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angel_powell

Painted brick exterior - help!

11 years ago

We've recently purchased a 1969 brick ranch. We renovated the interior but now the exterior needs attention. I'm thinking of a grey painted brick with trim a couple of shades darker, but I can't figure out where the different colors should go. For example, the 1/2 covered converted garage door, the wood trim, the window trim, etc. Which gets painted what color? And is grey the right choice? Any thoughts appreciated.

Comments (20)

  • 11 years ago

    I like your current colors. They work nicely with the brick.

    Angel Powell thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks for your advice!


  • 11 years ago
    keep your brick and paint color they work well together.
    I can't see your front door, but that is where you could add a new color ( not grey.)
    Replacing the the over grown shrubs would open the entry way and you can add color with variegated foliage and flowering shrubs. A colorful planter could camouflage the garage built in area.
    Take pictures to a good local nursery for advice. Some will charge a design fee but reimburse it if you buy plants.
  • 11 years ago

    Paint front door a green,blue, yellow, orange, navy. It is the jewel of the house.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    I have a very similar brick on one of my homes. Take a look at Sherwin Williams Dovetail gray. Paint all siding and garage doors gray, use white on the trim, fascia and windows. You will need accents. Install large address numbers (nickel finish) on the right side of the garage door. A large Satin Nickel light would look good between the garage doors. The left side of the house also needs more color. Add very plain shutters on the 2 double windows, scale is very important therefore use cardboard templates to determine the size. I would plant a columnar shrub or ornamental tree in front of the smaller window. all the best.

  • 11 years ago
    I don't know where you live but I'm in West Texas and a lot of people here paint, or have painted, their brick. If you use the right colors ( 1 for brick, 1 for trim) it can really make a house look more up to date. I think the brick you have is fine, but I also think it looks dated. If you have updated/remodeled the inside then I would do the outside. There's a color that is sort of a brown tone gray that looks great with black trim, or about 3 shades darker in same color pallet as house.
    Behr exterior
    Historical Ruins
    Confederate
    Dusty Olive
    Still Gray
    Incognito
  • 11 years ago

    Painted the brick on my house last year, be sure to get expert advice, not all paints are suitable and can damage the bricks. Costly lesson.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Did a project not long ago where we painted a brick house. It was an all white brick...we used Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray (HC-169) for the brick. We trimmed it with Benjamin Moore Chantilly lace (OC-65). The doors and shutters were painted Benjamin Moore Black ... The client loved it...

    Trailwood · More Info

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Never paint brick. It takes away the ability of the masonry to breathe. You trap moisture in behind the paint which causes mold, mildew, and other problems. You do't have that many brick on that house, so if it's brick a veneer, just remove the brick veneer, and pick out some new brick in a color that you like. Another option would be to use a masonry dye, which can change the color, but allow masonry to continue to breathe.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Please don't think about the brick work with the Brick there are a lot of good qualities about that you can use start with the rest of the house colors and the garage door and go from there also hire a landscape architect

  • 11 years ago

    Would definitely paint the garage doors.

  • 11 years ago

    Landscape using smaller plants. Those big ones overpower your house, and add shutters to those three windows. Hard to tell the color of your brick but black might go nicely if you have some in your brick.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Cont... You should use Potassium Silicate Paint for masonry. Another option would be stucco.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    HI -- YES , you can paint brick !! There is special paint for masonry such as concrete and stucco and brick . It lets the brick breathe . You just have to make sure you don't want to go back to the brick , that's all . It will not peal or blister or flake off . I have had it on my stucco house for almost thirty years and it is still in great shape . So if you want to paint the brick , then do it . People who say you can't or should not paint brick are sadly behind the times . There is paint made for everything these days . If you do go ahead , it works better to spray it on.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    this is my house down south i was referring too

  • 11 years ago

    I have a painted brick home. I think brick can be lovely painted, especially if you aren't a fan of the brick color you already have. Do what you want with it, as long as you pull into your driveway and smile, who cares if you have to paint once in a while.

  • 11 years ago

    New garage doors that echo the window pattern would help create some balance. I am on the fence about painting the brick, my gut says to go with it v. against it, maybe by using white as paint trim color and adding simple trim work beneath the windows.

  • 11 years ago
    Imo, NICE brick NEVER goes out of style. And you have nice brick!
  • 11 years ago

    Painted brick is popular in Georgia, we are considering it as well. (our brick is not attractive and only on front of house) I say if you want to paint it get a reliable contractor and do it.

    Since you have brick and siding next to each other on the front, the painted brick can make the house look larger and more cohesive. My suggestion is to consider your roof color before you decide on your paint colors. Sherwin Williams has a nice site that you can upload a photo and try colors on your house. I have found it helpful in looking at the painted brick option.

    Good luck!