Should I Paint My Brick House?

Are you thinking about painting your brick house? If so, you probably have a lot of questions. What is involved in this type of painting project? Is it the best choice for your home’s exterior? Check out these facts about painting a brick house to help you make this important decision.

Factors Involved in Painting a Brick House

You may be under the impression that painting a brick house is about the same as painting a home made of wood or that has vinyl siding. But, there are some special considerations to take into account when painting brick as opposed to other types of material.

The Condition of the Brick

The brick of your home has to be in good condition before it can be painted. Painting brick that’s chipped, cracked or otherwise damaged will not cover those flaws. The cracks and breaks on a brick allow moisture inside it which adds to the problem. Consequently, painting the brick only makes the damage look worse. An experienced residential painting contractor has the know-how, the supplies and the equipment to repair, clean and dry any damaged brick on your home before painting it. This is one of the big advantages of turning to a brick painting company when you decide to paint your brick home.

Using the Proper Type of Paint

The type of paint used on brick has to be designed for this porous surface or it will not last. Imagine painting your brick home only to find out that the paint is not appropriate for the surface! This is where it’s a good idea to hire a professional residential painting contractor who has experience painting brick homes. Experienced brick painters know the type of paint as well as the type of primer needed for your home. In addition, a professional painter can advise you on colors that would look appealing on your beloved brick home. You want the painting work on your brick home to look beautiful and last for many years.

Paint on Brick is Permanent

One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that once you put paint on brick it’s there permanently. If you’re not certain you want to commit to this permanent change, you may want to think about smaller upgrades to your home’s exterior. You may want to start by having the trim or shutters on your home painted. Painting the garage door or even the front door can make a big difference in the look of your home’s exterior as well. Think about starting small if you’re not sure about the project of having your brick home painted. You can be thinking about painting your entire home as you make these subtle changes to jazz up your home’s exterior.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Painting a Brick Home

Weighing the benefits as well as the drawbacks of painting your brick home can be helpful in making a decision you’re happy with.

The Benefits

Maybe your home looks very similar to all of the others on your street. You’d like to find some way to make your home more unique. Well, painting your brick home can make it a standout not only on your street, but on the block! If you have orange or red brick now, painting your home a bright white is sure to draw new attention to your place. If you plan to sell, this change can be just the thing that attracts prospective buyers to your home. A bright white brick home paired with black shutters can convey a dramatic appearance from the street.

On a practical note, the paint put onto the bricks of your home serves as a sealant against rain, snow and other types of moisture served up in the weather forecast. This keeps your home looking its best. In addition, the right type of paint won’t fade giving your home a fresh look for years.

Painted brick is easy to maintain. You can use a power washer to remove dirt and debris from your painted brick helping to preserve its attractive appearance. Alternatively, unpainted brick has a tendency to attract mildew and debris that detracts from its appearance.

The Drawbacks

For some homeowners, the permanency is the main drawback to painting their brick home. They aren’t absolutely sure they’ll like the brick painted. As a note, a professional painter can change the color of your painted brick home if you’d like to refresh its look. So, you can start out with one color and change it to a deeper hue or change the color completely when it suits you.

Another drawback to painting a brick home is the paint does need to be maintained over the years. Moisture can make cracks in paint and cause it to deteriorate. So, the home needs to be repainted about every 7 to 10 years in order to keep it looking its best.

The exterior of a painted brick home needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Dirt, dust and stains show up clearly on paint detracting from the look of your home. But, cleaning a painted brick home is a simple task with a power washer. There are professionals who can power wash your home for a reasonable price so you can avoid the task yourself.

Why It Makes Sense to Leave This Painting Work to the Professionals

If you decide you’d like to give your brick home a brand-new color, our expert staff at LRM Painting in Macomb County MI is up to the task! We can take a look at your home’s exterior and sit down with you to talk about the colors you’re interested in. Or, if you aren’t sure which color you’d like, we can advise you on colors we’ve used that would look beautiful on your home. We know that painting a home is a big project so we can work with you on the most convenient time to undertake the project. Our experienced and knowledgeable brick painters have the tools, quality paints, materials and other supplies to make your home take on a gorgeous new look!