The painted brick trend has taken Tennessee neighborhoods by storm, transforming countless homes from traditional red brick to sleek white, charcoal, or custom-colored exteriors. But before you grab a paintbrush or call a contractor, it’s crucial to understand both the benefits and permanent implications of painting your brick exterior. This decision will affect your home’s appearance, value, and maintenance requirements for decades to come.
Understanding the Painted Brick Trend
Why Painted Brick Became Popular
The painted brick movement gained momentum as homeowners sought to modernize homes built in the 1970s-1990s when red and brown brick dominated. Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram showcased stunning transformations where dated brick homes became contemporary showpieces with a simple coat of paint.
Visual Impact Painted brick can instantly update your home’s curb appeal, creating clean lines and allowing architectural details to stand out. It provides a uniform backdrop that highlights landscaping, shutters, and other exterior elements.
Design Flexibility Natural brick limits your color palette for trim, doors, and accents. Painted brick opens up countless design possibilities and allows you to coordinate with neighborhood trends or personal preferences.
The Case for Natural Brick
Timeless Appeal and Longevity
Historical Value In Middle Tennessee, many homes feature beautiful natural brick that reflects regional architectural traditions. This brick often has character variations, color depth, and texture that can’t be replicated with paint.
Zero Maintenance Beauty Quality natural brick can last 100+ years without any maintenance beyond occasional cleaning. The color won’t fade, chip, or require refreshing, making it the ultimate low-maintenance exterior.
Authentic Texture and Character Natural brick provides depth and visual interest through color variations, texture differences, and the natural aging process that creates patina over time. Each brick tells a story through subtle color and texture differences.
Resale Considerations
Market Preferences While painted brick appeals to some buyers, others specifically seek the authenticity and craftsmanship of natural brick. In certain Tennessee markets, natural brick is viewed as more premium and traditional.
Broad Appeal Natural brick tends to have broader market appeal since it doesn’t reflect specific color trends that might become dated. A well-maintained natural brick home appeals to both traditional and contemporary design preferences.
The Case for Painted Brick
Modernization and Style
Contemporary Aesthetic Painted brick can transform a dated-looking home into a modern, magazine-worthy exterior. It creates clean lines and allows other architectural elements to become focal points.
Color Coordination Painting brick allows perfect coordination with trim colors, roofing, and landscaping. You can create cohesive color schemes that enhance your home’s architectural features.
Covering Imperfections If your brick has staining, mortar discoloration, or mismatched replacement bricks from repairs, paint can create a uniform, clean appearance.
Design Versatility
Trend Adaptation Painted brick allows you to update your home’s appearance as design trends evolve. You can refresh the color every 10-15 years to maintain a current look.
Personal Expression Custom colors allow homeowners to express personal style and create unique exteriors that stand out in neighborhoods of similar brick homes.
Critical Factors to Consider
Brick Quality and Age
Historic or High-Quality Brick Homes with historic brick, handmade brick, or premium materials should generally maintain their natural state. These materials have inherent value and character that painting would diminish.
Standard Builder Brick More common, uniform builder brick from recent decades may benefit from painting if the color feels dated or doesn’t suit your style preferences.
Brick Condition Damaged, stained, or deteriorating brick might benefit from painting as a cost-effective alternative to replacement or extensive cleaning/restoration.
Architectural Style Compatibility
Traditional Styles Colonial, Georgian, and traditional Southern architecture often look best with natural brick that honors the historical integrity of the design.
Contemporary and Transitional Modern farmhouse, contemporary, and transitional styles often benefit from painted brick that creates clean, updated lines.
Mixed Materials Homes combining brick with other materials (stone, siding, stucco) might benefit from painted brick to create better visual balance and coordination.
The Permanence Factor
Understanding the Commitment
Irreversible Decision Once you paint brick, removing the paint is extremely difficult, expensive, and often damages the brick surface. Consider this a permanent decision that will affect your home for its lifetime.
Ongoing Maintenance Natural brick requires virtually no maintenance, while painted brick needs repainting every 10-15 years depending on Tennessee’s weather conditions, paint quality, and sun exposure.
Future Owner Considerations Your paint choice will impact all future owners of your home. Choose colors and finishes that have lasting appeal rather than following short-term trends.
Tennessee-Specific Considerations
Climate Impact
Humidity and Moisture Tennessee’s humid climate can be challenging for painted surfaces. Moisture can cause paint adhesion issues, especially if proper preparation wasn’t completed.
Temperature Fluctuations Our climate’s temperature swings can cause expansion and contraction that may lead to paint cracking or peeling over time.
Sun Exposure Southern and western exposures in Tennessee receive intense UV exposure that can fade paint colors more quickly than northern climates.
Regional Preferences
Neighborhood Context Consider your neighborhood’s character. In established areas with predominantly natural brick homes, painted brick might look out of place. In newer developments, painted brick might fit better with contemporary trends.
Local Resale Market Research recent sales in your area to understand buyer preferences. Some Tennessee markets strongly favor traditional natural brick, while others embrace painted brick updates.
Professional Application Considerations
Preparation is Everything
Surface Cleaning Brick must be thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt, efflorescence, and any existing sealers before painting. This often requires pressure washing and chemical cleaning.
Mortar Joint Repair Any damaged or deteriorating mortar joints must be repaired before painting to prevent water infiltration and paint failure.
Primer Selection High-quality masonry primer designed specifically for brick is essential for proper adhesion and longevity.
Paint Selection
Breathable Formulations Brick needs to “breathe” to allow moisture vapor to escape. Using non-breathable paint can trap moisture and cause brick deterioration.
Quality Matters Premium exterior masonry paints designed for brick applications will last significantly longer than standard exterior paints.
Color Considerations Light colors reflect heat and may last longer in Tennessee’s climate, while darker colors can fade more quickly and absorb more heat.
Making Your Decision
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Is your brick architecturally significant or historically valuable?
- Are you prepared for the long-term maintenance commitment?
- Does painted brick fit your neighborhood’s character?
- Is your primary motivation updating dated color, or do you genuinely prefer painted brick?
- Have you considered alternatives like cleaning, sealing, or updating other exterior elements first?
Alternatives to Consider
Professional Brick Cleaning Sometimes brick just needs professional cleaning to remove years of dirt and pollution. This can dramatically improve appearance while maintaining the natural beauty.
Brick Staining Brick staining can subtly change color while maintaining the natural texture and some of the authentic appearance.
Updating Other Elements Sometimes updating trim colors, adding shutters, improving landscaping, or refreshing the front door can modernize your home’s appearance without painting the brick.
Cost Considerations
Initial Investment
Professional brick painting typically costs $3-6 per square foot, depending on preparation needed, paint quality, and home complexity. This includes cleaning, repairs, primer, and two coats of paint.
Long-term Costs
Factor in repainting costs every 10-15 years throughout your ownership. Natural brick requires no such ongoing investment.
Resale Impact
While painted brick can increase curb appeal for some buyers, it might decrease appeal for others who prefer natural materials. The net impact on resale value varies by market and execution quality.
Professional Recommendations
If you decide to paint your brick, invest in professional preparation and application. The quality of the initial paint job will determine how long your investment lasts and how good it looks over time.
Essential Professional Services:
- Thorough surface preparation and cleaning
- Proper mortar joint repair
- High-quality masonry primer application
- Premium exterior masonry paint
- Attention to detail around trim and architectural elements
Final Thoughts
The painted brick versus natural brick decision ultimately comes down to your personal preferences, home’s architecture, neighborhood context, and willingness to commit to ongoing maintenance. Both options can create beautiful homes when executed thoughtfully.
If you’re leaning toward painted brick, take time to drive through neighborhoods with painted brick homes to see how they age and weather over time. Look for examples that are 5-10 years old to understand the long-term appearance.
Considering painting your brick exterior? Contact Michael’s Painting for a professional consultation. We’ll assess your brick’s condition, discuss your design goals, and provide honest guidance about whether painted brick is right for your specific situation. Our experience with Tennessee’s climate and local architectural styles ensures you’ll make the best decision for your home’s long-term beauty and value.