Get matched with top painters in Fort Benning, GA

While painting can certainly change the look of a chimney, you should think twice about giving your brick chimney the old landlord special.

Painting brick is porous, meaning it’s full of tiny holes that can soak up moisture. Those holes also allow it to dry, though. So, when you paint it, you trap any moisture inside, providing an opportunity for mold, mildew, and water damage.

Paint also shows wear faster than naked brick. This means that once you paint a brick surface, you’ll have to keep painting it to maintain a clean look. A paint job is also harder to undo on brick because of its porous nature. Once you paint it, it’s hard to go back without some serious power washing—another added cost.

While you could conceivably select any paint finish, paintable wallpaper tends to look its best with a flat or eggshell finish. A higher gloss paint might make the texture pop more, but it can look a bit dated once the paint has dried. And don’t worry about whether a water-based latex paint will loosen the wallpaper. Paintable wallpaper has a coating that prevents this from happening, so using latex paints without applying an oil-based primer to seal things first is fine.

When you compare limewash versus paint, the drawbacks of limewash include its relatively limited durability compared to synthetic paints, often requiring reapplication in high-traffic areas or harsh weather conditions. Moreover, applying limewash requires skill and patience to avoid issues like streaks or uneven coverage. Limewash also comes with some color variety using natural pigments, but you have fewer options than if you go with paint.

If you caulk after painting, a few things can happen that you definitely don't want to happen. For one, caulk is messy and can make for an equally messy finish. Second, applying caulk after painting might not provide proper insulation because the paint is underneath the caulk and doesn’t add the same protection as caulk. Third, if you caulk after painting, you'll see the caulk line, which can really detract from the look of your home.