House Painting Tips: Should We Paint Our Brick?

With a building material as common as brick, homeowners often look for ways to spice up what can be a drab or dated part of their home. But despite its simple appearance, brick is surprisingly complex. Wondering if painting your interior or exterior brick walls is right for your home? We’ve got you covered! Read on to discover whether or not you should paint your brick.

Aesthetic Guide

Brick can have a number of different colors and textures that are worth considering when using it as an element in interior design. Aesthetic tastes vary, but when it comes to painting brick, there are a few instances where it makes sense to break out the paint sprayer or call in a professional painting crew.

Red Brick

Interior walls without the trademark white residue that often forms on brick can be tricky. Left unpainted, those walls can become a prominent feature that dominates the room and forces other interior design elements to fall in line with it. You can tame this and give yourself greater freedom in decorating by painting your brick wall.

Similarly, if a room with brick walls has other highlights that are supposed to be the main focus of the room, you should consider painting the brick. This will prevent your brick from hogging the attention and will allow the other design element to breathe, keeping the room from feeling too “busy” in the process.

Low Lighting

If a room has low amounts of lighting, consider painting the brick in the room. Manipulating its color and getting rid of its typical dark look can help avoid a “dungeon” feel. Use a light color to help brighten up the room and make it seem more welcoming.

House Renovations

When turning your old house into a contemporary marvel, brick walls might be a reminder of behind-the-times-styles, disrupting the flow and overall atmosphere of your home. Painting brick walls not only fixes this problem, but also provides another chic design element that reinforces your house’s modern vibe.

Children’s Rooms

Whether it be a playroom, a bedroom, or something else entirely, the objects in a child’s room are most likely going to be a wide variety of vibrant hues. In this case, painting the brick can create a neutral background, allowing individually colored accessories to stand out in contrast and make the room feel more playful.

For examples and pictures of these concepts, check out this handy style guide.

Material Reasons

Some forms of old brick actually need to be painted to maintain structural integrity. Softer, spongier, or handmade brick might benefit from a coat of paint to protect the porous surface from water damage or mold.

If you have exterior brick, it may have been damaged by projects like sandblasting or stucco removal, exposing the inside and making deterioration more likely.

Also, once paint is on the brick, it’s pretty much permanent. Stripping the paint would be difficult, costly, and may damage the wall underneath. If your brick has already been painted, you should repaint your brick to your liking to avoid these problems.

Structural Concerns

It’s important to note that painting your brick may not be the best idea, especially if it’s on your house’s exterior. Brick “breathes,” so to speak. Water enters through pores in the brick or the mortar joints, and then evaporates into the air. Painting over traps that water inside, which can seriously damage your home. To avoid any potential moisture issues, be sure to discuss your concerns with your painting contractor.

Brick also comes in a wide range of chemical compositions, meaning that each type needs its own unique preparation. The detail work required to prepare a brick wall for painting is vast, and best executed by a professional.

If the look of your all-too-common brick has got to go, contact Nash Painting to learn about our brick painting services.