How to Paint an Exterior Wall

Painting outside walls is an effective way to add colour that transforms the exterior of your house. Whether you’re looking to create a cohesive flow from the inside or experiment with bolder colours, find the perfect shade in our extensive colour palette.

For painting an exterior brick wall or refreshing an existing outdoor paint finish, we recommend using our Intelligent Masonry Paint, which is available in almost all Little Greene colours.

This quick-drying, water-based masonry paint can be used to achieve a long-lasting, smooth matte finish on brick, stone or rendered walls. Extremely durable, it will last at least 15 years on exterior walls before repainting is required.*

Our Masonry Paint also benefits from being highly dirt-resistant, with anti-fungal and anti-ageing properties that will ensure your home exteriors stay looking beautiful for longer.

Learn more about our Intelligent Masonry Paint.

Follow our step-by-step guide to painting an exterior wall

What to consider before you start painting exterior walls

Make sure that the weather provides good conditions for painting. The ambient temperature should be above 41°F with no risk of rain during application or drying. Avoid painting in full sun or on surfaces that are already warm as this will affect the way the paint dries.

How to prepare exterior walls for painting

Preparing render, brick or cement block work:

Ensure that the exterior surface is clean, dry and grease-free before brushing down the surface to remove any loose material.

Preparing previously painted exterior walls:

1. Ensure that the surface is clean, dry and grease-free. Brush down the wall to remove any loose or flaking paintwork.
2. Replace any loose mortar or render. Make sure to fill and repair any cracks with exterior grade filler before you start the project.
3. If the surface of your outside wall has become powdery, brush it down and treat it with a masonry stabilising solution before painting.
4. Treat areas with any fungal growth with a fungicidal wash or 25% solution of household bleach, followed by thorough cleaning.

How to paint exterior walls

Follow these steps for painting new render, brick, or cement block work, or for painting over an existing finish:

1. On smooth surfaces, use either a high-quality, synthetic bristle brush or a short nap, wool blend roller for the best finish. Ensure that the brush is suitably sized for the project. For textured surfaces, select a roller with a longer nap length to ensure even and thorough coverage.
2. Apply a primer coat of Intelligent Masonry Paint. Add 5 to 25% (v/v) volume of clean water, depending upon the porosity of the substrate. Stir the paint mixture thoroughly before use and make sure to paint out even strokes for smooth coverage.
3. After waiting four hours for the primer coat to dry, apply the first full coat of Masonry Paint (without watering down). Make sure to stir the paint again before application.
4. For the best finish, keep final brush strokes all in the same direction. Never go over paint that has already begun to dry as this will disrupt the smooth finish.
5. Allow four hours before applying the second full coat of Intelligent Masonry Paint.

Exterior walls inspiration

Painting a house exterior can instantly elevate your home. There are countless ways that you could introduce colour to your exterior walls and fill your outside space with personality.

Outside living spaces are the ideal canvas to experiment with bolder shades and create an energetic, sociable entertaining space. For something more subtle, use green tones that blend beautifully with their natural surroundings. Or carry your neutral paint palette outdoors to create a seamless flow between the outside and in.

Explore our inspiration gallery and find ideas to create your ideal exterior scheme.

Discover more inspiration in our image gallery.

Alternatively, if you would like help choosing colours for your exterior scheme, contact our Colour Consultants.