Good power wash and good masonry primer.

Its no problem, my only word of caution is you have a virtually maintenance free exterior that now will require maintenance. Has the brick had any kind of silicone sealer applied to it in the last 5 years? if so that will be a problem.

Does it have deep mortar joints? if so a roller may not get into them and so it may need to be sprayed.

Clean the brick and power wash, apply SW Loxon primer, if the brick is really absorbent then I would consider two coats of Loxon primer.
Top coat with two coats of good quality exterior satin paint such as SW Duration.

Yes that is four coats of paint, but it is your home. Get a good foundation of primer on it. Use the best quality products so you are not repainting it every 5 years, anything less will be false economy.

Unless its really shallow mortar joints I would definitely spray it, I have had to hand paint brick before and its not enjoyable at all.

Since it's brick I would use Block Filler then I would paint. I would use a sprayer.:thumbsup:

Not meaning to hi-jack the thread but I am about to do one that is brick veneer. They are very smooth only texture is the joints. am going to spray, should say very dark brown color. Would this change anything in your prep?

Before you paint it read this............http://www.oldlouisville.com/circa1900/brick-structures.htm

But that is real brick what I am talking about is maybe 1/2" thick or less and has a very smooth, almost glazed, finish. If you put the pressure washer on it too long and hard the color will change with clear water.

I would recommend against using a regular masonry primer. The product that I would recommend is SW Loxon Conditioner. It is a primer but is much thinner. When going over brick and mortar must stay thin to win.

I'd determine beforehand if the interior moisture vapor has somewhere to go besides thru the brick to the outside, which will of course, take the mortor salts with it thru the paint, and maybe take the paint off too.

Moze said:

Our house is brick, built in '84. Neither my wife or I care very much for the color of the brick and were contemplating painting it. Any thoughts/tips/recommendations/experience with doing this?

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Brick's very porous. Use a Block Filler as a primer to help fill in the gaps and smooth out the surface for a nicer top coat.
http://www.penncoatinc.com/

I would use a loxon product but it's a good product for surfaces that have been weathered. You could then use A100 which is a good product or sherlastomeric which would expand and contract with the block surface and will hold up for a long time. Just check with your paint store for the best product for your area.