How to Paint Trim on Red Brick Houses

Picking a trim color that complements your red brick house can be almost as time-consuming as painting it. You could play it safe and choose white for a traditional look, but you have many other choices, depending on your personal style. Decide if your trim is in good enough condition to accentuate with a contrasting color, or if you prefer a more blended look and want the trim color to match the red brick. Bring out the lively brick color and emphasize attractive trim by choosing complementary colors, such as blues and greens. Choose off-white, tan or a deep brown or black for a more elegant look. The process of painting trim on a brick house is no different to painting any exterior trim--just be careful not to drip paint on the brick.

Paint swatches
Test quarts
Scraper
Sandpaper
Power sander
Rags
Drop cloths and towels
Primer
Caulk and caulking gun
Paint brushes
Trim roller
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Scrape loose and failing paint with a chisel-edged paint scraper, then sand the trim until it's as smooth as you can reasonably get it. A power sander with 80-grit sandpaper works well.
- 2
  Prime the trim with oil-based or 100-percent acrylic primer. If it's in reasonably good condition, just prime the bare areas of the wood.
- 3
  Caulk gaps in the trim. Also caulk gaps or cracks between the brick and the trim. Caulking comes in a variety of colors--use a color that most closely matches the grouting material between the bricks, such as gray, so it won't show up after you've painted the trim. Allow the caulking to dry for at least eight hours.
- 4
  Apply 2-inch painters' tape to the brick around the trim. Use a folded towel to protect brick window sills from paint drips as you work.
- 5
  Apply two coats of 100-percent acrylic paint to the trim. Use a 2- or 3-inch angled sash brush for windows, and a 3-inch brush or 4-inch trim roller for wider trim.

Ideas for Exterior Paint

How to Repaint Metal Light Poles

Outdoor House Painting