White Painted Brick House Exteriors: A Comprehensive Guide

Over the past decade, white painted brick houses have surged in popularity, transforming neighborhoods across the country. The clean, bright facade provides an airy contrast to the traditional red brick exterior. When done properly, a white painted brick house can feel crisp yet timeless. It breathes new life into outdated homes and adds farmhouse character to modern dwellings.

However, painting over existing brick is a major commitment and not a decision to take lightly. Brick's durability comes from its porous nature, which allows moisture to evaporate instead of trapping it. Paint essentially seals the brick, which can lead to problems with moisture damage over time. Paint also shows signs of aging much quicker than brick depending on climate and sun exposure. Doing your homework is essential before proceeding with a painting project of this magnitude.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Painted Brick

As with most exterior home improvements, there are both advantages and disadvantages to weighing when deciding whether to paint your brick house:

Potential Advantages

• Fresh, updated aesthetic appeal
• Increased curb appeal and resale value
• Ability to change color schemes over time
• Conceal imperfections or flaws in existing brickwork
• Creates a bright, cheerful vibe

Possible Disadvantages

• Risk of moisture issues over time
• Paint fades faster than natural brick
• Requires more frequent repainting over years
• Difficult to remove paint if desired later
• Chance of visible lap lines on repair touch-ups

Given these pros and cons, painting brick houses white impacts various houses differently. It works best for newer homes with few imperfections, whereas painting intricate historic brickwork could be controversial. Doing a cost-benefit analysis helps determine if achieveing the desired aesthetic outweighs the cost and maintenance tradeoffs.

Evaluating Your Brick House for Paintability

Not all houses make good candiates for painting brick. Factors like brick and mortar quality, detailing, location and condition indicate paintability:

• High-quality bricks with few cracks or flaws are best
• Houses with simple detailing paint easier than intricate ones
• Sheltered areas avoid paint sun damage and weathering
• Newer homes often have uniform bricks that take paint more evenly
• A house in good condition paints better than one needing repairs

Additionally, neighborhoods and surrounding houses provide clues to acceptance. Community regulations may prohibit painting exteriors in historic districts. And painted brick houses stand out more in areas where natural brick exteriors dominate. Carefully assessing your home's unique suitability before painting avoids many headaches down the road.

Preparing Brick Surface for Painting

After deciding to paint your brick house white, properly planning and preparing are paramount. As paint essentially seals the surface, extra care ensures trapped moisture doesn't cause problems later. Thorough cleaning removes built-up dirt, oil, efflorescence and mildew that impair paint adhesion. Repair all cracks, holes and damaged sections for the best finished appearance.

Always let cleaned bricks dry out completely for at least 48 hours before beginning to paint. This allows moisture underneath to evaporate instead of getting sealed by paint. Carefully check manufacturer instructions on brick cleaners too, as acidic products open brick pores and must have primer applied quickly after using.

Cleaning Solutions to Avoid

• Acid-based cleaners on poor quality or porous bricks
• Harsh chemical cleaners without rinse neutralizing
• Power washing high-pressure spray too close to bricks

Remember, properly preparing your brick surface takes time but leads to longer-lasting, better paint adhesion and overall outcomes. Rushing this vital step often leads to peeling, bubbling or streaky paint down the road.

Tips for Painting White Brick Houses

With thorough planning and surface preparation completed, now the fun part begins--painting! Starting with high-quality primer designed specifically for masonry leads to superior results. Always check your product choice carefully before purchasing primer or paint. Words like elastomeric and acrylic point to flexible chemistry made for brick and mortar.

When painting, work systematically section-by-section across walls. Maintain a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Use a damp brush and paint additives if needed in hot, dry conditions to avoid fast drying. Pay special attention to detail work around windows, doors and trim using painter's tape for super crisp lines. Follow all manufacturer drying instructions between coats too.

While backrolling behind a paint sprayer achieves great efficiency, nothing beats brushwork for sealing brick pores thoroughly. Spray applications often lead to moisture issues down the road since the paint sits atop the surface rather than penetrating it. Combining meticulous care with patience leads to stunning white painted brick outcomes.

Handy Painted Brick Best Practices

• Caulk all cracks and openings before painting
• Watch weather forecasts to avoid rain for 48 hours after painting
• Use flat or low-luster paint finishes to downplay imperfections
• Cut in all edges by hand brush before rolling larger sections
• Apply primer and paint liberally to permeate brick pores

One of the biggest considerations with painted brick versus natural brick comes down to maintenance. While brick ages slowly and gracefully, painted surfaces show their age much quicker. Climate affects paint longevity greatly, with harsh seasonal changes causing expansion and contraction that take a toll. Expect to repaint approximately every 4-8 years to keep your white bricks looking freshly painted.

During that timeframe, keep an eye out for any cracking, peeling or bubbling of paint. These signs indicate areas of moisture damage where paint failed to adhere correctly. Address these issues promptly to prevent exacerbating problems. To clean painted brick surfaces use gentle, pH-neutral cleaners and low-pressure water. Harsh chemicals and excess pressure strip paint prematurely.

Brick's breathability gets hampered by paint, so treating your house properly protects your investment. Proper maintenance preserves your home's gorgeous curb appeal for decades to come!