{"id":16823,"date":"2020-05-26T11:10:39","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T18:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=16823"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:44:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:44:50","slug":"curb-appeal-ideas-for-brick-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/curb-appeal-ideas-for-brick-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Curb Appeal Ideas That Work Wonders for Classic Brick Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diane Dawson<\/a>, a top real estate agent in Champaign, Illinois<\/a>, jokes that owning a brick house is like having a bunch of $100 bills plastered to your exterior. Brick is in demand and sells well.\u00a0In fact, 34% of buyers<\/a> said brick is their preferred choice for a home exterior. It\u2019s low maintenance, weather-resistant, and environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

Upgrading Your Home? First, See How Much It's Worth<\/h3>\n

It’s helpful to have an idea of how much your home is worth before embarking on a project. Enter your address and answer a few questions about your home, and we’ll provide a preliminary estimate in under two minutes.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Estimate<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Even so, boosting your brick home\u2019s curb appeal can take your home\u2019s appearance from the street to the next level and add to your bottom line at resale. HomeLight\u2019s research shows 76% of agents believe improving curb appeal is the <\/a>best thing you can do to make your home more appealing. To help you get there, we\u2019ve compiled 8 curb appeal ideas that will give your brick house some extra oomph<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"Get<\/a>
Source: (megaflopp \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Revamp your existing brick<\/h2>\n

Dawson stresses the importance of getting your brick in great shape before you focus on any other curb features. If you don\u2019t start from a strong baseline, any extra efforts will fall flat. Here are some ideas to give your worn-down brick a makeover.<\/p>\n

Repair or replace all damaged bricks<\/h3>\n

Remove and replace<\/a> (or repair) all damaged bricks with the help of a masonry specialist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If any of the base bricks are cracked, there could be a variety of issues<\/a>: moisture is a usual culprit and could be caused by a frequently watered lawn or a leaky roof \u2014 like a sponge, brick expands as it absorbs water, and over time, as one wall expands, the others will crack from the pressure.<\/p>\n

There might also be a foundation issue<\/a>. If concrete was used for the foundation, it could lead to cracking<\/a>, as concrete is extremely porous.<\/p>\n

To determine the issue, it\u2019s best to call in a structural engineer or repair mason<\/a> to check it out.<\/p>\n

Clean and brighten your brick<\/h3>\n

It sounds like a straightforward thing to do, but many owners forget to simply clean up their brick, thinking they need to spend all their time on staging or landscaping.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, though,\u00a0not all bricks<\/a> are made from the same materials. While burnt clay is the most common<\/a>, concrete is becoming increasingly popular. So make sure you talk to a professional and select the right cleaning solution if you\u2019re opting to use chemicals.<\/p>\n

If you want a quick clean that is safe for all types of brick, a water-based power-washing<\/a> with a pressure washer is a smart option; just make sure to select one with pressure less than 3,000 pounds per inch<\/a> or you might damage the brick. Be sure to cover all light fixtures and electrical outlets, place a tarp over any adjacent flowers and shrubs, and protect the trim around your windows and doors with some painter\u2019s tape.<\/p>\n

Close and lock all windows, then power-wash away! (Note that a pressure washer is strong enough to remove some paint<\/a>, so if your brick is painted, you might want to clean manually or hire professionals to do the work). After you\u2019ve used the pressure washer, you can take a small brush to spot clean any noticeable bits of grime that remain.<\/p>\n

\"change<\/a>
Source: (ready made \/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Change the color of your brick<\/h3>\n

According to Dawson<\/a>, there are three main ways<\/a> to change the look of your existing brick:<\/p>\n

Paint<\/h4>\n

Painting your brick will give it a solid, opaque color of choice. You will, however, have to repaint it every 3-5 years to maintain the color. In addition, it\u2019s an irreversible process<\/a>: you can paint it again if you wish to change the color<\/a>, but you can\u2019t get it back to the original brick.<\/p>\n

To paint your brick house<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to:<\/p>\n

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  1. Check for any needed repairs \u2014\u00a0if there are gaps in the joints, you\u2019ll need to fill those in.<\/li>\n
  2. Clean it thoroughly and let it dry for 24 hours. To clean the exterior, you\u2019ll want a pressure washer.<\/li>\n
  3. Apply latex primer, and let it dry for 24 hours.<\/li>\n
  4. Pick your paint. Elastodynamic paint \u2014\u00a0as the name suggests \u2014\u00a0is highly elastic, and does a good job filling in cracks. It also stands up against all kinds of weather.<\/li>\n
  5. Paint! Make sure to cover any parts of the house you don\u2019t want painted with tarp or painter\u2019s tape, and cover nearby shrubs as well.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Materials needed:<\/u> a pressure washer, a cleaning solution specific to your brick, latex primer, elastodynamic paint, painter\u2019s tape, and tarp to cover any areas you don\u2019t wish to paint.<\/p>\n

    Whitewash<\/h4>\n

    If a painted brick house is yelling with color, whitewashing is more like a whisper \u2014 it will tone down the brick\u2019s color and add a translucent layer of color on top.<\/p>\n

    To whitewash your home, you\u2019ll need to<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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    1. Clean it. Just like with painting, you want the surface of the brick to be free from debris.<\/li>\n
    2. Check for any chipped brick or loose joints, and repair those.<\/li>\n
    3. Remove any old paint on the brick. Your whitewashing will crackle if there are any specks leftover from previous paint jobs. If you\u2019re not sure when the brick was previously painted, and you suspect it could have been a long time ago, you might be dealing with lead paint \u2014\u00a0which is toxic. Call in a professional in that case.<\/li>\n
    4. If you\u2019re certain there\u2019s no lead in the old paint, once you\u2019ve covered yourself with a mask and goggles, you can use a putty knife or paint scraper to erase the past from your brick.<\/li>\n
    5. Cover any areas you don\u2019t want whitewashed, like plants or window shutters.<\/li>\n
    6. Prepare your whitewash \u2014\u00a0you should start with a mix of 50% white latex paint with 50% water.<\/li>\n
    7. Paint a small area of the brick to see if the color is what you desire; if not, mix in a little more water (for a lighter effect) or a little more paint (for a more opaque effect).<\/li>\n
    8. Now for the fun part: apply the whitewash! You can use either a brush or a spray bottle. If you are using a brush, work in small sections and keep some paper towels nearby to blot the areas, so you are truly whitewashing, rather than painting.<\/li>\n
    9. If you prefer to use a spray bottle, spray the area of the brick you want whitewashed with water and then wipe the same area with a cotton cloth that has been dipped into the water\/paint mixture.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Something to remember: brick is very porous! Even if the whitewash looks dark after application, after the walls have time to dry, it will lighten up.<\/p>\n

      Materials needed:<\/u>\u00a0a cleaning solution specific to your brick, a mask, goggles, putty knife, wire brush, paint scraper, drop cloth, painter\u2019s tape, water, latex paint, a bucket, a brush or a spray bottle, and a cotton cloth or paper towels<\/p>\n

      Stain<\/h4>\n

      Staining it is more permanent than painting, as it acts like a dye. When you paint your brick, you\u2019re layering color on top of it, but with staining, you\u2019re letting the color bond with the brick, allowing the brick to breathe while creating a new color.<\/p>\n

      To stain your home, you\u2019ll need to<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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      1. Verify your brick absorbs water. This is easy to do: simply splash some water on your brick. If it beads and rolls off, your brick is probably covered in a sealant and cannot be stained. Alternatively, it might be a non-absorbent type of brick; if you suspect that is the case, call in a masonry expert to confirm.<\/li>\n
      2. If the brick has a sealant and you wish to remove it, you may do so by using a lacquer thinner. Be warned that this could cause discoloration to your brick.<\/li>\n
      3. Clean the brick with a gentle pressure washer (less than 3,000 pounds per inch) and mild detergent. Your brick should be completely dry before proceeding to stain \u2014\u00a0so make sure to check the weather report as well and confirm that rain is not on the horizon!<\/li>\n
      4. Choose your stain. Your hardware store will likely have several options and will let you test with samples before you commit. Look for water-based stains \u2014 they\u2019ll allow the brick to breathe better, preventing damage from moisture. This is another good time to check the weather; stains should indicate the optimal temperature for application; you might need to wait for that heatwave to pass.<\/li>\n
      5. When you\u2019re ready to stain, put on gloves, goggles, and make sure to use painter\u2019s tape and tarp to cover up any areas of the house you don\u2019t want to stain.<\/li>\n
      6. Keep a bucket of water handy to clean up any spills.<\/li>\n
      7. Mix the stain in a bucket (one that you won\u2019t need after the project) according to the stain\u2019s specific instructions. It\u2019s difficult to lighten a stain after the fact, so it\u2019s always better to mix the color into a fairer shade \u2014\u00a0darkening should not be an issue.<\/li>\n
      8. Test a small patch of brick by painting the stain on with a brush. Wait to see how it looks when dry to confirm you want to continue with the color as-is.<\/li>\n
      9. If you like the color, continue to stain the brick. Stain each brick from left-to-right or right-to-left with the brush in one smooth, horizontal motion.<\/li>\n
      10. Paint in a scattered pattern. If you stain the bricks in the same row at the same time, you might get color variations as you move through the stain and the color settles in the bucket. Make sure to swirl the brush in the stain each time, to keep the color mixed.<\/li>\n
      11. As you work, you should be cleaning up any drips immediately with a damp rag.<\/li>\n
      12. Let your stain dry for 24-48 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Materials needed:<\/u> Water, goggles, gloves, a mild detergent, a pressure washer, a bucket, a paintbrush, brick stain, a rag, painter\u2019s tape, and tarp. You might also need a lacquer thinner if you\u2019re interested to remove sealant from your brick.<\/p>\n

        Powerwash your driveway and sidewalk<\/h3>\n

        We\u2019ve already mentioned how effective a (gentle) pressure washer can be when it comes to cleaning brick. By using one to clean up any grime and dirt on your driveway and sidewalk, you\u2019ll create a clean, bright canvas for your brick house to shine.<\/p>\n

        \"Give<\/a>
        Source: (Jon Chica \/ ShutterStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        2. Paint your door for some pizzazz<\/h2>\n

        Because brick provides a neutral \u201cbase,\u201d you can give your home a lot of personality with a bold paint color on the front door.<\/p>\n

        When choosing a door hue, take note<\/a> of any other colors present in your home\u2019s architecture: What color is the roof? What about the shutters? Your door should complement these features, as well.<\/p>\n

        Here are a few color combination ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n

        Black door with red brick<\/b>
        \nThis combo is sure to catch the eye, and research shows that homes with black doors         often sell above<\/a> their listing price!<\/p>\n