Revitalize Your Home: The Power of a Brick Exterior Makeover
A brick home exterior makeover can dramatically boost your home’s curb appeal and value. Whether you’re looking for a subtle refresh or a complete change, there are many options to consider.
Here are the main ways to update a brick home exterior:
- Painting: Gives a completely new, uniform color.
- Limewashing: Creates a soft, aged look while letting the brick breathe.
- German Smear: Adds a textured, Old-World style.
- Staining: Changes or improves the brick’s natural color.
- Updating Other Elements: Focuses on trim, siding, windows, and landscaping without altering the brick itself.
Sometimes, a brick home has so much charm that painting it is out of the question. But for others, a fresh look can open up its hidden potential.
With years of experience in landscape, hardscape, and high-quality brick home exterior makeover projects, our team combines innovative design with meticulous craftsmanship to improve curb appeal and functionality. This guide, drawing on our expertise, will walk you through each option to help you make the best choice for your home.
Important brick home exterior makeover terms:
Updating Brick with Coatings and Finishes
Applying a fresh coating is one of the most impactful ways to transform your brick home. But before diving into colors and textures, proper preparation is key to a lasting brick home exterior makeover.
First, we always power wash the brick to remove dirt, grime, and loose debris that could prevent a new finish from adhering. After cleaning, we inspect for and repair any chips, cracks, or crumbling mortar to ensure a smooth, durable foundation.
Understanding that brick is porous and needs to “breathe” is also crucial. We always use breathable paints and coatings designed for masonry. These mineral-based products allow moisture to escape, preventing long-term damage like bubbling or peeling, which is vital in climates with large temperature swings like the Twin Cities.
To help you decide, here’s a quick comparison of the most popular techniques:
| Feature | Painting Brick | Limewash | German Smear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Moderate to High (paint, labor) | Moderate (product, labor) | Moderate (product, labor) |
| Look | Opaque, uniform color; modern look | Translucent, soft, matte, aged/European look; subtle variation | Textured, Old-World, distressed, rustic |
| Maintenance | Regular cleaning, touch-ups for chips/peels | Low; calcifies to brick, naturally mold-resistant | Low; durable, hides imperfections |
| Permanence | Very permanent; difficult to reverse | Permanent once cured, but can be removed within 5 days of application | Very permanent; difficult to reverse |
| Breathability | Can trap moisture if wrong paint is used; less breathable | Highly breathable; allows brick to release moisture | Highly breathable; allows brick to release moisture |
| Durability | 5-20 years depending on factors | Decades, calcifies to brick | Long-lasting, becomes part of the brick |
Techniques for a Complete Brick Home Exterior Makeover
With the foundation set, let’s explore the exciting options for your brick home exterior makeover.
Painting brick offers the most dramatic change, providing a new, uniform color. It’s perfect for covering dated brick or unifying a home with mixed siding materials. Always use high-quality, masonry-specific paint for durability.
Limewashing is a fantastic option if you want a lighter look while keeping some of the brick’s original charm. A product like Romabio Limewash, calcifies to the brick, becoming part of it rather than just sitting on top. The result is a beautiful, subtle color variation. It’s highly breathable, mold-resistant, and durable. A unique benefit is that it can be washed off within 5 days of application, offering an “undo” button.
For an Old-World, rustic look, German smear is the technique for you. This involves applying a mortar wash over the brick and then artfully wiping some away before it dries. This creates a textured, irregular finish that adds character and can disguise imperfections in older brickwork. Like limewash, it allows the brick to breathe.
Brick staining penetrates the surface to change the brick’s color from within, leaving the original texture and mortar lines visible. Stains are breathable and protect the brick from moisture and UV rays, making them a great choice for subtly shifting a brick’s tone.
Whitewashing is a classic technique that falls between painting and limewashing. It’s a diluted mixture of water and latex paint (often 50/50) that provides a more transparent effect than full paint, allowing the brick’s texture to show through for a softened look.
Pros and Cons of Painting Your Brick
Painting brick is a big decision. It’s important to weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.
Pros of Painting Brick:
- Modern Look: A uniform color instantly updates a dated facade and creates a clean, cohesive look.
- Covers Imperfections: It easily hides discolorations, old repairs, and mismatched bricks.
- Boosts Curb Appeal: A fresh, clean look can significantly increase your home’s attractiveness to potential buyers.
Cons of Painting Brick:
- Permanence: Removing paint from brick is extremely difficult and can damage the brick itself. This decision is not easily reversed.
- Moisture Trapping: Using the wrong (non-breathable) paint can trap moisture, leading to spalling (flaking) of the brick or bubbling of the paint.
- Maintenance: Painted brick requires upkeep. It will eventually chip or peel and need repainting, typically every five to 20 years.
Choosing the Perfect Color Palette
Choosing the right colors for your home’s exterior is a crucial step in any brick home exterior makeover. It’s about more than just a paint swatch; you have to consider how colors will look on the large canvas of your house.
Key factors to consider include color theory (contrast vs. harmony), natural light exposure (colors look lighter outside), your neighborhood context, and existing roof color and fixed elements. Always sample colors on your house and observe them at different times of the day before committing.
Popular Paint Colors for Brick Homes
A variety of colors can make a brick home shine, each creating a different vibe.
Classic whites and off-whites instantly brighten and modernize a home. For a softer, warmer feel, consider an off-white like Benjamin Moore Ballet White, which has a hint of creaminess that feels inviting without looking too yellow in bright exterior light.
Warm grays with subtle brown or beige undertones create a sophisticated, calm, and chic curb appeal, pairing especially well with classic red brick.
For a modern edge, dark, moody colors like deep charcoals, rich greens, or sophisticated blues are showstoppers. A color like Farrow & Ball Hague Blue gives a brick home a strong presence and makes landscaping pop.
Contrasting colors, such as a soft sage green, offer a refreshing alternative to typical neutrals and can highlight your home’s unique architectural features.
Coordinating Trim, Siding, and Door Colors
Your trim, siding, and front door are the details that pull the whole look together.
For trim colors, black trim like Benjamin Moore Onyx creates a crisp, modern contrast against light-colored brick. A muted brown trim adds warmth, while classic pure white trim is a clean, low-maintenance option.
For siding colors, you can either match the brick for a uniform look or choose a complementary color like a warm gray or deep green to add depth and visual interest.
Your front door is a chance to show personality. A bold front door color can add immense charm. Imagine a warm off-white brick home with a vibrant Sherwin Williams Determined Orange SW 6635 door—it’s unforgettable!
Refreshing Your Home Without Painting the Brick
Not everyone wants to paint their brick, and that’s perfectly fine! You can achieve a stunning brick home exterior makeover without touching the brick itself, especially if you love its natural character or historic charm.
A simple power wash and mortar repair can often bring back the brick’s original vibrancy. The real secret, however, lies in architectural updates and modernizing accents. By focusing on your home’s “accessories,” you can transform its personality while honoring its original character.
Non-Paint Ideas for a Stunning Brick Home Exterior Makeover
- New Shutters: Properly sized shutters that look as if they could cover the windows add authentic charm. For red brick, classic choices like black shutters or deep green shutters provide a sophisticated contrast.
- Updated Front Door: A new door can instantly lift your facade. A wood door adds warmth, while a steel door offers a contemporary edge. Even a fresh coat of bold paint on the existing door makes a statement.
- Modern Black Grid Windows: These modern black grid windows create a crisp, updated look against traditional brick, perfectly balancing old and new.
- Wood Accents: Adding wooden gable details, a porch ceiling, or a garage door brings warmth and an organic, modern farmhouse style.
- New Columns and Railings: Replacing thin, dated porch columns with more substantial ones gives your entrance proper weight. Wrought iron railings add elegance, while wood feels cozy.
- Exterior Lighting: New fixtures improve curb appeal day and night. Classic lanterns suit traditional brick, while modern sconces add a contemporary feel. Gas lanterns offer unique, old-world charm.
- Gutters and Fascia: Fresh gutters in a complementary color like black or muted brown create clean, defining lines that tie the look together.
- New Portico: Adding a small roof over your front door creates architectural interest and a welcoming, finished look.
These budget-friendly updates prove you can achieve a complete change by focusing on the elements that frame and accent your beautiful brick.
The Role of Landscaping in Your Brick Home Exterior Makeover
You can perfect the paint, trim, and front door, but if your landscaping is tired, your brick home exterior makeover will feel incomplete. Landscaping is the essential finishing touch that ties everything together.
At TMI Minnesota, we specialize in changing outdoor spaces with unique designs. We’ve seen countless times how professional landscaping is the missing piece that lifts a home’s new look.
Softscaping (plants, trees, and flowers) is vital. Strategic planting softens the home’s lines and adds color and texture that evolve with the seasons. Layered garden beds with a mix of shrubs, flowers, and ornamental grasses can turn an updated home into a showpiece. A well-placed tree or a sequence of blooms can create a focal point that draws the eye to your beautiful new exterior.
Hardscaping—the permanent structures like walkways, patios, and retaining walls—gives your landscape its bones. A new stone walkway leading to your updated front door creates a grand, welcoming entrance.
Our comprehensive Curb Appeal Landscaping projects deliver the biggest “wow” factor. When you combine a thoughtful brick home exterior makeover with professional landscaping, you create an entirely new, stunning first impression. Our Hardscape Installations and Outdoor Living Upgrades can extend your home’s new aesthetic into the yard, creating beautiful, functional spaces for you to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brick Makeovers
It’s smart to ask questions before starting a brick home exterior makeover. Here are our expert answers to some of the most common ones.
How long does painted brick last?
Generally, a quality paint job on brick can last anywhere from five to 20 years. The actual lifespan depends on several key factors:
- Paint Quality: High-quality, masonry-specific exterior paint is crucial for longevity.
- Climate Impact: Harsh weather with extreme temperature swings can put more stress on the paint.
- Proper Preparation: Thoroughly cleaning and repairing the brick before painting is non-negotiable for good adhesion.
- Maintenance Schedule: Regular cleaning and quick touch-ups of any chips will extend the life of your paint job.
What are the most common mistakes to avoid?
To ensure your brick home exterior makeover is a success, avoid these common pitfalls:
- Improper Preparation: Skipping cleaning, repairs, or primer will lead to peeling and bubbling.
- Using Interior Paint: It isn’t designed for exterior conditions and will fail quickly.
- Not Considering Brick’s Porosity: Using non-breathable paint traps moisture, which can damage the brick itself.
- Ignoring Your Home’s Style: Choosing colors or finishes that clash with your home’s architecture or neighborhood can decrease curb appeal.
- Forgetting Landscaping: A beautiful home needs great landscaping to look complete.
- Skipping Color Samples: Always test colors on your house in natural light before committing.
- Incorrectly Sized Shutters: A common design flaw, shutters should look like they could actually cover the windows.
Can I reverse a brick makeover?
The reversibility of a makeover depends entirely on the technique used.
- Paint Permanence: Painting brick is a very permanent decision. Removal is difficult, expensive, and can damage the brick surface.
- Limewash Flexibility: Products like Romabio Classico Limewash offer a unique safety net. It can be completely removed with a pressure washer up to five days after application.
- Staining Absorption: Because stain penetrates the brick, it is considered permanent and cannot be fully reversed.
- German Smear: This technique uses a mortar wash that becomes part of the brick, making it another permanent choice that is very difficult to remove.
Conclusion
A brick home exterior makeover is an exciting journey to breathe new life into your property. Whether you choose a bold coat of paint, the soft charm of limewash, or simply update accents like your trim and windows, the possibilities for change are endless.
A well-executed update not only boosts your home’s curb appeal but can also significantly increase its value and create a more welcoming space for your family.
The final, essential touch is professional landscaping. The landscape is the frame that completes the picture, integrating your beautifully updated home with its surroundings.
At TMI Minnesota, we are passionate about changing outdoor spaces. We combine leading-edge products with deep expertise in hardscape and softscape installations to lift your yard living. If you’re in the Twin Cities area and dreaming of a complete exterior change, we’re here to help make your vision a reality.
Let’s work together to make your home a true source of pride. Get a consultation for your landscape design today and take the first step toward an outdoor space you’ll love for years to come.