Painting Guide
Can You Paint Exterior Brick? Pros, Cons and What to Ask First
By Dioclecio Gomes, Founder & Owner4 min readUpdated October 2, 2026
In This Guide
Yes, you can paint exterior brick, but it is close to permanent and it can trap moisture if the coating cannot breathe. The National Park Service warns that painting with non-permeable paint can accelerate decay by trapping moisture behind the coating, and says a water-permeable coating works best if a coating is truly necessary. Cleaning, repointing mortar joints and fixing moisture problems first are what separate a paint job that lasts from one that peels.
Painting exterior brick is a popular fix for dated or stained brick, especially on older New England homes. The National Park Service is direct about the main risk: paint or coatings that do not let moisture pass can trap it inside the wall. That does not make painting brick wrong, but it does change what a good job looks like and what to ask before you hire anyone.
Is Painting Exterior Brick a Good Idea?
It can be, when the brick is sound, the mortar is in good shape, water is kept out of the wall, and the coating is designed for masonry. Painted brick can give a dated facade a cleaner, more uniform look and a new color without replacing the material. The trade-off is commitment: once brick is painted, it is very hard to return to bare brick.
What Are the Risks of Painting Brick?
The sources agree on three problems:
- Trapped moisture. The National Park Service says waterproofing brick with chemicals, or painting it with non-permeable paint or other coatings, will accelerate the decay by trapping moisture behind the new coating. PROSOCO, a masonry products maker, adds that trapped moisture in porous brick can lead to efflorescence and structural damage.
- Peeling and flaking. PROSOCO lists peeling and flaking paint and limited breathability among the concerns when painting over brick and masonry.
- It is hard to undo. PROSOCO notes that removing paint from brick often requires abrasive methods that can damage the brick.
What Kind of Paint Works on Exterior Brick?
The National Park Service says that if it is absolutely necessary to coat a brick wall, a water-permeable coating will work best. PROSOCO makes the same point, recommending high-quality, breathable paints designed for masonry to reduce the moisture risks. In practice, ask the painter which product they plan to use and look up its vapor permeability or breathability data from the manufacturer before you agree. A coating that is not designed for masonry is the most common way this job goes wrong.
What Prep Does Exterior Brick Need?
PROSOCO says cleaning, sealing and repointing mortar joints are essential maintenance tasks for brick. Before any paint goes on, the wall should be clean and sound, failed mortar should be repaired, and any source of water getting into the wall should be fixed, because paint will not cure a moisture problem and may hide it. If your home was built before 1978, remember that paint disturbance is also covered by the EPA lead-safe work rule, which applies to paid painters.
Planning an exterior repaint?
We look at the surface in person and give you a fixed price in writing, with no obligation.
Get a Free Exterior Painting EstimateHow Much Does It Cost to Paint Exterior Brick?
Our exterior painting range is $4,000 to $12,000 for a single-family home in Central Massachusetts, depending on size, siding material and how much prep and repair is needed. Brick usually calls for more prep and a specialty coating than a typical repaint, so the real number depends on the condition of the brick and mortar once someone has looked at it in person. We give a fixed price in writing after that visit.
What About Older and Historic Homes?
The National Park Service guidance on brick comes from historic preservation, where the priority is not to trap water in old masonry. If your home is old, check with your town's historic commission before changing the exterior, since some districts regulate exterior color and finishes. If you decide not to paint, cleaning gently and repointing failed mortar is often the better investment.
The Bottom Line
You can paint exterior brick, but use a breathable coating made for masonry, repair the mortar and moisture problems first, and treat the color choice as permanent. If a painter cannot tell you which product they use and why it is breathable, keep looking. Get a Free Exterior Painting Estimate
FAQ
Is it bad to paint brick?
It is not automatically bad, but the risks are real. The National Park Service says non-permeable paint on brick can accelerate decay by trapping moisture, and PROSOCO notes peeling, flaking and efflorescence as concerns. A breathable coating made for masonry and sound mortar reduce the risk.
Can you remove paint from brick later?
Rarely cleanly. PROSOCO says removing paint from brick often requires abrasive methods that can damage the brick, so painting should be treated as permanent.
Do you need a special paint for exterior brick?
Yes. Both the National Park Service and PROSOCO point to water-permeable, breathable coatings designed for masonry, so the moisture that gets into the wall can still get out.