Hi Betsy,

Are your shingles are gray... I'd consider Benjamin Moore OC-52 Gray Owl. If the shingles are more blue gray take a look at Benjamin Moore AF-690 Metropolitian. I believe you could go a bit darker with the gray shingles and use Benjamin Moore AF-700 Storm; or with the blue gray shingles consider Benjamin Moore #2131-40 Smokestack Gray. Take an after photo once you have the work done.

Good Luck.

Jane

Can't resist the urge not to answer your question. I'm with Betsy. Why paint a natural, textured material that's going to require regular maintenance and expense? There are a couple things you could do to liven up the façade:

--Paint all the white trim and eaves gray to tie it to the roof.

--Paint both your doors teal, cobalt blue, gray, or black.

--Line up colorful potted plants under your windows and flanking the entryway, including a couple pots the color of your door.

--Get some great black house numerals for the left of the door.

My mistake Susan, I didn't see your name as the home owner. I still would paint the brick, the products today are long lasting and don't require a lot of other work. If professional painters do the entire job, you shouldn't have concerns.

Yes, definately paint your doors a deeper colour in Benjamin Moore, Grand Entrance product which could be tinted in any colour you select to work with the brick colour. Landscaping is also an important part of your project; hire a Landscape Architect or get your local nursery to do a new plan for you and work in the next few years to add some variety of colour in lower shrubs and flowerbeds to the front of your home.

Painted brick is an upkeep nightmare I have one of these long ranchers and I wish mine was brick I have old 50’s style stucco and siding

I suggest a warm taupe - sort of the lightest color you see in the tree trunks.

The varied tone of the brick give depth and interest to the home. Negating that with one flat maintenance intensive paint color would really bring the look down.

I wouldn't paint unless the brick is ruined in some way, but I disagree that the look is bad. It can be spiff!

I'm in the category of don't paint the brick. Your house doesn't even have that much brick visible with the beautiful windows in front. The driveway looks shabby and maybe needs resurfacing, and the house is lacking interesting and colorful landscaping. Before you paint do a search for homeowners trying to remove paint from bricks - it is not a decision easily reversible. Embrace the brick and improve the landscaping and it will be lovely.

I would not recommend painting the brick.

Yes, to spending the budget on driveway resurfacing--maybe a gray the color of the roof?

I had a painted brick house. The maintenance was evil. And honestly, your brick is very nice. To liven up the house, I'd invest in some hardscaping around the front door. And I'd paint the front door a punchy colour- maybe a bright blue. Right now the entry for people looks much less important than the entry for cars.

Please don't paint your brick. It is very attractive the way it is. I would consider changing shingles, painting trim a different color, adding trim, changing or painting front door to to give the home a different look. Changing landscaping, putting down textured/patterned concrete would give the home some more pop.

Ask any bricklayer and you'll hear of the horrors of painting brick. It's not just maintenance, it's that the paint holds moisture against the brick and hastens a process called spalling: http://chimneytek.com/spalling-brickwork-why-it-happens-how-to-fix-it/.

Even if painting weren't problematic, I wouldn't do it - your brick house is charming!

If you decide against painting, brick can be stained. There is special brick stain.

I read the article about spalling but it does not say that painting brick is a factor in spalling.

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. The brick is one color, not as mottled as the picture, and there is a lot more of it the picture doesn't show. I have a courtyard to the left of the carport and another bedroom to the right. The landscaping does need an overhaul, I agree. Can a driveway be skimmed with concrete to refurbish? It is a circular driveway so continues through the carport and is not pretty on other side also.

Yes, I believe the driveway can be skimmed. Try a medium charcoal color. If you work on your landscaping as well, paint the doors bright colors, you may look at the brick differently. For the money you save on not painting it, get a landscape designer from a local nursery to help you plan your front landscaping. Good luck!

Great home. Please, don't paint the brick. If you are wanting a change, paint the doors and any other wood siding or trim but not the brick. The kitchen door off the carport could be painted the same color as the rest of the wood siding or trim and then use a bold color for the front door.

If you're wanting to add more curb appeal, you might could add a forward facing gable over the door and with an equal width added on each side of it. You might could even extend that gable beyond the existing front wall to create a 6' deep and 12' wide porch but draw an outline of the size and shape with chalk on your pavement first to ensure it would not interfere with vehicle access to your carport.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/89/06/15/8906153e1f53367c920dd062c0a3640c.jpg

Don't paint brick. The advantage of having a brick home is that it is virtually maintenance free. If you start painting, then you have to keep painting every few years when the paint starts peeling off.

http://www.hgtv.com/shows/fixer-upper/fixer-upper-old-world-charm-for-newlyweds-pictures

This German mortar smear technique is full of character. Last pix show before/after.

I would not paint the brick, there is nothing wrong with the brink. I would spend the money on landscaping which may cost more than painting. But even with painting, the landscape looks like everyone else, rather boring. I would make gardens of shade plants and make the arrival more than just the driveway.

You have a wonderful classic ranch! I would leave the brick as is, and use your funds to work on the drive and landscaping to "soften" the lines (which are now all too straight). Curve the drive close to the house , then add a nice landscaping and a path to the front door. Love the idea of painting the shutters; pick up one of the colors in your landscape. Have fun!