How to Paint Brick Houses

Most home experts agree that painting a brick house is difficult, time consuming and destroys the classic look of real brick. Experts at This Old House and HGTV.com do not recommend painting brick houses. Still, these same experts do agree that there are times when painting a brick house is necessary. For example, the bricks may be damaged, and painting will hide their poor condition. In addition, there may be homeowners who simply do not like the look of real bricks and wish to lighten up the home by painting the bricks white; something that is common in areas in the Southern United States. If you need or want to paint your brick house, be sure to follow the steps below to get the best result.

Things You'll Need

• Outdoor latex primer
• Outdoor latex paint
• Paint sprayer
• Painter's tape
• Tarp or sheets
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Clean the bricks. This is very important. You need to make sure you have washed every ounce of dirt, moss, mold, effervescence and cobwebs off of the bricks. Consider renting a pressure washer to make sure you get all the gunk out of every nook and cranny.

2. Protect the non-brick areas. Cover up any windows, gutters, trims and other areas that you do not want paint to get on. This includes a porch floor. Use newspaper, tarp, old sheets and painter's tape.

3. Prime the bricks with a 100 percent acrylic outdoor latex primer. If you can, purchase or rent a paint sprayer. This will ensure that the bricks are evenly primed. The better the primer, the easier the paint will go on, so do not hesitate to splurge on a second coat of primer if needed. Work from the top down, completely covering a 2-foot square section of the wall before moving on. Let dry completely.

4. Paint the bricks. Again, use a 100 percent latex outdoor paint. Latex allows air in and will let the bricks "breathe," which discourages mold growth. Use a paint sprayer and apply the paint exactly as you did the primer. Let dry completely and add a second coat if needed.

5. Finish off the rest of your home by painting any wood trim to match the new brick color. It is best to use a brush rather than the sprayer for wood trims.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you love the paint color; once paint is on the bricks, it is very difficult to remove.

Resources

• Where to Buy Primer and Paint.