Painting Your Brick House Might Be Controversial, But It's Not Hard—How to Do It Right (2025)

One of the simplest ways you can improve the exterior of your home is by painting. While it's more common to paint siding, even if you have a brick exterior you can apply a couple of coats of paint to immediately improve the appearance of the house.

This is the easiest way to paint a brick house.

Inspect the Exterior

Before you begin, it's essential to find out what needs to be done to prepare the home for painting, so you will want to start the process by conduction a thorough inspection of the bricks and mortar.

"Make sure they are in good shape with no cracking or breaking," says Aaron Labedz, owner of CertaPro Painters of Summerlin/West Las Vegas. "If you run into any issues, consult a repair professional before proceeding with painting."

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Clean the Bricks

Trying to apply paint to dirty brick will end up with poor results, so you will want to clean the bricks using a pressure washer. Keep the pressure setting below 1,500 pounds per square inch (PSI) to avoid damaging the mortar and invest in a detergent to help remove mold and mildew.

This process will also get rid of any stuck-on dirt, grime, and loose paint, though you will want to use drop cloths to protect nearby plants.

Labedz recommends letting the house dry for several days before painting.

"You do not want to paint over wet bricks and trap moisture inside," he says. "This can result in bubbling and peeling. Once the washing is complete, allow the brick plenty of time to dry thoroughly. This will take at least a few days, as brick is a porous material."

Sand the Bricks

Sanding will make it easier for the paint to adhere to the bricks. You can use a palm sander or a circular sander equipped with a minimum of 80-grit sandpaper to sand the brick.

"After sanding, use a broom or vacuum to remove excess dust," Labedz says. "Any leftover dust can quickly turn into balls of gunk within the paint or stain you choose, so it's best to ensure it’s removed now."

Patch the Mortar

During your initial inspection of the home, you should have identified any parts of the mortar that could use repairs. Keep in mind that severely damaged areas should be addressed by a mortar repair professional, but most DIYers should be able to patch minor cracks or holes.

"Most big-box and home improvement stores carry a premixed acrylic mortar patch kit," Labedz says. "This allows you to prime the area as soon as the patch has dried. There is also an option of powder that you mix yourself, but this requires a significant dry time (up to several weeks)."

Seal and Caulk

After patching the mortar, the next step in the process is to seal and caulk any cracks around the bricks. Even seemingly small cracks can allow water to seep through the interior of the home, so it's important to pay close attention to any problem areas.

"Address issues around the bricks and any adjacent windows, trim, doors or chimneys," Labedz says. "Use 100% acrylic caulk and a foam backer for any bigger cracks. If the seals don’t look sufficient, repeat the process in three to four hours."

Apply Primer

Primer is essential if you want to get long-lasting, high-quality results. Using an acrylic or latex masonry primer will help the paint bond to the brick, reducing the risk of peeling.

"It should be fully applied to both bricks and mortar," Labedz says. "If you notice efflorescence or mildew, consider applying a second coating of primer before proceeding. Usually it takes a couple of hours for this to dry before you can begin painting."

Paint the Brick

Once the primer has had a few hours to dry, you can begin to paint the brick. For painting a brick wall, you should invest in an elastomeric or 100 percent acrylic latex paint.

This paint comes in a wide variety of colors, giving you the opportunity to choose the right color for the home and your personal preferences.

"Use a brush and roller to apply the paint," Labedz says. "You’ll want a roller that is at least ¾ inch or thicker to ensure that all the cracks in the brick are filled with paint."

After applying the first coat of paint, give it a couple of hours to dry before applying a second coat. Two coats will help improve the durability of the painted surface, allowing it to last for years before you need to repaint the home.

Tips for Painting a Brick House

To help ensure the project is a success, keep these tips in mind while you paint your brick house:

• Wear appropriate protective gear for the job. This includes gloves, closed-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and safety glasses while pressure washing, sanding, and painting the home.
• Choose a suitable paint for the home. Labedz suggests using elastomeric or 100% latex paint for painting over brick, but the color is completely up to your personal preference.
• Improve the durability of the painted brick by using a masonry primer and applying two coats of paint.
• Make sure to use a roller that is at least 3/4-inch thick so that it's easy to fill any divots or cracks in the brick.
• Paint in long, vertical strokes, and move from the top of the brick down toward the ground.
• Work in small sections to avoid any streaks or drips.
• Ensure nearby plants are covered with a drop cloth, including the garden beds, to prevent any harm from the paint or run-off from the pressure washer.
  
• Use painter's tape to avoid accidentally painting the windows, trim, or any other obstacles.