Mike Holmes Settles Whether It's Better To Stain Or Paint Brick, Once And For All

It's always a challenge working with brick walls and features installed at different times, especially when they are adjacent to each other. Older brickwork tends to look its age, with faded color and physical signs of deterioration, such as cracks and chips. On the other hand, newer bricks will have a more uniform shade, with sharper edges and a more consistent form. When faced with these two, it's very tempting to slap them both with the same shade of paint to achieve a uniform look. However, HGTV's Mike Holmes, who previously exposed home upgrades that are a waste of money, begs to differ.

According to the celebrity contractor, it's much better to stain brick walls than to have them painted. "I don't recommend painting your bricks (exterior or interior). Instead, look into staining your brickwork," he wrote on Instagram as a caption to a video showing him and his team staining the brick-covered exterior of a large house. Explaining why he prefers staining, Holmes said it allows the bricks to breathe, and it also gives them a chance at a new life. Holmes reiterated his preference for staining in a separate Facebook post, saying, "Staining not only can help protect the exterior brick of your home, but it can also provide a modern update that can truly transform the look of your home, improving your home's curb appeal and increasing the value of your home." He added that when done right, "staining can last 40 to 50 years."

Mike Holmes' dislike for painting bricks is justified. The Brick Industry Association (BIA), a Virginia-based organization representing clay brick manufacturers and distributors, has warned against painting bricks in an attempt to conceal any age-related defects. According to the organization, not only will paint trap moisture in the brick's porous structure, but it can also promote mold and mildew growth. Once it does, the structural integrity of the brick will be compromised, ruining the chances of the building material lasting long. It's also worth noting that removing paint from brick can be difficult and expensive.

On the contrary, as what Mike Holmes said, staining or tinting does not ruin the flow of moisture from within the brick. If anything, it just gets absorbed without disrupting the structural pores of the building block. Holmes's daughter, Sherry Holmes, explained it best in a "Holmes Family Rescue" episode where they tackled a project that required them to match existing brickwork with a newer material. "The tinting becomes part of the brick, which allows it to retain its texture and breathe better so moisture doesn't get trapped. It will keep its color for a long time," she said (via Realtor). Apart from staining, however, properly cleaning exposed brick is needed to prevent discoloration and maintain the appearance of the material for years and years. Also, it pays to know how to decorate a brick wall so it does not clash with other elements of the space, minimizing the need for any remodeling.