Should we paint our exterior brick ranch?

Question

Roof is grey/green blend, brick is 3-4 shades of tan, gray, gold, green muddy colors

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I think that white makes the brick come alive and gives your house some brightness. Now what I would change is the shutter colors because that just blends in and does not make anything POP. Plus I would change the door color too in the same color. I have seen a dark teal like blue on brick and actually landscaped a brick rancher with the blue teal shutters and the color looks great. And this similar of a color blue was on the shutters and door of a house that sold in 4 days in her neighborhood. I am not a blue fan but in this case it does look stunning on a brick rancher.

Lex263207 · Answer

I can't see the roof color?

Sje223824 · Answer

I would NOT paint over the brick. If your brick is in very good condition I would leave it. I had a house painted by a professional painter who prime it and painted etc, etc, but..........it still chipped off in areas over the years down to the brick. We use good paint Sherwin Williams, and I even call them out to look at my house due to the paint was guarantee. Color your trim or add color to some shutters,

Jeanette S · Answer

I have heard where painting brick does not work well. I think a lot of it is due to the amount of moisture/humidity you get.(???) I saw on a TV program where they whitewashed a house that allowed the brick to show through and it was stunning! I too want my brick painted because it is half brick, half wood and I want it all the same color! But I think I would whitewash over paint because we are very humid here in Atlanta area! Were my house all brick, I would NEVER paint! I love your brick! I even like the color of the shutters!

Jackie C · Answer

I personally looooooove brick, so, no I would not paint it.  That being said, its YOUR house and you have to love it so if you dont love your brick and would like to see color the go with it!  I think you could bring out so much more color just by doing your trim in maybe two colors, like one for shutters and one for doors and put in pretty window boxes that match the door color.  Then put beautiful colors in your boxes.  Of course you can then echo your window box colors in your plantings, like your annuals.  Then you can do a differdnt color way every year!  Its lije anew box of crayons every spring!

Bob Link · Answer

I WOULD SAY NO BUT I LOVE THE LOOK OF BRICK

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

There is a lot to understand about painting brick. A lot of it has to do with how its installed and if the brick has been properly flashed for draining. If you paint a brick wall you risk destroying it as brick is designed to breath. If you seal it with paint, any moisture that gets trapped behind the brick will silently destroy the wall its fastened to along with the brick itself. By the time you realized that there is an issue, it is way to late to make repairs, The wall would most likely need to come down. 
Of course this will not happen quickly, but over a few years time. But once it happens, your stuck. 
I would really rethink painting of the brick. Please go to www.bia.org look up Painting brick and open the PDF file on this subject. If you are to paint it, you must follow their suggestions or the paint will destroy the brick. I think its file 6 in the Technical note section.

Linda T · Answer

No! Brick is too beautiful to paint and so easy to maintain.

Cherry · Answer

You could white lime wash it and it would be lovely. Does not require maintenance the way paint would. I have whitewashed interior brick walls and it is easy just time consuming.

Nelda · Answer

NOOOOO..Dont paint brick..its beautiful as it is. Re-paint the shutters WHITE.

Carol Guthrie · Answer

I don't know you but PLEASE don't paint that beautiful brick!

Lorraine Krummel · Answer

I love brick houses. but so it would have more contrast, I would change the color of the shutters and door, perhaps in a white or cream color.

Lynn · Answer

I wouldn't but on Fixer Upper they did and it looked great. It is a show on HGTV with Chip and Joanna Gains

Debi53 · Answer

We bought a 1970's brick house that had horrible orange brick. We stained it with solid color exterior stain. Paint will flake off, but stain penetrates and does not flake off. We did ours 7 years ago when we bought the house and the stain still looks great. We have not had to do any maintenance on it. By all means get rid of the brick if you don't like it, but use stain and not paint. You do not need to prime with stain. As long as your brick does not have mildew or excessive dirt on it, just roll the stain on with a thick masonry roller, or stain can also be sprayed on. We did ours ourselves. It takes time, but it is just a matter of getting the stain rolled on. We did two coats of stain because I did not want any of the ugly orange brick to show through. Here is a link to just one brand of stain. http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-1-gal-Deep-Base-Solid-Color-Concrete-Stain-83001/100200359

Leslie · Answer

Painted brick houses are beautiful. Just remember when painting shutters and front door that the rule is not to paint them the same color. Front door is always supposed to have its own color.

Ramboub · Answer

The problem with painting brick is once you do you always have to

FRED RIGGS · Answer

Power wash the house. Find any loose mortar and repair that, take shutters down if possible.  Use primer first or you will have problems.  Can't use paint/primer combination.  Just doesn't work.  Primer should be 50% tint  of the color  you will use.  Be sure to get in mortar joints completely.  Use a 3/4' nap roller. Try to paint early in the am, before the bricks get hot or late afternoon when the brick is not hot to the touch. One coat probably will not do it, and a second coat, like my home makes it pop.  Pick a trim color that works with your main color.  
Get a sample from the store to be sure that is the color that  you want.  Cut everything in carefully before doing the bricks.  Be sure the bricks are dry completely before painting.  Not real hard, but patience.  Did ours in two days,  seven years ago.  Still looks good. If you have runs of concrete, be sure you paint those with primer prefer two coats with roller then paint it.  I have the experience and I am not a  painter either. Get a good brush, 3' and a 2' for trim work.  Let us know your progress and pictures if available.

Adrian Stasiuk · Answer

Paint traps moisture and damages brick. Don't do it!

FRED RIGGS · Answer

Exterior latex will not trap moisture. It will breathe and let the moisture out. We did ours 10 years ago in white over red brick. It is as solid today as the day we did it. No moisture problems at all and we have lots of rain, snow and high humidity. Take your time. Prime it first though, then paint. Use a 3/4 ' nap roller and a quality brush, like Purdy. They are ex cellent.

Jcraw · Answer

The brick is beautiful. Before taking on that major project, however, do as many have suggested and paint the shutters and doors first. Start simple and cheap.

I'd be tempted to try the beige/curry that's in the bricks first. Re the door, you could use one of the softer reds in your bricks.

If you hate that tan on your shutters, it's easier to paint over that lighter color. Behr, I think, and Sherwin Williams have computer tools that allow you to 'paint' your house. Look up 'virtual painting tools, house exterior' or something like that. Fun and cheap way to while-away an hour or so.

Carol Guthrie · Answer

Your house is beautiful please don't paint the brick but do brighten up the trim and shutters. Just me I love natural brick.

Linda · Answer

It would be beautiful painted. Here is a post that will help you pick a color. https://lifeonsummerhill.com/popular-sherwin-williams-exterior-paint/

Agnes Chrzanowska · Answer

is your roof red ?

Johnavallance82 · Answer

No! don't paint those super bricks! Paint the down pipes Dark Olive and the rest of the timber Light olive colour.

Mogie · Answer

A thin white wash would allow the variations in the brick to still show thru but it would lighten the brick a lot. Anytime you can make something look cleaner it is a good thing.

Should we paint our exterior brick ranch?

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Should we paint our exterior brick ranch?

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