Painting the brickwork on your home is work that needs some fundamental points considering. Unlike wood, brickwork is nonporous. Water-proof, nonporous surfaces are ill-suited for new finishes. Before you paint, condition the brickwork with a specific bonding primer, or the new coating will eventually peel. Prime and paint the brickwork, using the right technique, or you may end up with noticeable skip marks throughout the porous mortar between the brick.