How to Stain Brick

Brick is an incredibly durable building product for interiors and exteriors and needs only minimal maintenance. But eventually, the brick may become tired and need an update. Stain is versatile; it can be thick, thin, opaque, or add a hue, like staining brick white, giving it a whitewash effect. Other popular brick stain colors are classic red, rich charcoal, vibrant terracotta, and sky blue.

As long as the brick is structurally sound and the surface isn't painted, one of the best ways to give it a design refresh is to stain it. One of the best stains for brick is water-based brick stain since it's easy to apply and allows the brick to breathe. The stain that can be used on brick should be formulated for brick, concrete, or masonry.

Staining brick is considered better than painting because of its breathability, longevity, and nice look. Stain doesn't damage brick unless you use a type with a sealant that traps water vapor in the brick, which might eventually cause brick cracks.

Learn how to give your fireplace, exterior wall, interior brickwork, walkway, brick flooring, or other masonry surfaces vitality and a new life with brick stain.

What Brick Staining Is

Brick stain is a permanent surface finish that changes the appearance of the brick. Unlike paint, which remains on the surface, brick stain is a mineral product that soaks into the brick and becomes a part of the brick. It can never chip, bubble, or pull away from the brick.

Brick stain works best when applied to unsealed, clean, fully porous brick. It cannot be applied to painted brick. Stain will bead on top of the paint. For best results, use a paint sprayer to apply the stain. Since brick is so porous, it often needs several coats of stain. It will be faster and more efficient using a few passes of a paint sprayer vs. a brush or roller.

Brick stain does not protect the brick, though it is possible to purchase brick stain with protective additives. The best place to buy brick stain is from a home improvement store, paint retailer, or an e-commerce site. It's sometimes better to go into a store for paint swatches, but since the stain is dependent on the brick it's being applied to, you can save yourself the trip and get it online.

Painting Brick vs. Staining Brick

Brick staining and brick painting are related because both are ways of freshening up brick and giving it a new look. Beyond that, the two methods work differently and have outcomes that can appeal to different goals.

Brick Painting

Brick painting covers the entire surface of the brick, including the mortar, with a relatively thick layer of paint. This method gives the brick a uniform, opaque appearance. Though there are no gradations of color, painted brick can emphasize the texture of the brick surface. It also can give the brick a clean, modern feeling.

One advantage of painting brick is that the paint covers all of the surface flaws. Patched areas are covered up, as well. A disadvantage is that the paint seals up the porous brick and does not allow the brick to breathe.

Paint can be removed from brick later on, although with much difficulty. Exterior painted brickwork can be sandblasted or power washed with water.

Brick Staining

Brick stain covers the surface of the brick with a thin color. This color can either be solid and opaque, much like paint, or light and thin to preserve the brick’s basic color scheme. 

Brick stain soaks into the pores of the brick and allows it to breathe. Unlike painted brick, stained brick does not allow water to become trapped below the surface.

One disadvantage of brick stain is that it will not refurbish heavily damaged brick. Not only will masonry patches not be covered with brick stain but they can become even more glaringly obvious because they become darker than the surrounding brickwork.

Brick stain is nearly impossible to remove. The stain is thin enough to embed itself deeply into the pores of the brick. Stain can be removed by sandblasting, but a thin layer of brick will be removed in the process.