Built to Share: Our Work, Wisdom & Repairs
We’ve laid a lot of stone. Now we’re laying down what we’ve learned — straight from the job site.
Painting exterior brick can completely transform the look of your home. Clean. Modern. Fresh. It is one of the fastest ways to take a dated façade and turn it into something you would actually be proud to pull up to.
But here is the thing: brick is not drywall. It is a living, breathing material that behaves differently in weather, moisture, and time. So if you want that smooth, durable finish you see on Pinterest (without the peeling nightmare homeowners love to message us about later), there is a right way to do it.
This guide breaks it all down step by step in a way that is easy to follow, even if you have never painted masonry before.
Brick holds onto dirt, dust, mildew, and whatever else has blown by in the last decade.
If you paint over that, you are basically gluing the problem to your house.
What to do:
Use a stiff brush and masonry safe cleaner.
If you pressure wash, keep the PSI reasonable so you do not damage the mortar.
Let the brick dry fully for 24 to 48 hours.
Clean brick means paint that actually sticks.
Brick and mortar can crack, crumble, or chip over time. Do not panic, it is normal.
Before painting, look for:
Cracked or missing mortar
Spalling, also known as flaking brick
Loose or damaged sections
Fixing these before painting protects your home and prevents moisture issues down the road. If you skip this step, the paint may peel or trap moisture where you really do not want it.
This is where many DIY jobs go sideways.
Brick is porous. Very porous.
If you do not prime it, the brick will drink your paint like it is a Stanley cup on a hot day.
You need:
A masonry bonding primer
Something made for exterior use
A product that handles alkalinity and stops efflorescence
Roll it on generously and give it time to dry. This is your anchor layer, so treat it like the foundation of your whole project.
Exterior brick needs flexible, breathable, masonry safe paint.
Not interior paint. Not bargain bin paint.
Look for:
Elastomeric or masonry paint
UV protection
Moisture resistance
A finish that matches your style, with matte being popular for a modern look
Rollers work, but a sprayer gives the cleanest finish if you can get your hands on one.
General rule:
First coat: coverage
Second coat: perfection
Let the first coat dry fully before starting the second. Rushing this step is how streaks happen.
Painted brick is low maintenance, but not no maintenance.
Plan for:
Gentle annual cleaning
Touch ups as needed
Repainting every 7 to 10 years depending on exposure
It is still much easier than dealing with flaking or failing paint from a rushed DIY job.
Painting exterior brick is not the hardest home project, but it can go wrong quickly if you rush prep or skip the masonry specific steps. If you want long lasting results, professional prep and application make a massive difference.
And if you are thinking, “This sounds like a lot of work,” you are not wrong.
At Legend Stoneworks, we work with exterior masonry every day, including brick, stone, facades, and more. When it comes to prepping, repairing, or refreshing the exterior of your home, we know exactly what your brick needs and how to get your project looking sharp for years.
Whether you are dreaming of a modern painted brick look or you want advice on what will complement your home’s architecture, we have your back.
If you want your exterior to look like a million bucks without doing the heavy lifting, reach out to Legend Stoneworks and we can bring your vision to life.
