please help! painters are here: should we paint outside brick?

5 years ago

Hi, we are getting the entire outside of our house painted. The house is cedar wood shingles that we are painting bm steel wool gray with white trim. The front porch area has red brick with a black door. Do you think we should keep the brick red or should we paint it the steel wool gray?

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rachelathome

5 years ago

I've posted before, IMO, there is nothing "wrong" about painting brick, we've done it, we know many others who have and it works beautifully, without the upkeep and dreadful things others have warned (who perhaps have not done it themselves?). HOWEVER, with that said, easy does it. Why not paint the siding, live with it, and then make a decision re: painting the brick? Do it next year, giving yourself time to (a) look at other homes with similar situations where brick was painted and (b) look on Houzz for pics of painted brick homes and (c) do research on painting your particular type of brick. Different brick may call for different applications, painting, lime wash or color on front door or light fixtures to tie together as others suggested.

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Comments (9)

branson4020
5 years ago
DON'T PAINT THE BRICK!
tatts
5 years ago
You do NOT paint brick on the spur of the moment!

You do not paint brick without a very, very good reason (and those are very, very few).

That brick suits the house; it establishes the entrance space visually; and it breaks up what would otherwise be an excessive expanse of depressing gray.

TLDR: NO!
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athomeeileen
5 years ago
I love brick, and I never usually think it should be painted. But the color of the siding and the house seem disconnected to me.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
IMO a different color for the siding would have a better choice with that brick
njmomma
5 years ago
Not a Pro.

They can paint the brick last, if you so choose to have it painted.

Have them visually show you how it will look before painting the brick..

Make sure that the paint they use is made for brick.

With all that...... Consider painting the ceiling of your porch area a color, not white, maybe a light blue. Add a new larger light fixture. Consider a different color for your front door.
suzyq53
5 years ago
Instead of painting the brick, you could lime wash more of the individual bricks to lighten it all up more.
emmarene9
5 years ago
I agree with Rachelathome.
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
5 years ago
What she (@rachelathome) said.