Selecting the best paints for exterior brick ensures historic homes retain their timeless charm while gaining modern protection. Painting historic brick demands breathable, durable formulas to preserve porous surfaces without moisture damage. These seven top paints deliver stunning, long-lasting results tailored to historic properties.
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Importance of Proper Paint for Historic Brick
Painting historic brick requires careful consideration due to its age and porosity. Unlike modern brick, historic surfaces often have weathered textures or high pH levels, making standard paints unsuitable.
The wrong paint can trap moisture, leading to mold, peeling, or brick deterioration, compromising both aesthetics and structural integrity. Top brick exterior paints must allow vapor permeability while resisting weather, ensuring the home’s heritage is preserved.
Choosing paints designed for masonry protects against environmental wear and enhances curb appeal, aligning with preservation goals for historic homes.
Risks of Poor Paint Choices
Using unsuitable paints on historic brick can lead to costly issues. Key risks include:
- Moisture entrapment causing mold, mildew, or brick spalling, especially in humid climates.
- Peeling or fading from non-breathable paints, requiring frequent, expensive repainting.
Selecting paints formulated for brick mitigates these risks, ensuring durability and authenticity.
Romabio Masonry Flat Paint
Romabio Masonry Flat Paint is a mineral-based, breathable solution ideal for painting historic homes, calcifying to the brick for a permeability rating of 70+, preventing moisture buildup .web:1.
Its toxin-free formula suits sensitive historic environments, offering full coverage in two coats to refresh aged brick. Available in customizable colors, it resists rain, hail, and UV rays, delivering a no-chip finish that preserves the home’s classic look for decades, perfect for Georgian or Colonial facades.
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Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior
Benjamin Moore’s Aura Exterior paint offers a luxurious low-luster finish, making it one of the best paints for exterior brick on historic homes. Its Color Lock Technology ensures fade-resistant colors, vital for maintaining vibrant Victorian or Tudor brickwork .web:4.
Though acrylic latex, Aura’s breathability supports historic brick’s moisture release needs, resisting blistering and peeling when applied over a primed surface. Its upscale aesthetic enhances period details, providing a durable, elegant result for historic properties.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh
Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald Rain Refresh combines advanced acrylic latex with self-cleaning technology, ideal for low-maintenance historic brick painting .web:5. Rain washes away dirt, reducing upkeep challenges for historic homes.
Its breathable formula prevents moisture damage, while mildew and fade resistance suit varied climates. Colors like Neutral Ground complement historic aesthetics, making it a practical choice for exterior brick surfaces, ensuring longevity and charm with minimal effort.
Keim Mineral Masonry Paint
Keim’s Mineral Masonry Paint, a silicate-based option, penetrates brick for permanent adhesion and high vapor permeability, preventing peeling on historic homes .web:2. Its off-white and gray tones evoke European elegance, enhancing Federalist or Regency facades.
UV-resistant and eco-friendly, Keim resists sun damage and aligns with preservation standards, offering a fire-resistant, durable finish that respects the brick’s historic texture and character.
Behr Masonry, Stucco & Brick Paint
Behr’s Masonry, Stucco & Brick Paint is an acrylic latex paint formulated for affordability and durability, suitable for painting historic brick on a budget .web:10.
Its breathable properties allow moisture escape, reducing mold risks, while UV resistance prevents fading in sunny climates. Ideal for simpler historic styles like Craftsman homes, it provides reliable coverage with a matte finish, ensuring a refreshed look that honors the home’s heritage.
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Loxon XP Masonry Coating by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams’ Loxon XP Masonry Coating is a high-build acrylic designed for challenging historic brick surfaces, offering superior waterproofing and breathability .web:6.
Its thick formula fills minor surface cracks, common in older homes, while resisting wind-driven rain and UV damage. Suitable for humid or coastal historic properties, Loxon XP ensures a uniform, durable finish that protects and enhances Gothic Revival or Italianate brickwork.
Siloxane 7 by PPG Paints
PPG’s Siloxane 7 is a water-based siloxane paint excelling in breathability and weather resistance, making it one of the top paints for exterior brick .web:7. Its low VOC formula is gentle on historic brick, preventing moisture-related damage while offering a satin finish that highlights architectural details.
Ideal for shaded or humid historic homes, Siloxane 7 delivers a vibrant, long-lasting result, preserving the authenticity of Colonial or Antebellum structures.
Comparison of Best Paints for Exterior Brick
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This table helps compare top paints for historic brick painting projects.
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Alternatives to Painting Historic Brick
If painting historic brick raises concerns about maintenance or preservation, alternatives can refresh the exterior while respecting the home’s heritage. Consider these options:
- Limewashing uses a breathable, lime-based solution that bonds with brick, offering a soft, weathered look reversible with water, ideal for preserving historic textures.
- Cleaning with low-pressure washing removes dirt and mildew, restoring brick’s natural beauty without coatings, suitable for well-maintained historic homes.
These methods maintain authenticity with less commitment than painting.
Impact on Historic Home Value
Painting historic brick with the best paints for exterior brick can boost property value by enhancing curb appeal, especially with neutral or period-appropriate colors like soft grays or creams.
A durable, well-executed finish signals quality maintenance to buyers. However, in markets valuing unpainted brick for its historic authenticity, painting may deter preservation-minded buyers. Researching local preferences ensures the project aligns with market expectations.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Paint for Historic Brick
Selecting the right paint for exterior brick painting on historic homes balances aesthetics, durability, and preservation. The seven paints highlighted, from Romabio to PPG Siloxane, offer breathable, weather-resistant solutions tailored to historic needs. By considering these options and alternatives, you can achieve a stunning, lasting finish that honors your home’s heritage.
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