Key Takeaways
- A painted brick ranch house before and after can turn a dated 1960s–1980s facade into a bright, modern, farmhouse, or coastal home exterior.
- Painted brick transformations enhance curb appeal and modernize homes, especially when the brick exterior, trim, shutters, windows, and front door are planned together.
- White, greige, charcoal, sage green, and dark gray exterior paint colors all work, but paint colors have varying light reflectance values (LRV), so sampling is essential.
- Painted brick houses require maintenance, and brick houses may need repainting every 10 to 20 years.
- Transformations often use contrasting trim colors for impact, such as black trim on white paint or white trim on charcoal brick.
Introduction: Why Paint a Brick Ranch House?
A brick ranch is usually a one-story house with a long, low roofline, broad facade, and exterior brick common from the 1950s through the 1980s. Many brick homes from this period have red brick, orange brick, faded shutters, mixed siding, or dated trim that drags down the home’s curb appeal.
Painting brick can instantly modernize a home’s facade, and painting can change a home’s identity and curb appeal dramatically. In this post, you’ll see painted brick ranch house before and after ideas with real color direction, cost context, prep steps, and maintenance tips.
Before and After #1: 1974 Red Brick Ranch to Warm White Classic
Before: a 1974 red brick ranch in suburban Atlanta had brown gutters, hunter green shutters, and a shadowy porch. The goal was simple: make the brick exterior brighter without making the ranch style home feel stripped of character.
After: the brick was painted Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008, with trim in Tricorn Black SW 6258, a natural wood front door, and black metal lights. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams has an LRV of 82, so it reflects plenty of light without feeling cold, which is why it’s so popular for an all white ranch house exterior. Boxwoods, seasonal flowers, new numbers, and a wider walkway gave the project a fresh coat of curb appeal. A pro crew finished in about five days using masonry-specific brick paint.
Before and After #2: 1968 Orange Brick Ranch with Black Trim Contrast
Before: a 1968 orange brick ranch in Dallas had patchy mortar, tan trim, a storm door, and a busy carport. The design vision was bold but clean: cool down the orange exterior brick and frame the low roofline.
After: Benjamin Moore Seapearl OC-19 went on the brick, with Black Beauty 2128-10 on fascia and matte black gutters. Seapearl by Benjamin Moore has an LRV of 77.95, making it a soft gray-white rather than stark white. A wood-toned door, black railings, and a horizontal mailbox gave the brick house a modern feel.
Before and After #3: 1982 Brown Brick Ranch with Siding to Unified Greige
Before: this Columbus, Ohio brick ranch house had brown brick on the lower half, faded beige vinyl on the top half, dark brown shutters, and a cream garage door. It looked like several remodeling phases never agreed with each other.
After: the exterior brick and siding were painted Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172, with Chantilly Lace OC-65 white trim and a Hale Navy HC-154 door. Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore is a popular greige color because it can blend warm and cool materials. A white paint job can unify contrasting brick and siding, but in this case greige did the same job more softly. The result: a painted brick house can look larger and more updated, similar to other ranch home exterior makeover ideas that rely on cohesive color and materials.
Before and After #4: 1959 Red Brick Ranch to Deep Charcoal Modern
Before: a 1959 Portland brick ranch had small shutters, cream trim, mossy steps, and a heavy stone planter. The homeowners wanted a moody exterior that worked with evergreen landscaping and cloudy light.
After: Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore SW 7069 covered the brick, with Caviar SW 6990 on soffits and trim. Dark paint colors can emphasize the horizontal lines of a ranch house, which made the long building look intentional instead of flat and echoes many black ranch house exterior designs. Cedar wood accents around the porch softened the painted masonry. Natural wood accents can soften the painted look of masonry, especially with charcoal or near-black paint.
Before and After #5: 1976 Brick Ranch With Porch to Light Coastal Look
Before: a Jacksonville, Florida brick home had sandy beige brick, forest green shutters, white metal columns, and a screened porch. It blended into nearby beige brick houses.
After: the brick was painted Sherwin-Williams Shoji White SW 7042, with Sea Salt SW 6204 on the shutters and front door, plus Pure White SW 7005 on trim. The screen came off, square wood posts went in, and matte black lanterns replaced brass fixtures. Transformations can shift dated ranch houses into modern or coastal styles, and this one became airy, lovely, and bright, much like other thoughtfully updated blue ranch house exteriors that lean coastal.
Before and After #6: 1988 Suburban Brick Ranch to Updated Mixed-Material Exterior
Before: a Charlotte brick ranch had red brick, faded cedar shakes, chocolate trim, and an aging roof. The owners did not want to erase all natural brick texture.
After: the lower brick body was painted Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20, the gable was re-clad in vertical cedar siding, and trim was painted Wrought Iron 2124-10. One chimney and side wing stayed natural brick to reduce maintenance. New black-framed windows, bluestone steps, and layered landscaping made the painted brick home look gorgeous without losing its neighborhood character, highlighting the overall charm and functionality of ranch homes.
How to Choose the Right Color for a Painted Brick Ranch House
Ranch facades are long and low, so color matters. White is a common color for painted brick homes, and a modern farmhouse aesthetic features pairing white brick with dark trim. Common painted brick colors include creamy off-white and dark charcoal, and many homeowners love a dark gray ranch house with white trim for a crisp, modern contrast.
Use this quick guide:
Goal | Good options |
|---|---|
Bright and timeless | Alabaster, Seapearl, Shoji White |
Soft and updated | Revere Pewter, Pale Oak, repose gray |
Bold and modern | Iron Ore, Wrought Iron, Kendall Charcoal |
Country or coastal | sage green accents, Sea Salt, warm white |
Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore is a classic dark gray, while Iron Mountain by Benjamin Moore features blue undertones. Choosing a color you love is crucial for long-term satisfaction because removing paint from brick is difficult and labor-intensive, whether you’re drawn to a subdued greige or a brighter yellow ranch house exterior. |
Consider your neighborhood rules when choosing paint colors. Brick houses may face restrictions on painting due to local regulations, HOA rules, or historic district standards. Test at least three large samples on the front, side, and shade of the home before you decide.
Essential Prep and Painting Steps for Exterior Brick
Prep decides whether painted brick homes age beautifully or start peeling. Power washing is essential for deep cleaning brick before painting, but use controlled pressure so you clean the surface without damaging mortar.
Basic steps:
- Wash with water and masonry cleaner where needed.
- Remove efflorescence; Dunn-Edwards explains why salts can cause coating failure in its efflorescence guide.
- Repair cracks and mortar joints.
- Let exterior brick dry for 24–48 hours.
- Apply primer and two finish coats.
Breathable masonry paint allows moisture to escape from brick, and applying a high-quality masonry primer before painting ensures better results. A sprayer is fantastic for a long ranch facade, but back-roll or back-brush so paint reaches rough brick texture and mortar joints. Using lime-based products like limewash requires no scraping later, making it a bit easier to refresh than film-forming paint.
Maintaining a Painted Brick Ranch House
Unpainted brick is lower maintenance than painted brick, but the upkeep is manageable if you inspect it yearly. Painted brick requires maintenance due to chipping and discoloration, especially near steps, sills, gutters, and the foundation.
Clean annually with a hose, soft brush, and mild soap. Avoid aggressive washing. Repainting brick may be needed every 10 to 20 years, although quality masonry products can last longer in mild climates. Keep labeled cans for brick, trim, door, and shutters so small repairs do not turn into a full repaint, especially if you maintain a dramatic black ranch house exterior where fading and touch-ups are more noticeable.
FAQ
Does painting a brick ranch house hurt its value?
In many U.S. markets, painted brick houses feel more current to buyers, especially when the home exterior previously looked like a fixer upper. A professional job can improve curb appeal, but some buyers prefer unpainted brick or natural brick, so check your neighborhood and resale goals first.
How much does it cost to paint a brick ranch exterior?
For 2024–2025, a single-story 1,600–2,000 sq. ft. brick ranch often costs about $4,000–$9,000 with pros. Detailed black trim, mortar repair, mixed siding, garage painting, and dark colors can raise the price. Cost guides commonly place professional exterior brick painting around $1.50–$5.00 per square foot, with all-white schemes similar to those in an all white ranch house design guide sometimes costing more due to extra prep and coats for full coverage.
Can every brick ranch be safely painted?
Most sound exterior brick can be painted, but soft, spalling, damp, or severely cracked brick needs repair first. If the brick home has moisture problems, fix those before paint. For older masonry, preservation groups such as Columbus Landmarks recommend caution before coating historic brick.
Should I paint the brick and trim the same color on a ranch house?
You can, and some homeowners prefer the minimalist style. However, one-color decorating can flatten a ranch. Contrast around windows, rooflines, and doors usually creates a more stunning result.
Is black trim a good idea for all painted brick ranch houses?
Black trim works beautifully with white, creamy off white, pale greige, and some charcoal palettes. Try tricorn black, Wrought Iron, or a softer black sample next to your roof and stone before committing. In hot climates, dark trim can fade faster, so choose premium exterior paint colors and prep carefully.
