Maintaining Painted Brick
The painted brick craze has been popular for the last several years, and it isn’t losing steam! From whites and creams to greys and greens, painted brick is timeless, classic and here to stay. But how do you maintain it once it’s painted?
Surprisingly, painting your brick home actually helps protect it from the outdoor elements that are constantly eating away at it. Rain, UV rays, humidity, frost, sleet, and on rare occasions in the South, snow, are constantly attacking the exterior of your home. And although brick is a great siding to have, it can still be affected by moisture, heat, and the ebbs and flows of the ever-changing weather.
Like the majority of masonry surfaces, brick is naturally porous. It can easily trap dirt, grime, and debris that can be difficult to clean. Painting brick makes its surface smoother, less porous, and much easier to clean. However, painting your brick can sometimes trap moisture and can make it difficult for the brick to breathe. This has the potential to cause damage to the brick, as well as the house structure. This is especially true in colder climates where the moisture can freeze, expand and erode the mortar.
Like any exterior home, brick should be cleaned and pressure washed throughout the year. We recommend once in the Spring and once in the Fall for safe measure. As brick gets older, it can age. Unfortunately, that aging may not happen uniformly. Because of this, it’s important to keep an eye on your home’s exterior. Touch up chipped areas, clean on lighter colored brick more frequently, and give it a fresh coat when you notice it needs it.
As a reminder, painted brick is permanent. It’s a painting decision that you cannot undo, so you need to be absolutely sure that this is something you’re going to like. And as with anything, always weigh the pros and cons of big decisions like exterior paint! You want it to last for a long time!
