17 Painting brick and masonry
Masonry has to breathe, especially in our winters.
Brick & stucco · Ottawa
Painted masonry that can still breathe.
Brick, stucco, block and foundation walls cleaned, repaired and finished with breathable mineral paint, limewash or masonry coatings, so moisture can escape instead of freezing behind the finish.
Brick & stucco painting at a glance
- Typical cost$3.50–6.50per sq ft of wall, cleaned and coated
- On site3–7 daysplus drying time after washing
- SeasonMay–Septwarm, dry weather
- Our warranty3 yearswritten workmanship warranty
Why it matters
The wrong paint can destroy a brick wall.
Brick and stucco take on moisture from rain, snow and the ground, and they need to let it back out. Seal them with an ordinary acrylic house paint and the water gets trapped. In an Ottawa winter that trapped water freezes and expands, and the face of the brick pops off. It’s called spalling, and once it starts it’s expensive to fix.
That’s why masonry gets its own products and its own process. We check the wall for moisture problems and loose mortar first, clean it gently, repair cracks and joints, and use coatings that let vapour escape: mineral silicate paints that bond with the masonry, limewash that soaks in and wears gradually, or breathable masonry paints for stucco and block.
Sometimes the best advice is not to paint at all. Brick that just looks dirty can often be cleaned, and tired mortar can be repointed, keeping the natural colour and avoiding a finish you’ll have to maintain. We talk through those options honestly before you decide.
- Moisture checked first. Leaks, downspouts and grading problems found before anything is coated.
- Gentle cleaning. No high-pressure blasting that damages brick faces and mortar.
- Repairs before paint. Cracks, loose mortar and damaged stucco dealt with first.
- Breathable coatings. Mineral silicate paint, limewash or vapour-permeable masonry paint.
What’s included
Every masonry job includes
Brick, stucco or block, every masonry job follows the same careful steps.
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Wall assessment
Moisture sources, mortar condition, previous coatings and efflorescence checked before quoting.
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Clean & repair
Gentle washing, efflorescence removal, crack repairs, and loose old paint removed.
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Breathable finish
Mineral silicate paint, limewash or vapour-permeable masonry coatings chosen for the wall.
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Cleanup & care plan
Windows, trim and landscaping protected, and a care plan for the finish you chose.
Finishes
Paint, limewash or stain?
Painting brick is a big decision because it’s very hard to undo. If you like the colour of your brick but not its condition, cleaning and repointing may be all it needs. If you want a change, the finish you choose decides how the wall looks and ages.
For stucco, the question is usually whether the wall is sound. Hairline cracks can be filled; large cracks, bulges or soft areas point to moisture behind the stucco that needs repair first.
Colour is worth testing on the wall itself. Masonry absorbs coatings differently from siding, and limewash in particular dries much lighter than it looks when wet. We apply test patches and let them dry fully so you can judge the real result.
Brick and masonry in the painting guide- Mineral silicate paint
Bonds with the masonry; very breathable and long-lasting. - Limewash
A soft, chalky finish that soaks in and wears gradually. - Masonry stain
Changes the colour of brick without forming a film. - Stucco repaints
Breathable masonry paint over sound stucco. - Foundation walls
Parging and exposed concrete painted to match. - Repointing first
Loose mortar repaired before any finish goes on.
Finishes compared
How masonry finishes compare.
Each finish looks different, breathes differently and ages differently.
| Finish | Breathability | Look | How it ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral silicate paint | High | Solid, matte colour | Very long-lasting; the colour stays stable |
| Limewash | High | Soft, chalky, varied | Wears gradually and can be refreshed; doesn’t peel |
| Masonry stain | High (no film) | Brick texture shows through | Fades slowly; can’t peel |
| Breathable masonry paint | Moderate | Solid colour | Good on sound stucco and block |
| Standard acrylic house paint | Low on masonry | Solid colour | Can trap moisture, peel and cause spalling; not for brick |
- Elastomeric coatingsThick, stretchy elastomeric coatings bridge hairline cracks in stucco, but they let little vapour through, so they’re a poor choice on brick.
- EfflorescenceWhite salt deposits show moisture moving through the wall. The cause is fixed and the salts cleaned off before coating.
- Previously painted brickOld, failing paint on brick is removed where it’s loose, and the new coating has to be compatible with what’s left.
- MortarSoft, crumbling mortar is repointed before painting; paint won’t hold a failing joint together.
- Pressure washingHigh pressure can erode brick faces and blow out mortar, so we clean masonry at low pressure.
- ReversibilityPaint is very hard to remove from brick. Limewash and stain are easier to live with if you change your mind.
Built for Ottawa
Masonry in an Ottawa freeze-thaw winter.
Ottawa sees dozens of freeze-thaw cycles a year, and masonry walls are where they do the most damage. Water that gets into brick or stucco through cracks, failed caulking, splashback from the ground or a poorly draining sill freezes and expands. A breathable finish lets the wall dry out between storms; a sealed one keeps the water in.
Masonry finishes also need warm, dry weather to cure, and limewash and mineral paints have their own application windows. We schedule masonry work for late spring to early fall, after the wall has had time to dry out from washing.
Heritage homes and brick
Many of Ottawa’s older brick homes are in or near heritage conservation districts, where painting previously unpainted brick is usually discouraged and exterior changes can need heritage approval. Check with the City before painting brick on a heritage property.
Masonry painting doesn’t need a building permit. If mortar, lintels or the wall itself need structural repair, that comes first and may involve a masonry contractor.
Brick and masonry guide- Freeze-thaw. Breathable coatings so trapped water can escape before it freezes.
- Splashback. Lower courses and sills checked for damage from snow and rain.
- Cure weather. Applied only in warm, dry conditions with no frost in the forecast.
- Drying out. Walls left to dry after washing before any coating goes on.
- Heritage. Heritage status checked before painting unpainted brick.
How we work
A masonry finish, step by step.
Most brick and stucco jobs take 3 to 7 working days, plus drying time after washing.
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Assess
Check the wall
We look for moisture sources, mortar damage, previous coatings and efflorescence.
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Clean
Low-pressure washing
Dirt, mildew and salts cleaned off without damaging the masonry.
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Repair
Cracks and joints
Cracks filled, stucco patched and failing joints flagged for repointing.
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Dry
Let it dry
The wall is left to dry fully so moisture isn’t sealed in.
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Coat
Breathable finish
Mineral paint, limewash, stain or masonry paint applied the way the product requires.
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Handover
Cleanup and care plan
The surroundings cleaned up, a walkthrough and a care plan for the finish.
What affects the price
What makes brick and stucco painting cost more or less.
Masonry costs more per square foot than siding because it’s porous, textured and needs careful cleaning, repair and specialty coatings. A clean, sound wall is the low end; a wall with failing old paint, efflorescence and cracked joints sits at the top. Our Ottawa painting cost guide and estimator shows how it adds up.
The finish matters too. Mineral silicate paints cost more than standard masonry paint but last much longer, and limewash takes more coats but is easy to refresh later.
Painting the rest of the house too? See exterior painting. We work on masonry across the region, including brick homes in Ottawa, Manotick and Richmond.
Painting cost guide and estimator- Wall area & heightSquare footage, storeys and access.
- ConditionCracks, failing old paint and efflorescence.
- Finish typeMineral paint, limewash, stain or masonry paint.
- RepairsStucco patching and crack repair.
- Old coatingsRemoving loose, incompatible paint.
- DetailWindow surrounds, sills and trim around the masonry.
Timing
Planning masonry work around the seasons.
Masonry has the shortest window of any painting we do.
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Winter
Planning and colour-testing season; masonry can’t be coated in freezing weather.
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Spring
Walls are wet from snowmelt, so we wait until they’ve dried before washing and coating.
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Summer
Ideal for masonry, avoiding the hottest midday sun on south walls.
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Early fall
Good conditions until nights approach freezing; jobs are scheduled to finish before frost.
Painting guide
Learn more before you book
18 Painting in Ottawa weather
Temperature, dew, frost and sun decide the schedule.
19 Exterior colours for Ottawa
Colours that work against snow and summer green.
FAQ
Brick & stucco painting questions
Still deciding? Call or text 613-806-4000 and we'll talk it through.
How much does it cost to paint brick in Ottawa?
Most brick and stucco painting runs about $3.50–6.50 per square foot of wall, including cleaning, minor repairs and a breathable coating. The front of a typical house is often $2,800–5,000, and a full bungalow $5,000–10,000.
Is it safe to paint brick?
Yes, if you use a breathable coating such as mineral silicate paint or limewash, and fix moisture problems first. Standard acrylic house paint can trap moisture and cause spalling in our winters.
What’s the difference between limewash and paint?
Limewash soaks into the brick and gives a soft, chalky, varied look that wears gradually and can be refreshed. Mineral paint gives a solid, even colour and lasts longer.
Can painted brick be unpainted?
Only with difficulty. Removing paint from brick is slow, expensive and can damage the surface, which is why we talk the decision through carefully before starting.
Can you paint stucco?
Yes. Sound stucco takes a breathable masonry paint well. Large cracks, bulges or soft areas usually mean moisture behind the stucco, which needs repair first.
Do I need permission to paint my brick house?
Not a building permit, but in heritage conservation districts exterior changes can need heritage approval, and painting unpainted brick is usually discouraged. Condo and townhome communities may have their own rules too.
How long does limewash last?
Limewash doesn’t peel; it wears gradually, especially where rain and sun hit hardest. Most homeowners refresh it every several years, which is simpler than repainting because there’s nothing to scrape.
Can you paint a foundation or parging?
Yes. Parging and exposed concrete foundations are cleaned, repaired where cracked or loose, and finished with a breathable masonry coating that matches or complements the house.
What causes the white powder on my brick?
That’s efflorescence: salts carried to the surface by moisture moving through the wall. It’s a sign to find and fix the water source, like a downspout, grading or a failed sill, before cleaning the wall and applying any coating.
Other services
Often paired with
Exterior painting
Siding, trim and doors prepared for freeze-thaw winters.
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, trim and doors with real prep and two coats.
Drywall repair & prep
Holes, dents, cracks and stains fixed before the paint goes on.
Last updated:
Free quote
Call or text for a free quote.
613-806-4000Talk to the painters who’ll actually do the work. Prefer to write? Send the form and we’ll get back to you within one business day.
- Call 613-806-4000
- Text 613-806-4000
- hello@ryanscontracting.com
- Mon–Fri, 7:30 am – 5 pm
- Ottawa
- Stittsville
- Kanata
- Carp
- Richmond
- Riverside South
- Manotick
- Greely
- Barrhaven
- Orleans
- Findlay Creek
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