Brick and masonry painting
Brick painting and limewash for Atlanta homes
Painting brick is permanent in a way painting siding isn't. The coating has to let masonry breathe, because trapped moisture is what makes painted brick peel.
Calls answered 24/7. Crews staged from the Atlanta service office.
- Answered 24/7
- Breathable masonry coatings
- Mortar fixed before coating
Quick answer
Brick painting in Atlanta holds up when the coating breathes and the brick is clean and dry first. Ordinary acrylic house paint traps moisture in masonry and peels within a few seasons, so we use masonry-rated paint or mineral limewash and allow at least 48 dry hours after washing. The walk-through checks mortar and moisture before quoting.
Updated September 2026
The job
Why brick needs a different approach
Brick and mortar soak up water and release it slowly. A coating that blocks vapor traps it, and the paint blisters, the brick face spalls, or white efflorescence pushes through.
For solid color we use masonry systems such as Sherwin-Williams Loxon. For a softer, aged look we use mineral limewash like Romabio, and badly stained brick gets a Prosoco masonry cleaner first.
What moves the price
What moves the price of painting brick
- Wall area and height
Two-story colonials need ladders or staging on every side.
- Mortar condition
Loose or missing joints are repointed before any coating.
- Paint or limewash
The two differ in material and in coats the brick takes.
- Cleaning needed
Efflorescence, mildew and clay need cleaner and drying time.
- Porosity
Old, thirsty brick absorbs more primer and paint per foot.
- Trim and details
Windows, soffits, columns and rails add brush work.
What we handle
Masonry we paint and finish
Brick painting
Full-coverage paint turns red or orange brick into one solid color, most often white, greige or charcoal. Success is in the prep: a wash for dirt, mildew and clay splash, repointing of loose joints, and a masonry primer where brick is porous or chalky. Coats are brushed and back-rolled into the texture so mortar lines fill without drips. Painted brick stays painted, so we test colors on your own wall first. Dark colors on south walls fade fastest, which is worth knowing before choosing.
Brick limewash
Limewash is a mineral coating that bonds into brick instead of forming a film on top. Washed back while wet, it lets some original color show through, the aged look many owners want on ranches and colonials. It breathes well, suits older brick and wears gradually rather than peeling. The tradeoff is weathering: most limewashed walls need a refresh coat every several years, sooner on sides that take the heaviest rain. Limewash also can't go over brick that has been painted before.
Block and concrete wall painting
Block foundations, retaining walls and garage walls take masonry paint but bring their own problem: moisture wicking up from the soil. We look for white powder, damp patches and failing old paint near grade before starting, because paint over active moisture only traps it. Dry block gets voids filled, a block filler where needed and two coats of an exterior masonry finish that resists mildew near the ground. Gutters draining against the wall are pointed out, since they feed the damp.
Chimney painting
Chimneys usually get painted when the rest of the house changes color, and they sit in the most exposed spot on the building. We check the crown and flashing from the roof first, since a cracked crown lets water into the brick from above and lifts any coating. If the mortar is badly eroded, the chimney needs masonry repair before paint, and you'll hear that before you see a paint quote. The cap and flashing are checked again once the paint is on.
Your options
Masonry paint, limewash or stain
Three ways to change the color of brick on an Atlanta house.
| Coating | Look | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| Masonry paint | Solid, even color | Long life, repaint when faded |
| Mineral limewash | Soft, varied, aged | Refresh every several years |
| Masonry stain | New tone, texture kept | Very little |
Around Atlanta
Brick around Atlanta and the red clay problem
Buckhead is known for its stately brick colonials, where owners often want a lighter color without losing the masonry character. Across the metro the enemy is the same: heavy rain throws Georgia red clay onto the lower courses, and its iron-rich particles bond to porous brick and flat finishes. We rinse clay stains first and finish the bottom courses in a coating that cleans easily.
Coatings and materials we work with
Do it yourself or call
Brick is a hard surface to fix after a DIY mistake
The usual failures, and how the work is done instead.
| Step | Common DIY result | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Paint choice | House paint traps moisture and peels | Masonry paint or limewash |
| Washing | High pressure blows out soft mortar | Low pressure and masonry cleaner |
| Drying | Painting next day seals water in | Two or more dry days first |
Step by step
How a brick job runs
- 1
Inspect and sample
Mortar, moisture and old coatings checked; colors tested on a hidden patch.
- 2
Clean and repair
Washing, efflorescence treatment and repointing, then two dry days.
- 3
Protect
Windows, doors, plants, walks and driveway covered or masked.
- 4
Prime and coat
Masonry primer where needed, then paint or limewash worked in.
- 5
Detail and review
Trim lines cut clean and the finished walls reviewed with you.
Questions
Brick painting questions
When the brick is sound and the coating breathes, yes. It is permanent, so choose the color on a sample first.
Properly prepped masonry paint lasts many years. Limewash needs refreshing more often on weather-facing walls.
That powder is efflorescence, moisture moving through the wall. It's cleaned and its source checked first, or it returns through the paint.
Only with chemical stripping, which is slow and rarely complete. That's why we treat painting brick as permanent.
Yes, the brick surround with a heat-appropriate masonry paint, never inside the firebox.
Also in Exterior Painting
Related work from the same crews
- Stucco painting and repair in Atlanta
- Deck staining and sealing in Atlanta
- Fence, pergola and arbor staining in Atlanta
- Exterior doors, shutters and garage doors in Atlanta
- Pressure washing and surface prep in Atlanta
Before you book, read limewash or paint for brick.
Thinking about white brick? Start with a sample
We'll look at the mortar, check for moisture and put your color on a test patch.
Call (470) 887-8741Answered 24/7 from 565 Tift St SW Ste b, Atlanta.
Where we start from