How to Choose a Brick Painter for Your Nashville Home

As we’ve discussed in earlier articles, painting your brick surfaces can boost your home’s curb appeal while providing important protection. At the same time, however, this decision shouldn’t be taken lightly -- brick painting isn’t easy to reverse, so it’s crucial to know exactly what you want before going down this path. Additionally, achieving the best-looking, longest-lasting results requires a great deal of preparation, relevant knowledge and experience, and the right products. The more you research how to paint brick, the more you might realize it’s best to hire professional local painters for the job. Of course, with so many painting companies in Nashville, TN and elsewhere competing for your business, how can you choose the right one for your brick painting project?

How to Choose a Brick Painter

Can They Properly Prepare Your Brick Surfaces?

Unlike synthetic materials, drywall, and other smooth surfaces, brick’s coarse and porous composition makes it more difficult to paint. As such, various steps must be taken to allow proper adhesion and even coatings of brick surfaces. Less experienced residential exterior painting contractors might not have the resources, knowledge, or skills to perform this necessary prep work. It’s important to seek painters who explicitly offer brick painting services and can inform you of their preparation process. They should be able to tell you exactly how they clean brick surfaces to remove mold, mildew, and grime (i.e. pressure washing services), as well as the type of primer they use, and so on.

Are They Able to Make Necessary Repairs?

Brick is a durable material, but it’s still vulnerable to various environmental threats that can cause cracks, erosion, and other types of damage. If your brick surfaces are falling apart in some places, you’ll want to have them fixed up prior to painting. You might hire masonry repair professionals to handle this part of the job, but it’s more cost-effective and less time-consuming to simply find brick painters who can also provide these services. Before hiring a painting service, then, verify their ability to seal holes and gaps with caulk, repoint brick walls, etc.

Will They Use the Proper Paint for the Job?

The best brick painters will have a clear understanding of which types of primer and paint are best for the job. So, while different types of paint can be used to successfully paint brick, it’s worth asking a potential hire about this matter specifically. For instance, they might inform you that they prime brick with self-priming masonry paint like Sherwin-Williams Loxon XP. Other painters might prefer elastodynamic paint products for their flexible properties and defense against moisture. Standard acrylic latex exterior paints can also be used for brick surfaces, especially if they offer strong protection against moisture, mold, and mildew. Regardless of the paint’s composition, it’s common to go with a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish to enhance the brick’s look and facilitate cleaning. In the end, the more information a painter can give you about these different options, the more they reveal their expertise and quality of work.

How Many Coats Will They Apply?

As you compare brick painting candidates, it’s also worth asking about the number of coats they typically apply to brick surfaces. Generally speaking, more coats equates to more protection and more striking results -- of course, it also equates to higher material costs. Still, while applying additional coats will cost you more in the short run, it might save you money in the long run by reducing the frequency of touch-ups and maintenance more broadly. So, a single coat might be enough for your house exterior, but doubling up is often for the best. Either way, it’s important to know a brick painter’s thoughts on this matter before hiring them.

Are They Willing to Help You with Your Vision?

When searching for a Nashville painting company, some homeowners might simply look for a provider that gets the job done properly and on time. Others, however, might want more from their painting service. You might have trouble deciding which colors you want to incorporate or determining whether to stain your brick instead of painting it, and so on. While you are ultimately the arbiter of these decisions, it often helps to have an outside expert perspective to guide you along and boost your confidence. Perhaps you want to hire a brick painter that offers more than brick painting services alone, then. If so, look for companies that offer services like color consultations or that will sit down with you ahead of time and hash out your wants, needs, and concerns before getting started. Skilled painters that take the time to understand your vision and help you realize are a cut above the rest.

How Detailed and Transparent Are Their Estimates?

All home painting projects come at a price, but brick painting can be extra costly due to the degree of prep work and the unique challenges mentioned earlier. As such, it’s important to prepare yourself and your budget accordingly. Beyond that, though, you should only work with a painter that delivers a thorough and clear-cut estimate. Detailed, itemized estimates provide a straightforward idea of what the project will cost in the end so you’re not left in the dark. Conversely, vague estimates might accidentally or intentionally leave out duties and tasks that you’ll end up having to pay for when all is said and done. It’s always best to go with the transparent estimate over the opaque one, even if the former comes with a higher price tag -- at least you’ll know what you’re getting into.

Are Their Results Guaranteed?

As previously mentioned, brick painting is almost a permanent endeavor -- while it’s possible to remove the paint, it’s not easy nor desirable, as doing so can damage the brick itself. So, if the results don’t meet your expectations, you’ll find yourself in a real pickle. Before hiring a brick painter, then, make sure they stand by their results, ideally with an extended warranty that guarantees the quality of their work and their commitment to your ongoing satisfaction.

Hitting a Brick Wall? Reach Out to Nash Painting

Even with all these criteria top of mind, choosing a painting provider for your home can be difficult. You can make things easier for yourself by choosing Nash Painting. With over 15 years of experience, more than 400 projects completed, multiple specializations (including power washing and brick painting), competitive costs, and a 10-year warranty for our work, we’ve become the go-to contractor for many homeowners and business owners in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN.

To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!