. According to homeguide.com, expect to pay up to 50% more for painting a multi-story brick house.
Paint Type
Use a high-quality exterior masonry paint for painting brick. Avoid cheap paints – you won't save money in the long run. Sherwin Williams Loxon XP is an industry leading masonry paint.
Brick Age and Condition
New brick is extremely absorbent so requires more paint than previously painted brick. Older brick, in poor condition, may require repair. Brick repairs range from $20 to $50 per square foot. Homes built in the 1950s with textured brick require much more prep, labor, time, and paint.
Brick Preparation
Careful prep is the key to any quality paint job. Brick is certainly no exception. The brick must be completely cleaned, any damage repaired, and all failing joints tuck pointed. Tuck pointing is a trade performed by a professional mason that would happen prior to painting.
Permits and Other Costs
Depending on where you live, you may need a permit to paint or install scaffolding. If you live in a homeowners' association, be sure to check with your HOA about permits or fees before painting. Our exterior painting services can guide you if you have questions about permits and fees in the metro Denver area.
Seasonal Demand
Because of work demand, you'll pay more to have your house painted in spring and summer.
How to Calculate the Cost of Painting a Brick House
This calculator allows you to enter your zip code and square footage to get an idea of the various costs associated with painting brick. Notice that the calculator includes factors such as square footage, condition of the brick, labor, and more.
Total Square Feet of Wall Space: Figure the total square feet of brick wall space to be covered with paint. Use this helpful paint amount calculator from Benjamin Moore.
Condition of the Brick: Repairs can add to the final cost. If you're unsure about repair costs, consult with a pro who can estimate the repair cost for you.
Labor: If you have an average size one-story home, figure it will take 3 painters 3 days to paint your brick. With labor costs averaging $350 per day per worker, the total labor cost would be $3,150.
Materials and Supplies: An array of supplies are needed to paint a brick exterior. Some basics include a wire brush, tape, caulk, masks, drop cloths, rollers, and brushes.
Equipment: Professional painters have their own sprayers. They may need to rent scaffolding for multi-story jobs. Rental costs vary and must be obtained from a professional rental company.
Overhead and Profit: A professional company pays taxes, and carries insurance. There’s marketing and office costs as well. Lastly, the owners take a portion of the bottom line. These costs are company dependent and keep everything running effectively and efficiently.
You'll be able to get a good idea of the total costs if you get brick painting estimates from at least three professional painters.
DIY vs. Professional Painting: What's More Cost Effective?
Professional vs DIY painting – each method comes with its own set of pros and cons. You may automatically think that DIY is more cost-effective because you won't be shelling out for labor costs. But you need to figure out renting or buying equipment and tools like a power washer and paint sprayer.
Unless you're a seasoned DIY painting expert, you won't be able to achieve the quality paint job that a pro will do. And quality equates to longevity. A high-quality prep and paint job will be much longer lasting than DIY.
You also need to figure in the time you'll save. A pro can paint an average-sized house in 3 to 4 days. DIY usually takes much longer. You need to recruit friends to help, and figure in taking time off work. If you can only paint on weekends, the prep alone could take an entire weekend, and the painting could take two or three weekends, weather permitting. Is that really how you want to spend your precious weekends?
Bottom line? DIY will save you some money. But in the long run, saving time and getting the highest quality paint job with a long lifespan is what you can expect from professional painters.
Get a Painting Price Estimate With Singletrack Painting
A professional estimate is the most accurate way to find out the exact price for painting your brick house. Before you decide on DIY or professional painting, get a free quote from Singletrack Painting. We take great pride in our workmanship, customer service, and years of experience with exterior and interior brick painting in the Denver metro area. Request an estimate now!
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