Brick walls
Washed first to take off dirt, mildew and pollen, then painted with a product matched to masonry.
Brick painting in Memphis.
Dario’s Painting paints brick exteriors across Memphis and Shelby County, from whole brick houses to the trim, soffits, shutters and doors on brick homes. Brick is washed first, then painted with a product matched to masonry, and Dario is on the job from the estimate to the final walkthrough.
- Free written estimates
- Licensed & insured
- Crews speak English & Spanish
In short
Yes, you can paint a brick house, and it holds up best when the brick is clean, dry and sound before a product made for masonry goes on. The catch is that painted brick is hard to go back from: paint forms a film on the brick, needs repainting over time and is very difficult to remove without damage. Limewash, whitewash and German smear are the other common ways to change brick, and the table below compares all four. Dario can talk through the options for your brick at the free estimate. National cost guides put painting brick at about $1.50 to $5 per square foot. Estimate visits are on weekdays from 11:30 to 1:30 and on Saturdays from 7am to 6pm.
What’s included
The whole brick house, or just the trim around it.
Every exterior starts the same way: washed, scraped where paint is loose, primed where the surface needs it. The quote lists each surface, so you can do the whole house or one part of it.
Trim, soffits & shutters
The detail that frames a brick house, on its own or with the walls. In Germantown’s brick neighborhoods it is often the whole job.
Doors, garage & porch
Front doors, garage doors, porches and railings, as part of the house or as a job of their own.
Prep, done first
Power washing, scraping and priming before any finish coat, with the ground under the work covered.
Two coats
Over primer where the surface needs it. Two coats is the quote, not an upsell.
A written estimate
Each surface, the prep, the coats, the paint and the days, with a start day and an end day. Free, and yours to keep.
Painting more than the brick? See exterior painting. Only the trim, shutters or doors? See trim, doors and baseboards.
How it goes
How a brick job goes, from first walk-around to last.
The visit
Dario walks around the house with you, measures it, and looks at the brick and at anything that will cost more later if it is skipped now. Painted brick is hard to go back from, so this is the time to talk through your options.
The estimate
A written quote: each surface, the prep, the coats, the paint and the days, with a start day and an end day. It is free and yours to keep.
Prep
The brick is power washed to take off dirt, mildew and pollen, loose paint is scraped, and bare spots are primed. Water damage or failed surfaces that could not be seen at the visit are quoted separately, and nothing is done about them without your approval.
Paint
Two coats of a product matched to masonry, over primer where the surface needs it, on the days in your quote. Weather is the only thing that moves an exterior, and if it does, you hear it from us first.
The walkthrough
You walk around the house with Dario and point at anything that is not right. It is fixed before the job is called done.
Your options
Paint vs limewash vs whitewash vs German smear.
Paint is not the only way to change brick. This is how the four common finishes compare, drawn mostly from the Brick Industry Association’s (BIA) technical guidance.
| Paint | Limewash | Whitewash | German smear | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Acrylic latex paint. It forms a film on top of the brick. | Slaked lime and water, sometimes with natural pigment. A mineral wash, not a paint. | Once another name for limewash. Today, usually latex paint thinned with water, about half and half. | A layer of mortar spread over the brick, then partly wiped back. |
| Look | Opaque. Smooths the brick and mortar texture. A wide range of colors and sheens. | Matte and uneven, from semi-opaque to opaque depending on coats. Weathers with streaks. | Semi-opaque, with some of the brick showing through. | Matte. From a light wash to a thick coat that hides much of the brick. |
| Breathability | Reduced. BIA calls acrylic paint vapor semi-permeable, and more coats lower it further. | High. It does not change how much water vapor the brick lets through. | Reduced. It is still a film of paint, and heavy or repeated coats lower it. | Mineral-based, which BIA says brings fewer moisture concerns than film-forming paint. |
| How long it lasts | Repainted over the life of the brick. BIA calls it a recurring maintenance task. | About 5 to 10 years or more, depending on weathering and coats. | Less durable than limewash outdoors, and more prone to peeling and flaking. | A durable bond that can last many years. |
| Can you undo it? | Very hard. Paint can be very difficult to remove without damaging the brick. | Recoating is easy, since old coats stay on. Some limewashes rinse off in the first few days. | Wipes off with a damp cloth only while wet. Once dry, it is paint. | Treat it as permanent. Once dry, it is very difficult to remove. |
Limewash and German smear only bond to bare, unsealed brick, so neither goes over paint. That is one more reason to decide before you paint.
Before the first coat
How to paint a brick house: what it needs first.
Prep is most of the work and all of the difference. This is what the BIA and the paint makers ask for before any paint goes on brick.
Clean
Soap, water and a stiff non-metallic brush, or a low-pressure wash. BIA says not to use muriatic acid.
Dry
BIA says to wait at least 24 hours after cleaning, and longer after rain or in high humidity. Brick does not dry evenly across a house.
Sound
Loose or missing mortar and cracks wider than a business card need repair first, and BIA recommends a mason for repointing. Paint does not fix them.
No moisture problems
White powdery salt, stains and leaks mean water is moving through the wall. Fix the source first. Benjamin Moore’s masonry primer sheet calls for a surface free of efflorescence and mildew.
Masonry primer
Mortar is alkaline, so BIA recommends an alkali-resistant primer or a paint made for masonry. Sherwin-Williams calls for a masonry primer and two coats, and Benjamin Moore says brick should always be primed entirely.
Not too many coats
BIA says to avoid heavy applications or too many coats on brick, because they lower how much moisture the wall can pass.
Price
What brick painting costs in Memphis.
National cost guides put painting brick at about $1.50 to $5 per square foot. Your price is written after Dario has walked the house; these are the ranges, and the things that move them.
| Job | National range | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Brick, per sq ft | $1.50–$5.00 | HomeAdvisor ($1.50–$4.50), This Old House ($2.60–$5.00) |
| 2,000 sq ft house, one story | $4,400–$8,800 | This Old House, all siding types |
| 2,000 sq ft house, two stories | $6,900–$12,700 | This Old House, all siding types |
| Trim, per linear foot | $1–$4 | HomeAdvisor. This Old House says $1–$3. |
| Front door | $112–$330 each | This Old House, Fixr |
National averages from published cost guides, not Memphis quotes and not Dario’s prices. Every range and its source is in the house painting cost guide. Your price comes from the free written estimate.
Size and stories
A one-story house and a two-story house are different jobs, mostly because of height and ladder work.
How much of the house
The whole exterior, one side, or only trim, soffits and shutters. The quote prices what you ask for.
Condition of the brick
Mildew, moss, old peeling paint and salt deposits mean more washing and prep before any finish coat goes on.
A rough, porous surface
Brick and mortar joints are rough and porous. Benjamin Moore’s masonry primer sheet gives coverage as a range that depends on surface texture and porosity, so the same wall can take more or less paint.
Repairs found during prep
Water damage or failed surfaces that could not be seen at the visit are quoted separately, only with your approval.
Access and detail
Slopes, tight side yards and planting close to the walls take more setup. More colors and trim detail mean more careful cutting in.
Painting brick in Memphis
Brick, weather and neighborhoods in Memphis.
Germantown brick
Germantown’s neighborhoods are full of brick homes, where the outside work is often trim, soffits, shutters, doors and garage doors rather than whole walls.
Neighborhood color rules
If your neighborhood association reviews exterior colors, as many in Germantown and Collierville do, bring the approved colors to the walkthrough.
Shade and mildew
East Memphis has mature trees and a lot of brick ranch houses. Shade keeps walls damp and mildew is common, so every exterior starts with a wash. Paint over mildew and it comes back through.
Humidity and drying
Paint dries slower in damp air, and Memphis is humid for much of the year. Brick soaks up water and dries unevenly. BIA also says not to paint a surface less than 5°F above the dew point.
Sun and heat
South and west walls take the hardest sun. Paint put on a wall that is baking in the afternoon sun can dry too fast to level out, and Benjamin Moore’s masonry primer sheet lists 90°F as its top surface temperature.
Spring pollen
For a few weeks every spring, tree pollen coats everything in yellow. Washing takes it off before painting; fresh paint put on over it traps it in the finish.
For the months that suit outside work here, see when to paint an exterior in Memphis. Town by town, from Germantown’s brick neighborhoods to the Historic District rules in Collierville, see what to know in Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Cordova, Arlington and Lakeland, or see all the areas we paint.
How much does it cost to paint a brick house?
National cost guides put brick at about $1.50 to $5 per square foot: HomeAdvisor says $1.50 to $4.50 and This Old House $2.60 to $5. Size, stories, the condition of the brick and mortar, and whether you paint the whole house or only the trim move the price. Dario’s free written estimate gives the number for your house.
Can you paint brick?
Yes. Brick is on the list with siding, stucco and wood. It is washed first, then painted with exterior brick paint matched to masonry, from premium Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore lines that are never thinned to stretch a gallon. Painted brick is hard to go back from, so it is worth talking through at the visit. Not every wall is a good candidate: brick with active moisture problems needs those fixed first, and the Brick Industry Association does not recommend coating glazed brick, which is hard and glossy.
Does painted brick need maintenance?
Yes. The Brick Industry Association says acrylic latex paint on brick creates a recurring exterior maintenance task, which means repainting over time. Wash off dirt and mildew as it shows up, and watch for peeling, flaking or white powdery salt. The salt is a sign of moisture moving through the wall, and that needs fixing before you repaint. See how often to repaint for the signs it is time.
How do you get paint off brick?
Some of it, but rarely all of it, and never easily. The Brick Industry Association says paint can be very difficult to remove from brick without damaging it. It advises against sandblasting, which damages the brick, and against pressure washing for removal, because the pressure needed is excessive. Removal usually takes a chemical stripper made for brick, tested on a hidden patch first. Bob Vila quotes a pro who puts the odds of getting all the paint off at near zero. Stripping is specialist work and not one of the services we list, which is why it pays to decide before you paint.
What is the difference between limewash and paint on brick?
Paint is an opaque film that smooths the brick and comes in a wide range of colors and sheens. It needs repainting over time and is very hard to remove. Limewash is a mineral wash that soaks into bare brick, looks matte and uneven, weathers over time and lasts about 5 to 10 years or more, according to the Brick Industry Association. New coats go over old ones, and the wall keeps breathing. The trade-offs: limewash only bonds to bare, unsealed brick, so it will not go over paint, and its color range is smaller. Dario can talk through the options for your brick at the free estimate.
How do you whitewash brick?
Whitewash today usually means latex paint thinned with water. The Brick Industry Association suggests starting at about one part paint to one part water, and Bob Vila uses a 50/50 mix. It goes on with a brush or roller and is partly wiped off with a cloth so the brick shows through. Test it on a hidden patch and judge it dry, because it looks different wet. It is still a film of paint, so heavy or repeated coats can hurt how well the wall breathes. Dario can talk through the options for your brick at the free estimate.
Can you paint just the trim on a brick house?
Yes. Trim, soffits, shutters, a garage or a porch can be a job on its own, and the quote prices only what you ask for. In Germantown’s brick neighborhoods that is often the whole exterior job. If your neighborhood association reviews exterior colors, bring the approved colors to the walkthrough. See trim, doors and baseboards.
Sources
Where the facts come from.
- Brick Industry Association: Technical Note 6, Changing the Appearance of Brick Masonry (March 2025) — paint, limewash, mortar wash and diluted-paint finishes; surface prep; drying time; removal; dew point
- Sherwin-Williams: How to Paint a Brick House — wash, dry, masonry primer, two coats
- Benjamin Moore: Ultra Spec Masonry Interior/Exterior 100% Acrylic Sealer 608, technical data sheet — surface must be dry, clean and sound; coverage varies with texture; 90°F top surface temperature
- Benjamin Moore: How to Paint Your Home Exterior — brick should always be primed entirely
- Bob Vila: Limewashed Brick 101 — limewash will not adhere to painted brick
- Bob Vila: German Smear 101 — a permanent treatment that works only over bare brick
- Bob Vila: How to Remove Paint From Brick — chemical strippers; why to avoid sandblasting and power washing; a pro’s view on getting all the paint off
- Bob Vila: How to Whitewash Brick — 50/50 paint and water
Checked September 2026. Prices and product details change; your written estimate has the numbers for your house.
More from Dario’s Painting
All servicesThe rest of what we do.
Exterior painting
Brick, siding, stucco and wood: washed, scraped and primed where needed, then two coats.
Learn more
Trim, doors and baseboards
Baseboards, crown, casings, doors and exterior trim, caulked and primed, then two coats.
Learn more
When to paint an exterior
Label temperatures, dew point, rain and Memphis weather by month: the best windows for outside work.
How often to repaint
Intervals for each room, surface and deck, plus the signs it is time to repaint.
House painting cost
National price ranges for interior, exterior, cabinets and decks, and what moves them in Memphis.
Free estimate
Get a free brick painting estimate.
Answer a few short questions and Dario calls you back to book a time to walk the house, usually within the hour between 7am and 7pm. Or call now and talk to him directly.
Rather pick the time yourself? Book the free estimate visit online (weekdays 11:30 to 1:30, Saturdays 7am to 6pm). dario@dariospainting.com · 7am to 7pm, seven days