Exterior Painting in Indianapolis
Brick painting and limewash in Indianapolis
Orange 1970s brick, a mismatched addition, or a chimney that does not match the house. Brick can be changed, but it has to keep breathing, and the choice of coating matters more than the color.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Breathable masonry coatings only
- Mortar and moisture checked first
Paint lines and window treatment brands we work with
Quick answer
Brick painting in Indianapolis starts with a moisture and mortar check, then a gentle wash, then a breathable coating: limewash for a soft, weathered look, mineral stain for a color change that keeps the texture, or a masonry paint for full coverage. Sealing paints that trap moisture are what make painted brick spall in Indiana winters.
What the job involves
Why brick is painted differently from wood
Updated September 2026
Brick and mortar absorb water and let it back out. A coating that stops that drying traps moisture in the face of the brick, and freeze-thaw pops the face off in flakes. So we use products that let vapor through: true lime-based limewash, mineral silicate stains, or breathable masonry paints from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore or PPG, never a standard exterior acrylic straight on the brick.
Loose mortar is repointed before coating, and any wall showing white efflorescence has its water source traced first. Trim and doors on the same house follow our exterior trim and door painting processes.
What is included
What a brick coating job includes
- Moisture, efflorescence and mortar checked before any product is chosen
- Samples applied on your own brick
- Gentle wash, never high pressure on mortar
- Loose and eroded joints repointed and allowed to cure
- Breathable limewash, mineral stain or masonry system only
- Mortar joints worked with a brush or back-roll
- Windows, trim and landscaping protected throughout
Choosing between the options
Limewash, mineral stain or masonry paint
| Consider | Limewash | Mineral stain | Masonry paint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft, chalky, brick shows through | Color change, texture stays | Solid, uniform color |
| Breathability | Complete | Complete | Good with a breathable system |
| Wear | Fades gradually, no peeling | Very long-lasting | Long-lasting, can peel if moisture is trapped |
| Reversible | Partly, wears off | No | No |
Older soft brick is usually best with limewash or stain; masonry paint suits newer brick and mismatched additions.
What moves the price
What moves the price of brick painting
No sourced brick-specific figure is quoted here; masonry is priced by wall area, product and repair.
- Wall area Measured square footage of brick or block to be coated.
- Product Limewash, mineral stain and masonry paint differ in material and labor.
- Mortar repair Loose or eroded joints are repointed before coating.
- Moisture issues Efflorescence and wet walls need their source traced first.
- Stories and chimneys Height and roof work need staging and anchors.
- Existing coatings Old failing paint on brick is removed before a breathable system goes on.
- Samples Test areas on your own brick before committing a full wall.
Variations of this job
The brick painting & limewash jobs we get called for
Limewash finish
Limewash is slaked lime and water, brushed onto damp brick so it soaks into the surface rather than sitting on top as a film. It dries to a chalky, soft finish, and it can be washed back while wet to let some of the brick show through for an aged look. Because it is mineral, it breathes completely and it wears gradually instead of peeling. It suits older brick and anyone who wants the texture to stay visible. It will fade and can be refreshed over time rather than stripped.
Masonry paint
Masonry paint gives the most uniform color and hides mismatched brick, patches and old additions completely. We only use breathable elastomeric or acrylic masonry systems made for brick, applied over a masonry primer after washing and repointing. Two coats go on by sprayer with a back-roll to work the paint into the mortar joints. It is the most complete color change and the least reversible, so we show you samples on an inconspicuous section of your own brick before committing a whole wall.
Foundation block coating
Exposed concrete block foundations below siding are one of the most common masonry jobs: stained, patched and gray, they make fresh siding look dated. We wash and scrape loose coatings, patch spalled areas, prime with a masonry primer, and finish in a breathable masonry paint, usually a shade that ties the foundation to the trim or roof. Soil and mulch are pulled back a few inches so the coating extends below grade line and the bottom edge does not show as a ragged stripe.
Painted chimney
Chimneys take the worst weather on a house and often do not match the rest of the brick after a roof or siding change. Before coating, we look at the crown and flashing from the ladder, because a cracked crown sends water into the brick from above and no coating will survive it. We repoint loose joints, then limewash or mineral-stain rather than paint, since chimneys need to breathe more than any other masonry. Work above the roofline is done only with proper roof anchors and staging.
Local context
How this work runs around Indianapolis
Irvington Terrace was laid out as a planned neighborhood of Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival houses, many in brick, and brick of that age is soft and absorbent compared with modern brick. That makes limewash or a mineral stain the safer choice there over a film-forming paint. In the city's protected districts, such as Lockerbie Square and the Old Northside, painting unpainted masonry is an exterior change that goes through the preservation commission, so we check that before any sample goes on the wall.
From your call to the final walk-through
How a brick job runs
- 01
Call and describe the brick
Walls, chimney or foundation, and the look you want.
- 02
Visit and moisture check
We look at mortar, efflorescence, crown and flashing.
- 03
Samples
Limewash, stain or paint tested on a hidden section.
- 04
Written scope
Product, repairs, and any approvals needed.
- 05
Wash and repair
Gentle wash, loose mortar repointed, dry time.
- 06
Apply
Limewash brushed, stain or paint sprayed and back-rolled.
- 07
Walk-around
Every wall checked in daylight with you.
FAQ
Questions we hear on this job
Only with the wrong product. Breathable coatings on sound brick hold up well.
Limewash soaks in and breathes; paint forms a film. Limewash wears gradually, paint can peel.
Rarely without damage. Treat masonry paint as permanent.
Yes. Loose joints are repointed before any coating.
Yes, after checking the crown and flashing; we usually limewash or stain chimneys.
Only in the city's protected districts, where painting masonry goes through the commission.
Related services
Other exterior painting work we handle
Power Washing
Soft wash for siding, mildew and algae removal and more.
learn about power washingPorch Painting
Porch floor paint, steps and lattice and more.
Porch Painting in IndianapolisWood Rot Repair Before Painting
Window sill replacement, trim board replacement and more.
see our wood rot repair before painting pageGarage & Entry Door Painting
Steel garage doors, exterior shutters and more.
Garage & Entry Door PaintingReady when you are
Tell us about the brick and we will set the visit
Describe the walls and the look you want, and we will book the sampling visit on the call, any hour.
Faber Paint & Blinds service office
3053 Stillcrest Ln, Indianapolis, IN 46217