How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Brick House?

Average Brick House Painting Costs

Brick Paint Costs

The biggest factors that come into play when determining brick paint costs include the paint itself and the primer. 

Paint Costs

When going on the hunt for the right type of paint for this project, you’ll have many options to consider. One gallon of paint costs an average of $30 to $70 and covers about 250 square feet. A professional can get an accurate measurement of your home and provide the appropriate amount of paint with little waste.

Paint costs increase as the size of the home increases, and this includes the number of stories. You can expect to pay roughly the following brick paint costs depending on the size of your home:

Primer Costs

When it comes to primer, 1 gallon of primer averages $7 to $15 and covers around250 square feet. Depending on the condition of the masonry, you may need to apply a separate primer before you paint. 

Applying primer helps seal the surface of the brick so the paint doesn’t soak into it and requires extra coats. There are also some paint options that include a primer. If the brick surface was previously painted, you could use a paint with primer. Otherwise, you’ll need a separate primer for an unpainted brick surface. 

Professional Brick Painting Cost Factors

When hiring a local painter to help with a brick painting project, they’ll run down a few different factors to help you determine an estimated final price. 

Size of Home

The average cost of painting a brick home exterior is $1.40 to $4.20 per square foot. This means that the larger your home is, the more a professional brick painting job will cost. 

Additionally, the number of stories also affects the cost significantly. Painting brick on a multi-story home costs up to 50% more because of the extra labor and equipment, including scaffolding, lifts, and ladders. 

Preparation & Power Washing

Preparing the surface is essential for any exterior painting project. The cost of power washing equipment and chemicals is $35 to $100 per project on average. A power washer and mild cleaning agents may be required to properly prepare the surface to receive a paint application. 

For heavy-duty cleaning, your professional might also use a trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution, which is a powerful cleaning agent. Wait 24 to 48 hours for the surface to dry before applying paint. 

A contractor will likely have the cost to power wash included in your quote. It's recommended that you leave this task to professionals as they will know the appropriate pressure to clean your home safely.

Labor

Labor for this project ranges from $150 to $350 per hour but varies from contractor to contractor. Labor includes planning, preparation, the removal of existing loose paint, edge and gap caulking, set-up of the area, and project cleanup.

Location and Weather

The cost to paint a brick house also depends on where you live, as labor costs vary depending on location and the cost of living. The best way to determine the labor cost near you is to ask local professionals and get a few quotes.

Weather also plays a big factor in the cost of painting a brick house. Damp and cool weather can create delays and extend the drying time of the paint job, increasing labor costs for the project. When planning for this project, pick a span of days without rainfall in the weather forecast. Summer and fall are the ideal seasons to paint a brick house due to the warmer weather.

DIY Brick Painting Costs

While you can do a DIY paint job yourself, this can be a tough project to do on your own because paint can’t be removed from brick after a paint job. The process of preparing the brick exterior for paint also requires a lot of work, and can affect the entire paint job if not done properly.  

Supplies

You can expect an average cost of $15 to $30 for additional supplies such as tape and paper used to protect unpainted surfaces, repair materials, chemicals, cleanup supplies, and disposal services. These additional prices will likely be included in the overall project bid if you hire a pro. 

It costs an average of $100 to $300 for the equipment needed for this project, including drop cloths, rollers, brushes, poles, and rags. The total cost for all the paint and supplies for a DIY brick painting project averages between $1,208 to $2,053 for a 2,500-square-foot home. 

Equipment Costs

For a DIY job, you’ll need a ladder or scaffold, which averages from $130 to $160 per item to rent. You may also need to rent a power washer, which averages $35 to $100 per day. 

Cost to Paint Brick by Finish

There are different finishes to choose from when planning your brick painting project, and each finish will influence the final cost. 

Whitewash

The price for a whitewashing project can range from $110 to $200 per 250 square feet for the paint plus rollers, brushes, and a ladder. This project will cost around $0.45 to $0.80 per square foot. 

Whitewash is the application of diluted white paint applied to your brick surface. This project offers a vintage look at a lower cost than fully painting your exterior. This is a project often completed as a DIY, but a pro will have more experience and will be able to determine how thick the whitewash should be applied. 

Limewash

Limewash is an alternative coloring option to painting. To make limewash, mix water, hydrated masonry lime, and table salt. This project can range from $30 to $60 in materials for your entire home if you choose to DIY. The total cost for this project is about $50 to $100 if you need ladders or paint rollers. 

This option does not fully cover the original brick color but rather adds a thin coat of bright white and is often applied sporadically, so the original color shows through. Limewash can also be tinted to any color you prefer.

FAQs

Is painting a brick house a good idea?

Painting your brick house can refresh an outdated brick exterior. By painting your brick house, you can increase your home’s curb appeal, protect the brick exterior from weather changes, and make it easy to keep your home’s exterior clean. 

What are the disadvantages of painting a brick house?

When deciding whether to paint a brick house, it’s important to consider that the paint job is permanent. You won’t be able to remove the paint from the brick, though you can repaint if needed. You might also need to clean the exterior of your home more often, as dirt and mildew are easier to spot on painted exteriors than plain brick. 

How long will painted brick last?

If you use high-quality paint, painted brick can last more than 10 years. Brick exteriors painted with lower quality paint may need repainting every three to five years. To ensure your painted bricks last longer, you may need to repair the brick before painting.