Is It a Good Idea to Paint Exterior Face Brick Walls?
There are those who love the look of a face brick exterior and those that prefer to have their walls plastered, whether it is from a money-saving point of view or simply for aesthetics there will always be those that do and those that don't.
24/05/2022
@annemariebarton
I often receive enquiries from readers asking if they should paint the exterior face bricks walls of their home. It is a difficult question to answer mainly because it's not my house! But even if it was, there are still pros and cons for both painting a face brick house or leaving it unpainted. Let's take a look at these and you can decide for yourself whether or not it is a good idea to paint exterior face brick.
Should you paint exterior face brick?
There are those who love the look of a face brick exterior and those that prefer to have their walls plastered, whether it is from a money-saving point of view or simply for aesthetics there will always be those that do and those that don't.
The act of painting exterior face brick walls has always been a contentious issue and you really do need to weigh up the pros and cons before you decide to do something this drastic. Once the walls have been painted there is no going back, so make sure the decision you make is for the best.
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Pros for Painting Face Bricks Walls
- For a dark home, painting face brick walls will definitely give fresh appeal.
- Gives a property stand-out appeal against other face brick properties.
- Can modernise a dated house and give aesthetic appeal.
- More opportunity to introduce other (bright) colours into the mix as opposed to just earth tones.
- The ultimate decision should be made by the homeowner as to whether to paint exterior face brick.
- A painted exterior can increase property value if done properly but can impact negatively if not.
Cons for Painting Face Bricks Walls
- Painting exterior face brick walls is a permanent option and not something that can be undone.
- Face brick walls are considered extremely low maintenance, while painted brick walls are not.
- Most people who paint face brick walls don't bother to prime prior to painting which can cause problems later.
- Painted face brick will show damaged walls more easily than if they were left unpainted.
- While painted brick is a popular trend, you decision should be a personal one.
The Bottom Line
Painting an exterior face brick wall is a way to update a property without going to the extremes of making structural changes and instantly gives the house a clean, fresh look that face brick cannot. However, if you do decide to paint the exterior face brick of your house, make sure to use only quality paint and one that incorporates a primer and paint all-in-one. A quality paint should last for 12 to 15 years if applied properly and the underlying brickwork is in good condition, but this is not a realistic timeline, and the homeowner will probably need to re-paint a lot sooner than this. A point to note is that walls that experience damp should not be painted until the matter has been resolved or fixed as this will negatively affect the painted finish.