Should You Paint Your Brick House? Key Points to Consider
A brick house can have many charms. Brick exterior walls can help create an impression of timelessness, stability, and elegance. They also require special consideration. If you’re thinking about painting your brick house, you need to take some time to reflect on the decision and what it will mean for your home.
Painting your brick exterior may be the best choice for your property. But how can you know for sure? Call on brick painters who are highly skilled and experienced. They can help you evaluate the benefits, avoid costly missteps, and overcome the challenges of the project.
The Benefits of Painting Your Brick House
Improvements in appearance and curb appeal
Painting your brick exterior is a potentially excellent way to make your home more beautiful. Although unpainted bricks are sometimes lovely, the bricks that form your exterior walls may have an unsightly color or may simply not suit your personal taste.
In addition to pleasing you and your loved ones, an improved appearance will give your home a stronger curb appeal. The value of your property and its attractiveness to prospective buyers will increase.
A cleaner exterior
Keeping your exterior walls clean is a key part of home maintenance. When you don’t thoroughly clean the walls, they accumulate debris, dirt, and various pollutants, including substances that can exacerbate allergies or cause other health problems.
Because bricks are porous, they can easily attract and fill up with undesirable substances. If a brick wall is painted and sealed, it accumulates dirt at a slower rate, and the painted surface is also easier to clean.
Enhanced protection for your home
With the rain, ice formation, wind strength, and humidity levels that are typical for Edmond, Okla. at different times of the year, you need an exterior that’s more resilient against weather damage.
Assuming the work is carried out properly by reputable brick painters, the application of sealants and paint can increase the durability of your walls. The bricks won’t deteriorate or fade as easily. They’ll also enjoy a stronger protection against moisture accumulation and problems with leaks and mold.
What Should You Consider Before Painting Your Brick Exterior Walls?
Any time you undertake a paint job for the exterior of your house, you need to consider a number of important issues. Consulting with a brick painting company will give you greater clarity about whether a paint job for your brick walls is the right decision.
The longevity of the paint job
Let’s say you’ve painted your brick walls. How long can you expect the paint to remain in good condition? Once applied, the paint won’t last indefinitely. For example, regular exposure to moisture will eventually cause it to start chipping away. You’ll need to perform maintenance by periodically repainting your walls and performing routine cleaning. Your residential painting contractor will be able to estimate how frequently you’ll need to schedule this upkeep.
Another key point about longevity is that you can’t simply switch back to unpainted brick. Granted, you can change the color of the paint. You don’t have to limit yourself to one color choice forever. But you need to realize that restoring the bricks to their unpainted state is difficult and expensive.
If you aren’t yet ready to take the virtually irreversible step of painting your brick walls, you can think about alternatives. You don’t have to give up on improving the exterior of your home. Maybe you can repaint your front door, garage doors, shutters, or front porch. Changes to the landscaping, such as new arrangements of trees and flowers, can also enhance your home’s curb appeal. You don’t need to commit to painting your brick exterior walls until you’re completely comfortable with the decision.
The condition of the bricks
If your brick walls are in a state of obvious deterioration, dashing some paint on them won’t hide their defective appearance. In fact, you may wind up making the moisture damage and other underlying problems worse.
It’s best to ask your brick painters for an evaluation. Have them examine the make, color, and condition of the bricks. They can recommend solutions for different kinds of damage and advise you on what steps to take next.
The right products and techniques
Paints and related products aren’t interchangeable. You can’t use them on different kinds of surfaces and expect the same results. When you paint your brick walls, you need products that are ideal for bricks, which are porous and have other unique properties. For example, the products you use should help the bricks repel excess moisture.
Preparing your brick walls for a paint job also demands considerable effort and planning. Before painting them, you must carry out a thorough cleaning. When using a pressure washer, you need to prevent damage to the bricks by keeping the pressure below a certain level. After that, you need to wait for the bricks to dry.
Are any repairs required for your brick walls? For example, damaged mortar should be fixed before the paint job. You also need to apply a primer that’s optimal for bricks and make sure to seal cracks and gaps. When those steps are wrapped up, you can start painting. Along with the right type of paint, you need to use the best tools and techniques. Will you rely on a sprayer or a roller? How many coats of paint will you apply?
If these steps sound daunting, keep in mind that help is available. You can trust a reputable residential painting contractor to assist you with key decisions and perform the work with care and skill.
Call on Kaleidoscope Paint
If you live in the general area of Edmond OK, reach out to us for high-caliber work. Our experience with painting is extensive and successful. We keep augmenting our skills and updating our knowledge to serve you with the best available products and techniques. When you entrust your home to us, we help you make decisions that stay within your budget and suit your preferences and needs. We’re also considerate about scheduling. Let us know about your vision for a beautiful home. Share your concerns with us, ask us questions, and have us help you with every stage of a paint job, including color choices and the critical preparatory work. You can reach us through our site or at 405-757-0029.