Painting Brick Exteriors: What You Need to Know

Painted brick is one of the most dramatic exterior transformations available to Des Moines homeowners, and it's experiencing a genuine surge of popularity throughout the metro. Whether it's the warm orange and red bricks of mid-century ranch homes, the tan and buff brick of 1970s and 1980s colonials, or the common red brick of older Craftsman and Victorian properties, a coat of the right paint can completely redefine a home's character and curb appeal. But painting brick carries permanent implications and requires specific expertise to do correctly — getting it wrong creates problems that are far harder to fix than getting it wrong on wood or vinyl.

The permanence question deserves honest acknowledgment. Painting brick is a one-way decision. Unpainted brick can theoretically be stripped or chemically cleaned in the future, but the process is expensive, often imperfect, and in many cases damages the brick surface in ways that make the original appearance unrecoverable. Before committing to painted brick, homeowners should be confident it's the direction they want for the long term.

If the answer is yes — and for many Des Moines homeowners, it clearly is — the next step is ensuring it's done correctly.

The most critical technical consideration in painting brick is moisture and breathability. Brick is a porous material that naturally absorbs and releases moisture through its surface — this is a fundamental part of how masonry buildings manage moisture vapor from interior and exterior sources. If standard paint — which forms a non-breathable film over the brick surface — is used, it prevents this moisture vapor movement and traps moisture within the brick and mortar. In Iowa's freeze-thaw climate, that trapped moisture freezes and expands, causing spalling, cracking, and structural deterioration.

The solution is breathable masonry coatings specifically engineered to allow moisture vapor to pass through while providing color and protection. Elastomeric masonry paints are the standard for painted brick, providing both breathability and the flexibility to bridge minor cracks as they open and close with seasonal movement.

Preparation for painting brick begins with a thorough cleaning. Brick accumulates efflorescence — the white, powdery mineral deposits that leach from brick and mortar through moisture movement — along with dirt, biological growth, and air pollution deposits. All of these must be removed with a masonry-appropriate cleaner and power washing before any coating is applied. Any damaged mortar joints — cracked, crumbling, or missing mortar — must be tuckpointed before painting, because painting over damaged mortar seals in moisture and accelerates the deterioration of the surrounding brick.

Primer selection for brick is non-negotiable. Brick and mortar are highly alkaline materials, and this alkalinity reacts with paint binders in a process called saponification that causes paint discoloration and adhesion failure on unprepared masonry. A masonry primer or alkali-resistant primer neutralizes the alkalinity and provides a stable, consistent base for the finish coat. Painting directly over unprepared brick without appropriate primer is one of the most common causes of painted brick failure.

Application technique matters for brick due to its highly irregular, textured surface. Spraying the coating on alone leaves voids in the texture where the paint doesn't fully penetrate — these become hidden moisture entry points. The professional technique is to spray the coating and immediately back-roll with a thick-nap roller (typically 3/4-inch nap), forcing the coating into all the surface irregularities for complete coverage. Two coats using this method are the standard for quality painted brick work.

TrueEdge Paint has completed painted brick projects on homes throughout Des Moines, West Des Moines, Beaverdale, Urbandale, and surrounding communities. We use proven masonry coatings, proper preparation, and the right application technique to deliver beautiful, durable results that protect the structural integrity of the brick. Contact us for a free assessment and estimate for your painted brick project.