First impressions often last. Although that saying applies to people, the same can be said for houses. After all, how your house looks from the outside contributes greatly to its appeal, especially if you’re planning to sell it in the future. If a house lacks any pleasing aesthetic, it’s often set at a discount, only for fixer-uppers to come rescue it. That’s why the real estate world includes curb appeal in their property’s selling point.
Even though architecture continues to develop, some homeowners are still drawn by the vintage feel of certain styles, particularly brick houses. Because aside from their rustic look, brick houses are capable of absorbing humidity to alleviate indoor temperature. Moreover, they demand little maintenance and just as little energy costs, which lightens the load on homeowners. But be as it may, it can’t stop time from affecting its masonry.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can revive its worn-out appearance. Here are some of them:
1. Restore Damages
Even up against house fires or severe weather, brick houses are well-known to withstand almost anything. In exchange, durability costs its susceptibility to long-term damage. After all, exposure to extreme temperatures and exceeding amounts of water absorption would take a toll on anything down the line. But given how brick houses have been around for ages, masons have created techniques that enable them to pick apart the damaged brick without tearing everything down.
Naturally, this would be tricky if done by yourself. As a concept, repointing or tuckpointing techniques both sound simple. Repointing is for filling in or repairing damaged, cracked, or crumbling joints on brickwork. Meanwhile, tuckpointing is similar in essence, but it includes two different colors of mortar to fill in any gaps. Both are necessary skills since this ensures masonry paint manufacturers retain their newly coated quality.
However, according to Romabio, doing so requires extensive research and preparation.
Admittedly, using the wrong brick and mortar won’t compromise the house’s structure unless you choose ones that are low quality. All they’ll affect is its curb appeal since looking at unmatched bricks and mortar from the original would be an eyesore. But aside from that, the right conditions must be met while repairing. Otherwise, the mortar won’t cure properly.
With these specificities, homeowners might struggle from start to finish. However, it’s not an impossible task that limits it to the experts alone. Therefore, if you have time, you can do it yourself. If not (and you have expenses to spare), leave it to a professional mason.
2. Clean It Up
Considering they’ve been exposed to the elements for so long, it’s not surprising that brick exteriors lose their colors and appear worn down despite being in good condition. To regain their original charm, give them a thorough clean-up. However, as mentioned earlier, too much exposure caused multiple layers of dirt to accumulate. So, it’s safe to say that it’ll take more than a brush and a bucket of soap to do it.
Instead of wasting time and energy on scrubbing, use a pressure wash. From its name alone, this cleaning tool utilizes high pressure to remove layers of accumulated dirt with a quick shower. Compared to cleaning it by hand, pressure washing reduces cleaning time while uncovering the original brick and mortar after removing the grime. With that out of the way, brick exteriors will regain their original, fresh appearance.
3. Splash Some Colors
For those who aren’t in the mood to have those cracks filled out or clean up layers of grime, don’t worry because there are other ways you can upgrade your brick exterior. Giving its surface a fresh coat of paint is one way it can regain some life.
Use colors that complement your home while ensuring little attention is given to the old brick exterior. Ideally, it’s best to use dark colors to cover up its imperfections. But since it’s not ideal to paint brick, be careful in selecting masonry paint and ensure you repaint it regularly to avoid it from peeling off. But if you think repainting takes too much time, consider staining it instead.
4. Pay Attention To Your Entrance
From the entire house, your entrance plays a significant part in your exterior since it’s where people come and go. Not only does it turn visitors off when it looks old, but it also compromises home security, especially if there are cracks along the front door. Replace hinges or doorknobs to secure the front door. To boost your front entrance’s charm, consider adding a front porch—or ensure it’s still in working condition if you already have one.
5. Tend To Your Garden
For those not interested in tweaking their houses, broaden your horizons and make your home green instead. Breathe life across your yard by planting all sorts of plants and shrubs. Choose brightly colored flowers to draw attention away from your old brick exterior. However, hiring a landscaping expert to give your yard a complete makeover is much better.
Takeaway
Brick houses have stayed in the real estate world for multiple reasons: durability and vintage aesthetic. However, ensuring it stays looking new after so many years is a challenging endeavor. Fortunately, there’s no need to consider tearing the entire brick exterior down when you can give it an upgrade instead.
