Painting Bricks

Painting Bricks

For anyone who is a true grammar aficionado, no we are not talking about bricks that paint in this blog, but rather about whether or not painting the bricks on your home is a good idea! It seems only fitting that since we talked about painting vinyl siding last month, we should talk about painting the exterior bricks of your home this month. If you’re curious about whether you CAN paint bricks or SHOULD paint bricks… read on!

We’ll be the first to admit, painting bricks on a home isn’t something we see too often but when we do, it can make for a stunning transformation, taking an older home to “new again” in the blink of an eye. So in answer to the question about whether a brick home can be painted, the answer is emphatically YES!

As with so many things in life however, painting bricks is a particular challenge and is almost always best done by a team of professionals like our crew here at Harbor Painting. That’s because masonry, for those in the know, actually performs a function for your home in addition to just providing a strong, visually appealing exterior. It breathes! The brickwork on your home is designed to both “breathe” expelling moisture as well as to absorb moisture meaning brick is porous. Painting over the brickwork MUST take this into account and choosing the RIGHT kind of paint is crucial.

Some Things to Consider:

Pros

1. Even though masonry is specifically designed to hold in colour, depending on the age of your home and the sun and exposure to the elements, it can fade over time and/or have damages such as minor chips and cracks. Painting bricks will instantly boost the curb appeal of your home and may even increase its value.
2. If done properly, and chips, cracks and minor repairs are done BEFORE painting, you’ll be left with a smooth surface that’s easy to keep clean by a simple occasional power wash.
3. Painting bricks can also actually help protect your home from the elements, provided the correct paint is used that is!

Cons:

1. We don’t like to dwell on the negative but we’d be remiss if we didn’t share that once you have painted a home – it must remain painted! You can certainly change your mind on the colour but painted brick is virtually permanent. The process for trying to remove paint is costly and not always successful so if you are considering painting, make sure you are 100% committed!

If You Decide To Paint:

1. Recognize that this is a big commitment and it’s a big job too. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, like any undertaking you will want to plan and prepare properly, have all the right tools and equipment in place and then paint.
2. Harbor Painting professionals recommend a thorough examination of the exterior of your home is done first; looking for cracks, chips in the mortar, mold and mildew and/or dirt accumulation.
3. Complete any minor repairs that arise from this examination.
4. Power washing is next and an important step in the process to ensure that you are working with a clean and damage free surface.
5. The choice of paint is critical. It must be exterior grade, masonry appropriate and acrylic to ensure a paint that goes on smoothly, and a finish that adheres to the surface and is easy to keep clean with the occasional power wash. Two coats are an absolute MUST! The specialists at our local Sherwin Williams would be more than happy to help you find the right paint for the project.
6. We provide a five-year warranty on our work – if you’re not doing it yourself, make sure you know what long-term guarantees you can expect around workmanship and durability from your painter.

Painting bricks IS possible. As with so many things in life however, to ensure a good result, you need the job to be done right, the first time. Harbor Painting Owner Danny Samuelson has been in the industry for a number of years and his dedication to each project is to not only “bring your vision to life,” but to also “develop a lasting relationship you can rely on.” He explains:

“Our team will take the time to educate you about the job at hand and discuss any upkeep that may be required to protect the surface over time. We’ll use the right products (we know our products inside and out) and guarantee our work will be done right, the first time.”

With a guarantee like that and safe in the knowledge that you CAN paint brick – all you have to do now is decide what colour! Contact us to get started!