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Do you do it, or not? I really want to paint my 1950 red brick cottage (880 sq. ft.) to give it a new look. I’ve always loved painted brick. There are many painted brick homes here in Winston-Salem, NC.
But many folks seem to argue that painting brick: 1) defeats the purpose of a maintenance free exterior by creating a surface that will eventually have to be re-painted and/or 2)will introduce other maintenance headaches such as blocking the passage of water vapor out of the house and through the walls.
So, yea or nay? And, if you say yea, should I paint before or after I have the roof, windows, doors, and trim replaced (which is also on my agenda)?
Thanks so much for your thoughts.
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Don't do it! You'll ruin the whole thing!!! Sorry to burst your bubble but painted brick houses are a nuisance and an eye sore.
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Future maintenance, spelled with a capital $.
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To add balance to what everyone else is saying GO AHEAD. Brick holds paint well and after the first paintjob is relatively easy to topcoat.
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Are you insane? Please don't do it.You will regret it to your dieing day if ever you live so long.
Good Luck,Stephen
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I'm with Pete. Painted brick has a charm all its own and has been done long enough to have a(n?) historical precedent. Check with a GOOD paint dealer, but I think latex would be the way to go as it's more breathable than oil. The paint job will last much longer than on most other substrates, and modest fading and staining can even look nice. I would do the painting after the other work, mostly because it might get scuffed up during the subsequent work, but also because some of the replacement work might not line up exactly with the old stuff and you'd have to go back and touch-up.
Pick a pretty color, too:)
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Whether its proper or not depends on your viewpoint but let me say this about what paint to use. way back in the 60's I was working for the dear ol father in law and he decided to paint his motel building which was dark brick and he being VERY frugal (read really really tight)bought the cheapest interior latex he could find. As I remembe it was around $3 a gallon in five gallon pails. Well I put two coats on with a thick roller and it lasted 20 years before repainting. This is in Colorado-not much rain but heavy sunshine. go figure.
*First thought is that painting your brick would have a detrimental effect on your property value. Brick homes carry a premium price on the market and you are looking to eliminate the primary reason why.If you become hell bent on painting it anyhow, be certain that it is not glazed brick, the paint will not last. Then again if it is a very rough faced brick it will be anything but fun to paint and nearly impossible to do with a roller, you'll need to use a sprayer. Pressure wash brick first, be certain all mortar joints are in good shape and then use latex exterior paint. If the brick is very pourous or rough then use a blockfiller type paint.For the record, I hate to give such fine advice when I am hoping that you will not paint it at all. Many of those old brick homes you see painted were painted because they either were tuckpointed sloppily or had paint drips all over them from trim work being painted....so owners just painted the whole damn place. Others were painted because they were built with a god awful color brick from the 60's or 70's.Voting for brick,Pete Draganic
*Hey. . . if yer gonna paint, don't be shy. . . make a splash!!!Neighbours of mine when I was a kid were immigrant Portugesei (no racial/ethnic slurs implied or intended!!!)just off the boat from a rural life.Two families (11 people including grandparents) moved into the little brick bungalow next door. Both working men got jobs as caretakers for the local school board. . . seemed to have access to endless part cans of paintLovingly painted their brick i many colours,brick by brick!!! Sea Foam, Yellow, Green, Blue, etc. . .. I kid you not!!!!One family moved on a year later, and the owners eventually sided it with aluminum when they couldn't sell. . . only time I've ever seen an improvement with aluminum !!!-pm
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Do you do it, or not? I really want to paint my 1950 red brick cottage (880 sq. ft.) to give it a new look. I've always loved painted brick. There are many painted brick homes here in Winston-Salem, NC.
But many folks seem to argue that painting brick: 1) defeats the purpose of a maintenance free exterior by creating a surface that will eventually have to be re-painted and/or 2)will introduce other maintenance headaches such as blocking the passage of water vapor out of the house and through the walls.
So, yea or nay? And, if you say yea, should I paint before or after I have the roof, windows, doors, and trim replaced (which is also on my agenda)?
Thanks so much for your thoughts.