To Paint Brick or Not to Paint Brick?

Some home improvement projects are a no brainer--renovating the master bathroom, creating storage space in the garage, upgrading landscaping in the front yard. Even if you're not preparing to sell your home, enhancing your interior and exterior spaces with a home improvement project is a great way to refresh your surroundings. However, some home improvement projects give homeowners pause--such as deciding whether or not to paint brick walls.

Should you paint a brick house and reinvigorate its beauty, or should you leave it as is and showcase its natural charm? Let's weigh the pros and cons of painting the brick within and around your home.

Can you paint over the brick exterior of your home? Technically, yes. Should you paint over it? Many real estate and construction professionals suggest not to. Although it seems like an easy home improvement project to tackle, painting exterior bricks can present some problems. Some cons of painting your exterior include:

• Destroying the brick. Because the brick is subject to the elements, moisture will be trapped inside the pores when you paint it. This prevents the brick from breathing and could lead to structural damage as the brick or mortar begin to erode.
• It's essentially permanent. Removing paint from an exterior brick wall is quite difficult and costly. While it can be removed with effort and enough investment, many homeowners would rather invest in an element of the home that they can change again if desired.
• Maintenance is required. While removing all of the paint is difficult, you'll notice that paint is easily chipped off of the brick or covered by mildew, debris, and dirt. Homeowners will need to pressure wash the brick and repaint it every few months to keep it looking good.

If you do decide to paint the exterior of your brick home, there are a few instances in which this is acceptable, including:

• The brick is already painted. If your exterior walls are already painted, you can easily paint over them with the color of your desire. This could boost your curb appeal and provide some protection from the elements. Keep in mind that a special exterior brick paint must be used.
• The brick was designed to be painted. Some older, handmade bricks need to be painted for protection, try using all-natural paints.
• The brick is already damaged. Repointing a brick home can be very expensive. It's also an expensive DIY project. Painting over these unattractive spots can help restore the aesthetic of the home.  

Should I Paint an Interior Brick Wall?
You can paint the brick walls inside your home. It's safer and easier to complete this home improvement project indoors because the bricks aren't subject to the elements. With a lack of exposure to moisture and humidity, the brick has less of an opportunity to incur damage. It's also quite easier to keep interior brick clean than exterior brick.  

What About a Brick Fireplace?
Yes! Brick walls surrounding a fireplace are often painted by homeowners hoping to refresh the space!  

A professional painter is often required to paint a brick exterior correctly. If you plan on painting it yourself, you'll need to clean, prep, prime, caulk, and seal the entire brick area before you can begin the painting process.

Brick has a natural beauty that many homeowners love. However, painted brick can transform an interior and exterior so dramatically that some homeowners believe it's worth the investment. If you're interested in painting your brick exterior, be sure to consult a professional before attempting this significant home improvement project.

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