Replies

1. 
   BryanSayer | Feb 19, 2008 08:26pm | #1

   Don't.

   Brick is not designed to be painted. In my opinion, painted brick always looks bad for this reason.

   And there are issue of vapor permeability, re-pointing mortar, etc.

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Feb 19, 2008 08:32pm | #2

   Good point.The brick I have has a rough surface (as opposed to the hard shiny surface of other types of brick) I think it would hold the paint okay.I'm going to buy the best quality and highest priced paint.I bought this house five years ago and I noticed my next door neighbor had painted his house. It seems to be holding up okay.Around here I think a lot of people paint the blonde brick color just to try to improve the curb appealThanks again.

1. 
   peteshlagor | Feb 20, 2008 04:06am | #3

   You've seen me post this about concrete resurfacing & such.  But I'd bet a dollar it'd work on brick.  And maintain your breathability.  Any color you want.  Spray, brush, roll, whatever.

   http://www.miracote.com/index.php?href=productdetail&id=16

    

1. 
   mrfixitusa | Feb 20, 2008 05:07am | #4

   Thanks for the info - I've noticed several brick homes that were painted a light yellow or creme color and they really looked good.The trim was painted white and the house was a vast improvement.Thanks again for the information.

1. 
   BarryE | Feb 20, 2008 05:23am | #5

   Painted brick many times, didn't always want to but in a few cases it was justifiedDepends on the look you want, but for rough brick i would use a latex masonry primer and backroll to even the surface out. Finish with 2 coats of 100% acrylic exterior. A step up would be an elastomeric paint for the topcoat, still using the masonry primerWith old brick, don't neglect the prep work

   Barry E-Remodeler

    

2. 
   Stuart | Feb 20, 2008 05:27am | #6

   There's some exposed brick on my sun porch, on the back side of the fireplace in the living room.  A previous owner of this house decided that section of brick would look better painted...unfortunately, that was in about 1972, so instead of the beautiful exposed brick that's on the rest of the fireplace and chimney, this part is lime green.

   The point is, what may look good to you today may not look so good to someone else ten years from now, and there's no turning back once it's been painted.

3. 
   Jim_Allen | Feb 20, 2008 07:46pm | #7

   I like a lot of the painted brick if it is done well and a good color is used. All too often, people become attached to the brick simply because it is brick. Quite frankly, there is a lot of brick that should not have been laid. There is a lot of ugly brick and old dated brick certainly doesn't impress me.

   Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

1. 
   Henley | Feb 22, 2008 02:10am | #8

   There certainly is some ugly brick out there. But more often then not I think painted brick is a classic remuddle. It would have to be certified ugly for me to take that plunge.

   Edited 2/22/2008 7:41 am ET by Henley