How to Paint a Brick Exterior - What to Expect and What to Know

Published April 2026 - Joseph Assise III Painting & Wallpapering, Easton PA

There are a lot of brick homes in the Lehigh Valley - Easton's historic neighborhoods, older Palmer Township properties, Bethlehem row homes, and colonial-style houses throughout Northampton County. When the brick starts looking weathered, stained, or simply dated, painting is an option many homeowners consider. It is an option that works - when done correctly - but it is also a permanent one.

This guide covers what painting a brick exterior actually involves, what makes it different from painting wood or vinyl siding, the risks you need to weigh before committing, and what a professional brick paint job looks like from start to finish.

First: Painting Brick Is Permanent

Before anything else, understand this clearly: painting brick is a decision you cannot reverse without serious effort and expense. Paint seeps into the porous surface of brick and mortar joints. Removing it requires chemical stripping and mechanical abrasion - a process that can cost as much or more than the original paint job, and one that may damage the brick surface in the process.

Unpainted brick that is in good condition has value that painted brick does not. If your brick is structurally sound and you are primarily unhappy with the color or some surface discoloration, consider alternatives first - efflorescence treatment, tuckpointing, masonry cleaning, or even masonry stain (which is different from paint and allows the brick to breathe). If after considering those options you still want to paint, proceed - but do it with full understanding that it is a permanent change.

When Painting Brick Makes Sense

There are legitimate reasons to paint a brick exterior, and we paint brick regularly in the Lehigh Valley. Here are the situations where it makes the most sense:

Spalling or surface damage: Brick that has experienced spalling - where the surface layer of the brick face flakes or chips away - is difficult to restore to its original appearance. In these cases, paint can unify the appearance of the wall and seal the damaged surface, extending its service life.

Heavy efflorescence or deep staining: White mineral deposits (efflorescence) and deep staining from water, rust, or organic growth can be treated, but severely affected brick often looks uneven even after treatment. A high-quality masonry paint applied correctly can create a clean, uniform appearance.

Already-painted brick that needs refreshing: If your brick has been painted before by a previous owner and the paint is now peeling or chalking, the decision is already made for you - the brick needs to be repainted. You cannot un-paint it at this point without major effort.

Desire for a significant color change: Natural brick comes in a limited range of colors determined by the clay source and kiln temperature. If you want a white, grey, charcoal, or sage-colored exterior that the natural brick cannot provide, paint is the path to that look.

The Right Products for Painting Brick

Brick is a masonry substrate that breathes - moisture moves in and out through the porous surface. The biggest failure mode for painted brick is trapping moisture behind an impermeable paint film, which causes the paint to peel and can accelerate brick damage through freeze-thaw cycles. Pennsylvania winters make this a real concern.

Products we use on brick exteriors:

What to avoid: standard exterior latex paints that are not specifically formulated for masonry. They lack the flexibility and vapor permeability that brick requires. They may look fine for the first year but fail prematurely as the brick moves and breathes through seasonal cycles.

The Preparation Process for Painting Brick

Preparation for a brick paint job is more involved than preparation for wood or vinyl siding. Budget time accordingly - a rushed prep on brick produces a short-lived result.

Step 1 - Tuckpointing repair. Before any cleaning or painting, inspect all mortar joints. Cracked, recessed, or crumbling mortar needs to be ground out and repointed with fresh mortar. Painting over failing mortar seals cracks temporarily but the underlying movement will crack and peel the paint within a season or two. Tuckpointing is a masonry repair, not a painting task, but it is a prerequisite for a paint job that lasts.

Step 2 - Treat efflorescence. If white mineral deposits are present, they need to be treated with a masonry efflorescence cleaner before priming. Painting over efflorescence will cause adhesion failure - the salt crystals form a barrier between the brick surface and the paint film.

Step 3 - Pressure wash. Clean the entire brick surface to remove dirt, mildew, loose material, and surface contamination. For brick, we use a lower pressure than vinyl or wood to avoid blasting out mortar. Allow thorough drying - brick absorbs water and needs 24 to 48 hours of dry weather to fully release surface moisture before painting.

Step 4 - Prime with masonry primer. Unlike vinyl, brick requires a dedicated primer coat. Do not skip this step. Masonry primer penetrates into the porous brick surface, neutralizes alkalinity (which can cause paint to saponify and peel), and creates a consistent surface for the finish coats to bond to.

Step 5 - Apply two finish coats. Two full coats of masonry paint applied at the correct spread rate. The mortar joints require extra attention - they absorb more paint than the brick face and gaps in coverage there allow moisture infiltration that leads to peeling. Brush or roll the mortar joints carefully on the first coat before rolling the faces.

Common Mistakes That Cause Painted Brick to Fail

If you have seen painted brick homes in your neighborhood where the paint is peeling badly within a few years, one or more of these is almost always the cause:

• Painting over failed mortar joints without tuckpointing first
• Using standard exterior latex paint instead of masonry-rated products
• Skipping the masonry primer coat
• Painting damp brick - moisture trapped under paint film causes immediate adhesion failure
• Applying paint in cold weather (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Single coat application on a porous surface that requires two

Maintenance After Painting Brick

Painted brick requires periodic maintenance to stay in good condition. Unlike natural brick, the paint surface will eventually need refreshing - typically every 8 to 15 years depending on exposure, product quality, and climate conditions. South and west-facing walls receive more UV and weather stress and tend to need attention sooner than sheltered walls.

Annual inspection is worthwhile - look for any areas where caulk has cracked around windows and trim, check mortar joints for new cracks, and watch for any early peeling at corners or near grade where moisture intrusion is most common. Addressing these small areas as they appear prevents them from expanding into larger failures.

Cost to Paint a Brick Exterior in the Lehigh Valley

Brick painting costs more than vinyl or wood siding painting due to the additional prep work and the higher-cost masonry products required. For a typical two-story brick home in Easton or Bethlehem, expect $4,000 to $8,500 for a full professional paint job including tuckpointing of normal mortar wear, cleaning, priming, and two finish coats.

Homes with significant tuckpointing needs, heavy efflorescence, or previously failed paint that needs preparation and priming will be toward the higher end. We provide free on-site estimates throughout Easton, Bethlehem, Palmer Township, and the surrounding Allentown and Lehigh Valley area.

If you are considering painting brick and want a professional opinion on whether your specific situation is a good candidate, we are happy to take a look. See also our guide on painting vinyl siding and the best time of year to paint in Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I paint brick a different color than what it is now?

Yes. Masonry paint is available in any color. The constraint is not color choice but the permanence of the decision - once painted, returning to the natural brick look is very difficult. Within painted brick, color changes at repainting cycles are straightforward. Going from a light color to a darker one or vice versa is handled with appropriate primer coverage at the transition point.

Will paint trap moisture in my brick and cause damage?

This is the most important concern with painted brick. Correct masonry paint products are vapor permeable - they allow moisture to move through the wall assembly without trapping it behind the paint film. Choosing the wrong product (standard exterior latex instead of masonry-rated paint) creates the vapor barrier problem. Correct prep and correct product selection eliminate this risk in normal conditions. Homes with known moisture intrusion issues - failing flashing, grading problems, or active water infiltration - need those problems addressed before any painting.

How long does painted brick last?

A properly prepared and painted brick exterior with quality masonry products should last 10 to 15 years before needing full recoating in normal Lehigh Valley conditions. South-facing exposures and walls with ongoing moisture management challenges may need attention sooner. Spot repairs in localized peeling areas can extend the overall life of the paint job between full recoating cycles.

Is it worth it to paint old brick versus using masonry stain?

Masonry stain is worth considering as an alternative if your brick is in structurally good condition and you primarily want a color change rather than a uniform opaque appearance. Masonry stain penetrates the brick surface rather than sitting on top of it - it creates a color change while preserving the natural texture and maintaining full vapor permeability. It cannot cover spalling, staining, or significant surface inconsistencies the way paint can. If you want a solid opaque color, paint is the right tool. If you want a naturalistic look with enhanced color, stain is worth discussing.

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