The Best Paint for BrickKeep in mind that exterior and interior walls should be treated differently, because exterior brick comes into contact with ground elements. The Brick Industry Association also advises using a porous paint for exterior brick walls, so the brick can breathe. "Choosing a high-quality paint is vital for painting brick successfully," says Watson. Both Watson and Crocker recommend using specific masonry paint products for painting brick, starting out with a conditioner and a primer, and then using a breathable latex exterior or interior paint, like Sherwin-Williams' SuperPaint Acrylic Latex.Zumeta recommends looking into having your brick professionally stained, rather than painted. Although it can be more expensive, a brick stain penetrates the pores of the brick, unlike paint, which simply sits on the surface. It creates new color without some of the long-term risks that come with paint. More: How to Paint Brick Like a Pro