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Saw a whole street of painted brick houses in Portland and it's got me thinking

I was walking through the Irvington area last month and noticed at least 15 homes with painted brick, mostly in dark colors like navy or charcoal. Some looked really sharp and modern, but I talked to one owner who said the paint traps moisture and his wall started spalling after 3 years. Is painting old brick a smart update or a future repair nightmare? What's your take on this trend?
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2 Comments
ray_coleman41
Ever deal with a damp basement? Painting brick is basically the same problem, sealing it in. That owner's spalling story is the classic result, and fixing it means stripping all that paint back off. It looks cool now but it's a permanent change with real long term costs.
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kai_bennett
My neighbor painted her 1920s brick porch white last year. Already seeing chips and dark spots where moisture is trapped. Is there any paint or method that actually lets brick breathe, or is it all basically a bad idea long term?
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