The 3 things you need to know before you paint your home's exterior

There’s no denying the pros to painting the exterior of your house. You can give it an instant update and increase your home’s value overnight.

But before you reach for a paintbrush, consider these points before painting your brick exterior:

1. Once you paint it, you can’t go back. You can change the paint colour but it's virtually impossible to go back to the original brick surface.

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2. Dirt is more visible on a painted surface, so you have to clean it more often.

3. The paint can wear away and weather, so you need to repaint it every five to seven years to keep it looking good.

If you’re not ready to commit to painting the exterior of your house, start with a small project, like giving your deck a makeover.

Jane Pine is a digital content editor and has worked in magazines for over 20 years. She's a diehard DIY fan and can't go past a good Ikea hack.