Some homeowners cringe at the prospect of painting over their home’s brick exterior, preferring to maintain its original character and style. Others may be open for change. If you’re one of the latter, before you paint over your home’s brickwork, consider these four things.
If you really like your style of brick
You love your home, but does its brick exterior really appeal to you, or are you simply tolerating it because the house otherwise has everything you want? Is your brick too red, or too orange? Does its quality look somewhat on the cheapish side? Is your home’s exterior in need of some architectural interest? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, painting your brick may be the move for you.
Choosing a timeless color
Generally, when you paint a surface, you’re not married to the color. If you grow tired of it after a few years you can always repaint. Painting your exterior brick, however, is more of a commitment—there are chemicals to remove the paint, but the bricks will never look quite the same. So be sure to choose a color you love that can stand the test of time. Consider muted hues over saturated pigments. Neutrals like off-white, grey, beige, and greige (grey and beige) can be instant classics.
If you want to paint just because it’s trendy
Think of painting a brick home as a solution for an outdated or unattractive appearance, and not something to do simply because you think it’s in. If you’ve got an English cottage-style home, or a colonial, and feel the brick is pretty, strongly consider leaving it as it is.
Other options
Maybe it’s not really your brick exterior that could use a change. Before you decide to paint, consider other cosmetic modifications to your home’s exterior. Altering the color of your front door, or painting your shutters, siding, and window trim, can contribute to a refreshed look. Pressure washing a roof that’s streaked with algae can give it a new appearance. All of these options can rejuvenate the exterior of your home and give it the oomph it may need.
