How Much Does It Cost to Stain Brick?

Average Cost to Stain Brick House

Staining Brick Costs per Square Foot

It costs $1 per square foot on average to stain brick, although it can range between $0.70 to $1.90per square foot including labor and materials. Staining brick takes about the same amount of time as painting, but stain is advantageous because it doesn’t cover the natural textures of the wall, nor does it trap water.

The cost of staining brick is substantially less than the cost of staining concrete. You can expect to pay $7 to $15 per square foot for concrete stain projects.

Staining Brick Prices per Hour

Labor costs $20 to $85 per hour, with most homeowners paying between $40 and $60 per hour. In total, you’ll spend $150 to $450 on most medium-sized projects.

Brick Stain Prices and Color Options

A gallon of brick stain costs $25 to $50 per gallon or $130 to $170 for a 5-gallon bucket. The price doesn’t vary much based on color, so you can choose just about any color you want without worrying about having to pay more or less. Some of today's more popular options include:

• Rustic brown

• Old English red

• Blue glaze

• Charcoal

• Yellow stock

Rustic brown or red stains add warmth to the wall, whereas blue or charcoal stains add darker tones. On the other hand, yellow stains brighten the wall.

Brick Staining Cost Factors

If you’re planning a brick staining project, here are key cost factors to consider. Preparing properly for the stain job will ensure that your stain will last as long as possible.

Repairs

Brick repair costs vary depending on the amount of work required. For example, expect to pay $20 to $30 per square foot for brick replacement. Repairing complex designs can cost up to $100 per square foot. If your brick wall needs any repairs, you should take care of them before starting your stain project.

The costs of repointing and tuckpointing vary between $3 to $15 per square foot for repointing and $5 to $25 per square foot for tuckpointing. Mortar typically lasts 25 years, after which it can begin to deteriorate.

More extreme repairs have higher price points. For example, if you need to fix spalling brick, a pro needs to remove and replace the damaged brick. Spalling brick is crumbly and pitted from exposure to harsh elements. This repair can cost as much as $900 to $1,200, depending on the extent of the damage.

Cleaning

It’s important to pressure wash your brick wall before applying the stain. The stain will seep into the brick better when the painter applies it to a clean wall. Also, if your brick wall has a sealant, the sealant must be removed before a painter can apply the stain. This can be done with a power wash. 

Pressure washing a house costs $300 to $700, with an average of $500 for a 2,000-square-foot house. The costs increase if there is a lot of moss build-up on the brick walls because it takes longer to get the job done.

Number of Stories

You can expect your staining costs to increase by 25% to 50% for each additional story. Besides the additional square footage that needs to be stained, painters may have to set up scaffolding to get the job done safely.

Spray vs. Brush Application

Professional painters typically use a paint sprayer to apply stain to brick walls. It’s much quicker than using a brush, and it works very well. However, if you decide you only want the bricks stained while keeping the mortar its original color, you’ll need to ask for a brush application. This can cost twice as much as a sprayer application.

Brick Staining Benefits and Drawbacks

Staining your brick walls has many benefits. It helps protect the walls against weather, and it doesn’t block evaporation. Staining is an easy way to change the color of your home and increase curb appeal. It’s also fairly easy to apply.

On the other hand, it’s hard to remove the stain. Although many stain options can turn your house from light to dark and vice versa, some people find that painting offers the best coloring to fit their vision.

Either way, staining is a good option since it helps you preserve the brick. After all, bricking a house costs $8,900 to $25,000, so it makes sense to take good care of the exterior.

DIY vs. Hiring a Brick Staining Contractor

While it’s not hard to stain brick, it’s difficult to do it evenly with complete coverage. It’s a time-consuming process. Why take the time and risk when it’s relatively inexpensive to hire a professional painter? Find a local painter to get this job done correctly and quickly.

When hiring, do your research, including:

• Checking the painter’s license and insurance.

• Asking whether they guarantee their work.

• Finding out what stain you want and asking them what they recommend.

• Reviewing payment terms and quality expectations before work begins.

• Verifying and signing off on the correct type and color of stain.