When polled about their preferred home exterior, 34% of homeowners said brick would be their first choice. Brick has always been a long standing favorite since the third pig saved the day. Brick is low maintenance, environmentally friendly and weather resistant.<\/p>\n
But all home exteriors require maintenance and upkeep. And maintaining & rejuvenating your brick home\u2019s curb appeal can add significantly to your home\u2019s bottom line at resale.<\/p>\n
So if your exterior is brick, how do you update it\u2019s surface so it will hold its beauty and curb appeal for years?<\/p>\n
Here are three ideas that will give your bricks a new, updated look:<\/p>\n
Paint<\/span><\/p>\n Painting your brick will create a solid, opaque in any color of\u00a0 your choice. You will, however, have to repaint it every 3-5 years to maintain its color and prevent fading. Also, make sure you love it because it\u2019s an irreversible process.<\/p>\n Stain<\/span><\/p>\n Staining acts like a dye. When you stain brick you\u2019re letting the color absorb and bond with the brick. Make sure you check to ensure your brick absorbs water and isn\u2019t covered by a sealant before considering staining your exterior.<\/p>\n Whitewash<\/span><\/p>\n Farmhouse style has been extremely popular over the past few years. Homeowners can achieve a farmhouse look by white washing the brick exterior. To white wash brick, a watered down version of paint is applied and then whipped away. It creates a vintage, rustic feel.\u00a0 The wash can be applied as heavy or as light as you like.<\/p>\n Clean and Brighten your Brick<\/span><\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t sure about making a drastic change to your home\u2019s exterior, you could start with cleaning the brick. Water based pressure or power washing is a great option to get rid of years of dirty build up on the bricks themselves. It is a relatively easy process, but you may want to hire professionals to complete this job because too much pressure can cause damage to the brick exterior.<\/p>\n Any of these ideas will have your home looking updated and make it stand out beautifully in your neighborhood. But, as always, do your research and make sure your contractor is experienced in whatever process you choose.<\/p>\n