The weather hasn’t cooperated perfectly and our landscaping isn’t at its peak, but I’m incredibly excited to share photos of our newly painted brick house. I can’t wait any longer—this transformation feels huge, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
In this article we cover the full story of painting our brick house white, including:
- Why we decided to paint the brick
- The paint product we used
- How we chose the white color
- The step-by-step painting process
- A breakdown of costs
This update has made the house feel fresher and more modern, and I’m excited to walk you through how it all happened.
Below are before-and-after photos and details about the project.
Painted Brick House Before & Afters
We have many before-and-after photos showing how the house evolved. The image below compares the updated exterior, including the new front walkway and portico work.
That “before” image reflects changes we made over several years. The contrast is even stronger when you compare the painted result to how the house looked when we first bought it.
Painting the brick, along with removing the old porch, brightened the house and made it feel more contemporary and airy.
Keep reading for more photos and a full explanation of how we painted our brick house.
Why Paint Our Brick House?
Simply put: we wanted to. This is our third brick house, and I’d long imagined painting one. My partner had concerns about maintenance—mildew and long-term upkeep—which is understandable. After talking with listeners on our podcast and researching products, we found a masonry paint that addressed those concerns and gave us the confidence to move forward.
This house felt like the right candidate. It’s an early 1980s build, so the brick wasn’t historic or irreplaceable—more of a maroon, textured brick with uneven mortar. That made us more comfortable painting it, provided we used a product that wouldn’t trap moisture or require excessive maintenance. A test swatch convinced us the look would be worth it: the painted sample immediately softened the texture and neutralized the mortar.
Painted brick is also common in our city—even in historic neighborhoods—so the choice felt appropriate and in keeping with local styles. On our street, most nearby homes are unpainted brick, so painting ours added variety and lightness to the block.
Before painting, we also completed several other exterior updates over a number of years: removing trees that caused moisture issues, installing a new roof and windows, painting trim and siding, changing the front door color, replacing garage doors, grading and seeding the yard, and adding landscape lighting. Those improvements helped ensure the painted finish would feel cohesive and worthwhile.
We also removed a rotting deck in the back and added a temporary gravel patio, opened a musty sunroom into a covered porch, and made other functional changes that paired nicely with the fresh exterior color.
The painted finish unified different materials across the house and made the back elevation feel far less cluttered. It was a dramatic, satisfying change.
What Brick Paint We Used
After researching and testing options, we used Romabio’s Masonry Flat Paint. It’s a mineral-based product formulated specifically for masonry—brick, stone, and stucco—rather than a traditional latex paint. Unlike latex, which can seal brick and trap moisture, mineral paint allows the masonry to breathe, so it behaves more like a durable stain while providing an opaque, painted appearance.
Key advantages that persuaded us to use this product:
- High pH makes the finish naturally mold-resistant, reducing green mildew concerns.
- The paint can be pressure-washed at low pressure when needed.
- It carries a long warranty—Romabio offers up to 20 years—and many report it lasting 30+ years.
- The mineral composition makes it breathable, so it won’t chip or peel, and it integrates well with the masonry.
- It’s sold concentrated and mixed with water, which reduces shipping weight and keeps the product non-toxic.
- The ultra-matte finish is elegant and historic in appearance, resulting in a soft, sophisticated look rather than a glossy sheen.
That flat, matte finish was one of the best surprises: it reads as classic and high-end, and it helped the house achieve the historic, timeless feeling we wanted.
What White Paint Color We Chose
Romabio’s masonry paint can be color-matched to other brands, so we asked for a color match and ordered test pots. After trying several options, we selected a soft, warm white that reads as pure but not stark. Our chosen color was Moderne White, which reads warmer and less blinding than a crisp cool white and pairs well with our existing trim. For accuracy, the exact formula used on our house is listed as “Richmond White” in Romabio’s Masonry Flat Paint, which is helpful if you want a similar result.
How To Paint Your Brick House
We hired professionals for our two-story house with a tall chimney, but the process is straightforward and possible to DIY on smaller or single-story homes. The main challenges are reach and consistent coverage on textured brick. Below are the basic steps we followed, condensed from what our crew did:
1. Prep Your House
Prep tasks included removing shutters and outdoor items, taping and covering windows and fixtures, pressure-washing dirty or mildewed areas, and protecting landscaping with drop cloths. You don’t need to pressure-wash every inch—focus on grime or mildew—and no primer is generally required for this masonry paint.
2. Mix, Spray, and Backroll the First Coat
Romabio ships the product concentrated, so it needs to be diluted with water to the specified ratio. Spraying is faster and better at reaching crevices on textured brick; after spraying, the crew backrolled the first coat to push paint into the pores and even out coverage. The crew wet the brick before application to help the product penetrate, since the paint acts more like a breathable stain.
3. Caulk Deep Gaps
After the first coat dried, the crew filled large crags or deep shadows with paintable exterior caulk to eliminate dark spots and create a more even surface.
4. Spray the Second Coat
Because the first coat was thorough, the second coat could be sprayed quickly and did not require backrolling. Two coats were sufficient for uniform coverage.
5. Paint Non-Brick Areas Appropriately
Use suitable paints for siding, metal, and wood. Our painter recommended a low-luster exterior paint for hardboard siding to match the masonry’s matte appearance. Some small metal items were primed with an all-purpose primer before painting.
6. Clean Up and Reinstall Items
Cleanup included removing tape and tarps and returning furniture. We chose not to rehang shutters because we liked the cleaner look without them. Final touch-ups and any additional carpentry or electrical work were completed as needed.
How Long Did It Take?
Our project took about five days total (four working days once travel is excluded) with a crew of three painters working roughly 8am–6pm each day. A typical timeline for our job was:
- Day 1: Travel and prep
- Day 2: First coat on front and chimney side
- Day 3: First coat on back and garage side
- Day 4: Second coat across the whole house
- Day 5: Siding painting, cleanup, and travel
How Much Did It Cost?
With final invoices in, the total for our painting portion was about $7,500. Initial estimates were around $6,400 (labor approximately $4,500 and materials around $1,900), but final costs included travel and a few extras. Lance, our painter, suggested that clients should expect to pay roughly $1.50–$2.50 per square foot for a professional application of Romabio’s Masonry Flat Paint, including labor and materials, depending on region and site conditions. Your costs may vary based on house size, accessibility, and local rates.
What’s Next?
During the painting week we unexpectedly removed and rebuilt the portico, which added wiring for new porch lanterns and some carpentry work. We considered keeping the portico but ended up liking the cleaner look without it. The front door was painted Benjamin Moore’s Tranquility in a high-gloss finish designed for doors, which paired nicely with the new white exterior. We also plan to replace or tile the porch floor eventually, improve landscaping, and make a few additional exterior tweaks like painting back doors to match and adding window boxes.
Overall, we’re absolutely thrilled with the result. The painted finish unified the exterior, brightened the house, and made the whole property feel refreshed. Neighbors and family have been very positive, and the change has been surprisingly emotional in a good way. We look forward to continuing updates—landscaping, porch finishes, and a few more exterior details—to complete the look.
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