Painting Brick, the Right Way

Shiel Street North Melbourne by Clare Cousins Architects, features salvaged bricks repainted with KEIM Concretal-Lasur.

Across Australia, from seaside suburbs to bush-fringed communities, from humid coasts to cooler inland areas, bricks have long been a cornerstone of home building. And for good reason: they naturally handle the extremes our climate throws at them.

• Durability & low maintenance — Bricks don’t easily crack, erode or rot, and they resist damage from humidity, storms, wind, and hail. That means less ongoing upkeep compared with weatherboard or render. Their solidity, appearance and sound properties (sound-insulation) often make them a preferred, long-term investment.
  

• Fire and pest resistance — Kiln-fired at extremely high temperatures, bricks are non-combustible, which helps in a bushfire-prone country. They don’t rot, don’t decay, and pests such as termites can’t chew them.
  

• Thermal efficiency — Bricks have high thermal mass. They absorb heat during hot days (helping keep interiors cooler), and release stored heat slowly when temperatures fall. In Australia’s varied climate, this can reduce reliance on artificial heating or cooling, cutting energy bills.
  

• Long-term sustainability — Bricks are often made from abundant natural materials (clay, shale), and their longevity means buildings last decades or centuries with minimal maintenance. They’re reusable or recyclable too, reducing environmental impact over time.
  

Given all these benefits, it’s easy to see why so many Australian homes are built with brick. Their appearance becomes part of the architectural heritage: robust, clean, classic.

The question we often get is, "can you paint bricks?"

Say you want to freshen up an older brick house: maybe lighten it or give it a modern hue, or refresh. The challenge is doing that without compromising the very qualities that make brick so good, like breathability, moisture regulation, and durability.

That’s where a high-quality mineral-based paint system — rather than ordinary acrylic or latex house paints — becomes crucial. And this is where KEIM shines.

Here you can see the transformation of the brick with KEIM Concretal-Lasur

A beautiful way to modernise brick and achieve sustainability

Why KEIM Is an Excellent Choice for Repainting Brick — Without Losing Breathability

Here’s why KEIM stands out if you want to repaint bricks while preserving brick’s natural benefits:

• True vapour-permeable finish. KEIM’s silicate/mineral paints use a potassium-silicate binder which chemically bonds to mineral substrates (like brick, stone, render), instead of forming a plastic “film” over the surface. That means water vapour can still pass through the walls — so brickwork can "breathe", avoiding trapped moisture that leads to damp, mould or spalling.
  

• Durability & weather resistance. Once applied, the paint becomes part of the wall — resisting UV, weather, rain, frost, and pollution. The inorganic pigments are lightfast, so colours stay vibrant for decades rather than fading quickly under strong Australian sun.
  

• Mould, algae and dirt resistance. Because the finish doesn’t trap moisture and is highly alkaline (typical of mineral silicate coatings), surfaces are resistant to mould and algae — a big plus in humid or coastal areas.
  

• Eco-friendly, safe and non-toxic. KEIM paints contain no solvents, no plasticisers, no harmful VOCs — healthier for inhabitants, and better for the environment.
  

• Range of colours & aesthetic flexibility. Although mineral-based, KEIM paints come in a wide variety of shades. That allows you to choose a modern, sophisticated look — whether that’s a crisp cream, muted earthy tone, or bold architectural statement — without jeopardising the structural benefits of brick.

  
  

In short: repainting brick with a high-quality mineral silicate paint like KEIM gives you the best of both worlds — the enduring strength, breathability and resilience of brick, paired with the fresh aesthetic and customisable colour of a newly painted home.

A great end result that retains the qualities and performance of the brick.

Project Featured	Shiel Street North Melbourne
KEIM Product	Concretal-Lasur
Architect	Clare Cousins Architects
Painters	Total Painting Group
Location	Melbourne