Painting exterior brick can be a great way to enhance the curb appeal of your home. From increasing its resale value to offering more design options, painting brick offers several advantages.
However, there are some potential drawbacks that you should consider before beginning the job. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of painting exterior brick.
Advantages of Painting Exterior Brick
The most obvious advantage of painting exterior brick is increased curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint can make your home stand out from the rest on the block, giving it an updated, modern look. This not only makes your house look better, but it also has the potential to increase its resale value as well due to its improved aesthetics.
Painting brick also offers protection from extreme weather conditions like moisture and ultraviolet rays that can cause damage over time.
A good paint job will protect your home from these elements while providing an extra layer of insulation against temperature extremes in both hot and cold climates. Finally, you have the option to customize your home’s look with various colors, textures, and design options that will improve its overall appearance.
Disadvantages of Painting Exterior Brick
While painting exterior brick does offer some advantages, there are potential drawbacks that you should consider as well.
One potential drawback to painting exterior brick is finding the right color for your project. Matching paint colors can be difficult if you are trying to match an existing color scheme or recreate a specific style or look for your home’s exterior walls.
The most important issue to address is the fact that paint will eventually fade over time and need to be reapplied periodically. This can be a costly and labor-intensive task depending on the size of your home, so it’s important to factor this into the costs of painting.
In addition, some people worry about the potential for paint to trap moisture and cause damage to bricks over time. Improper preparation or application techniques can lead to damage to bricks if not done correctly; this includes failure to repair cracked or chipped bricks before applying paint as well as failure to use the correct materials when sealing them before painting begins.
Finally, some paint colors and finishes may not be compatible with the brick’s natural color palette. Before painting, it is a good idea to experiment with different colors to make sure that the final result will look right on your home.
Painting Exterior Brick Correctly
Painting exterior brick correctly is an essential task for several reasons.
Not only does the right paint job provide necessary protection against humidity, weather, and other elements, but it also helps to improve the overall aesthetic of the building.
Understanding how best to apply paint can make all the difference in achieving a lasting and attractive result.
The most important considerations are surface preparation, selecting appropriate paints and colors, and applying multiple layers of coatings with ample drying time in between.
Begin by pressure washing your brick with a pad attachment to remove any dirt or debris. Next, apply an acrylic primer to ensure that the paint sticks to the surface and finishes with one or two coats of high-quality latex paint.
To make sure your painted brick lasts and looks good over time, choose products that are mildew resistant and have fade-resistance characteristics.
Conclusion
There are many advantages and some potential drawbacks to consider when deciding whether or not painting exterior brick is right for you.
While it may offer enhanced curb appeal, increased resale value, and greater protection from weather extremes—it’s important to weigh all factors carefully before starting any project so that you end up with results that are satisfactory and long-lasting.
Author Bio
My name is Chris Ross, I’m a professional painter and entrepreneur and the owner of Painterportstlucie.com where I write about everything in the painting business, from how to start a painting business to the best equipment to use.