Learning Center · Exterior
Painting Stucco, Brick and Masonry in Texas
Masonry is not painted like wood. It needs coatings made for it, put on much thicker, and its cracks have to be understood first. This guide explains the choices in plain words with the numbers from the makers’ own data sheets.
Updated October 11, 2026
Read This First
The short version
- Stucco and masonry use coatings built for them, applied far thicker than house paint.
- Some masonry coatings stretch over hairline cracks, and the paint makers call those elastomeric.
- Elastomeric coatings can bridge hairline cracks, but moving or structural cracks need repair first.
- Houston requires a minor repair permit to patch stucco, so the city rules matter before the work starts.
To have your stucco or brick looked at, start with Get Help or call or text 512-575-5052.
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Direct Answer
Can you paint stucco and brick?
Yes, with masonry coatings made for it, and only after cracks and moisture are dealt with.
Yes, with the right coating
Masonry can be painted well. The coatings made for it are thicker and more flexible than house paint, and they are made to handle the alkaline surface of new stucco and concrete. The wrong paint on masonry can trap moisture and peel.
Painted brick is a one way door
Brick that has never been painted is a choice you make once. Once paint goes on, keeping it looking good means repainting on a schedule. Think about upkeep before you paint brick that has gone decades without it.
Products
Masonry coatings and elastomerics, compared
Elastomerics go on at 6 to 8 mils dry per coat, far thicker than house paint.
What the data sheets say
The film is much thicker than paint. Sherwin-Williams lists ConFlex XL Smooth, which it calls an elastomeric coating, at 6.0 to 7.5 dry mils per coat. Loxon XP, which it calls a waterproofing masonry coating, goes on at 6.5 to 8.4 dry mils per coat. Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry Elastomeric goes on at 6.3 to 7.8 dry mils. Compare that with about 2 to 3 dry mils for a coat of premium house paint.
| Product | Type, per the maker | Coverage per gallon | Dry film per coat | Minimum temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams Loxon XP | Waterproofing masonry coating | 85 to 110 sq ft | 6.5 to 8.4 mils | 35°F |
| Sherwin-Williams ConFlex XL Smooth | Elastomeric coating | 100 to 125 sq ft per coat | 6.0 to 7.5 mils | 50°F, maximum 100°F |
| Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Masonry Elastomeric | Elastomeric waterproof coating | 80 to 100 sq ft | 6.3 to 7.8 mils | 50°F |
Before Paint
Cracks in stucco: which ones paint can hide
Hairline cracks can be bridged, but cracks that move or let water in need repair first.
Hairline cracks
Thin cracks are common. Stucco is rigid, and Texas clay soils swell and shrink with rain and drought, so hairline cracks appear on many homes. An elastomeric coating is made to stretch over cracks that small.
Cracks that keep moving
Some cracks are a symptom. Wide cracks, cracks that reopen after repair, or cracks that run from window corners can point to movement or water behind the wall. Paint will not fix that. The cause gets looked at first. The Painting Contractors Association’s standard puts damage like settlement cracks outside a painter’s responsibility for the finished look.
City Rules
When stucco and siding repair needs a permit
Painting is on the permit exempt list, but Houston requires a minor repair permit to patch stucco or siding.
Painting versus repair
Paint alone is on the permit exempt list in the building code most Texas cities adopt. Repair is different. Houston’s residential permit package lists patching or repairing exterior veneer, siding, stucco and EIFS as minor repair permit work. Rules vary by city, so check before the repair starts. Our permits and HOA guide covers the details by city.
Common Questions
Questions homeowners ask
What kind of paint do you use on stucco?
A masonry coating or an elastomeric coating made for stucco. They go on much thicker than house paint, about 6 to 8 dry mils per coat on the data sheets we cite here.
Is elastomeric paint good for Texas stucco?
It can bridge hairline cracks that come and go as the house moves. It does not fix cracks caused by movement or water, and those should be looked at first.
Should I paint my brick house?
It is a lasting choice. Once brick is painted, it needs repainting on a schedule. If the brick is sound and you like its look, leaving it unpainted avoids that upkeep.
Do I need a permit to paint stucco?
Painting itself is exempt from permits under the International Residential Code section most cities adopt. Repairing stucco can be different: Houston lists stucco patching as minor repair permit work.
Why does white powder show up on my brick or stucco?
That is often efflorescence, salts carried out by water moving through the masonry. It points to moisture, which should be dealt with before coating.
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