Homeowners can transform the appearance of a brick home with a D.I.Y. project. Brick is durable and low-maintenance, but the colour, mortar or style of older brickwork may no longer match your style or suit the rest of your home.
Paint, render or cladding are popular choices for a brick home makeover, but you can also make a more subtle change using limewash, contrasting mortar or create a feature using different materials.
Get inspiration from these 10 ways Bunnings Workshop community members have achieved brick exterior updates.
1. Paint the brick
Painting brick is relatively affordable but can provide one of the most dramatic exterior transformations, particularly when the original colour makes the home feel dark or dated. Workshop member @EdithHobbs refreshed a 1970s brown brick home with a new colour scheme. The brown brick and heritage-green trim were replaced with fresh white paint and contrasting black details for a cohesive, contemporary appearance.
2. Soften the brick colour with limewash
Limewash can brighten dark brick while retaining more of its natural texture and variation than conventional paint. Community member @Sbrodolina used a limewash to complete a brick facade makeover. Hydrated lime was mixed with water and applied over the brick using a masonry brush. Two coats produced a fresh Mediterranean-inspired appearance while allowing subtle differences in the underlying bricks to remain visible.
3. Highlight the mortar joints
Changing the colour or profile of the mortar can alter the appearance of brickwork without applying a solid coating over the entire wall. Member @jodi1 transformed dark brick using a white treatment inspired by the German Schmear technique. The existing dark joints were left in place and white grout applied. Filling the joints close to the face of the brick created a brighter, higher-contrast appearance while retaining the colour and texture of the original masonry.
4. Apply a bagged finish
Bagging sits between exposed brick and smooth render. A thin mortar coating softens the shape and colour of the individual bricks while allowing some of their texture to remain visible. @DIY-WIFEY completed a bagged brick exterior update, with mortar applied across the brick and wiped with a damp sponge to create a textured finish. After it had cured, the surface was painted in a warm off-white. Black window frames and trim provided contrast.
5. Render the brick for a smooth finish
Render can conceal the colour and joint pattern of brickwork and give an older home a clean, contemporary appearance. Bunnings Workshop member @sidrah modernised a red brick home using render and paint. The walls were rendered by a professional using Davco before being painted in the Dulux creamy beige colour Hog Bristle, while the window frames, garage door and fence were painted black.
6. Cover brick with weatherboard cladding
Cladding can completely change the architectural style of a brick veneer home while also creating an opportunity to update insulation, windows and other exterior details. Experienced renovators @Dons-Glenno used James Hardie Linea weatherboards to transform an orange brick veneer home. Hardwood battens were fixed over the existing brick before the weatherboards were installed. New windows, a relocated entrance and a new roof formed part of the wider renovation, while second-hand red bricks were used to create a contrasting feature around the front door.
7. Add stone cladding to a feature
The entire home doesn’t need to be covered to change the look. Applying stone to a porch column or entrance wall can create a focal point. A dated brick column became a standout feature in @Kn140964's front yard makeover with an arbour and paving. After a builder corrected the shape of the existing column, it was finished with stacked-stone cladding.
8. Wrap brick pillars in timber
Timber can add warmth and texture to a brick exterior while making bulky porch supports look more contemporary. Workshop member @DKG updated brick pillars with hardwood cladding. The pillars were first painted in a dark colour before horizontal battens were fixed to the masonry and Merbau boards attached vertically.
9. Tile a sheltered wall
Outdoor tiles can turn a plain brick wall into a decorative feature in a covered alfresco or courtyard. @Cometdog transformed an older outdoor area into an outdoor living room with mosaic-tiled walls installed over the painted brick. Stacked-stone cladding was also added to the brick pillars.
10. Soften the brick using a vertical garden
Adding plants can soften a large expanse of brick without permanently coating or concealing the wall. Workshop member @Darren created a vertical garden on a brick wall using terracotta pots. Five rows of timber shelves support an extensive collection of pots. The shelves and wall-mounted brackets were painted black to match the home’s fascia, gutters and window frames.
More inspiration for updating brick exteriors
Workshop member @ellys completed a substantial brick house exterior transformation using cladding. In another cladding transformation, @homeforeverhome concealed dated courtyard brickwork during a Japanese-inspired courtyard garden makeover, while @Herrenovacation demonstrated how a light finish can retain the texture of masonry in their limewashed brick house.
Get more inspiration for your makeover project from:
