Using the German smear technique to update the look of your outdated brick can be an excellent choice because replacing masonry is very expensive. Choosing between this finish and other options such as paint or limewash will depend on the design of your home, location, condition of the brick, and maintenance preferences.
If you’re looking to update your brick or masonry exterior but would like to see how it looks before committing, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to help you visualize your exterior design before making any permanent changes. Learn more about the or the virtual home design process.
What is German smear?
German smear, sometimes called German schmear, is an up-and-coming technique. It uses wet mortar applied to brick and partially wiped off before drying. This style gives the appearance of uneven mortar joints reminiscent of old cottage homes (above) and castles in Germany.
The wet mortar used for German smear is made of blended Portland cement, lime, sand, and water. It must be blended in the correct ratio, so we recommend using a premade mix or hiring a professional. While the material is inexpensive, the process is labor-intensive, adding to the cost.
German smear is typically available in white or gray; however, you can also experiment with different colors. Note that this finish is permanent. It also must be applied over bare, clean brick for the best results.
Limewash or German smear?
While many people use the terms interchangeably, there are key differences between limewash and German smear. Limewash is made with environmentally-friendly crushed limestone and water. The mixture is absorbed by the brick or stone and is fairly easy for anyone to apply. While limewash needs to be updated every 5–7 years, it requires less maintenance than paint and is a process we recommend often.
German smear is permanent and does not fade, which makes it easy to clean without worry of erosion or upkeep. However, the process requires more skill than limewash as it is a mortar that needs to be applied and wiped off in a particular way. Importantly, neither limewash nor German smear can be applied over painted brick.
#1 // German Smear Brick House
If you don’t love the color of your brick or are wanting to add character, this technique is an option sure to wow the neighborhood. We love the Old World feel of the German smear brick in this example combined with the modern touches of black accents, copper gutters, and a metal porch roof.
#2 // Brick & Stone Combo
For houses that feature a combination of textures like brick, stone, and siding, choosing to apply German smear to the brick can help bring all the elements together for a cohesive look. We love the muted tones of this home’s design as a backdrop for the pops of color throughout the landscaping. The warmth of the wood and contrast of the black trim bring it all together.
#3 // Black & White Contrast
If you like the modern white-and-black farmhouse look but want something a little less stark, a design like the one above may be right for you. German smear on the brick is more muted than full-on white paint or siding. There’s still contrast with the black windows and shutters, but it’s broken up a bit by the brick’s texture.
#4 // German Smear Ranch
It can be a challenge to add texture and character to a smaller home without getting too busy. The German smear brick on this ranch home adds just enough visual interest without going overboard. It pairs nicely with the vertical siding in Benjamin Moore’s Graphite and the black garage door.
German smear isn’t only for old brick. It can work just as well on new brick, making your home appear as if it has always been there. We love how this new build home has an Old World cottage feel across many of its design elements. The steep and curved gable roof, second-story cantilevered window, and rounded door look lovely with the smear on the brick.
#6 // Paint Technique as an Alternative
The brick on this home was painted in Romabio Classico Limewash for a modern farmhouse feel. Our designers recommended applying the limewash very thickly to give the appearance of German smear, without the extra time and skill it requires.
#7 // Stone Application
German smear can also work on other masonry, like stone! For this transitional home, our designers again recommended using a thicker limewash application over the multicolored stone to give it a more balanced and neutral appearance, similar to a German smear. The lighter look of the stone also helps to balance out the darker cladding (painted in Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams) and accents.
#8 // Castle Inspiration
German smear is the perfect application for this unique design. Our visualization shows off the irregular pattern of the brick and mortar while highlighting the turret and unique design features. This home definitely gives off castle vibes and pays homage to the origins of this brick technique.
German Smear: Old World Style in Modern Applications
If you’re looking for a unique way to update your home’s brick, sometimes looking to the Old World will give you new ideas! Perhaps these examples have inspired you to consider this technique for your exterior. It is a cost-effective and beautiful way to give your home a new color palette with character and texture. You really can’t go wrong with this classic look, whether you go for the real thing and apply wet mortar to your bricks, or use a thick coat of limewash instead.
Our designers at brick&batten are experts at showcasing how unique textures will appear on your individual house. If you’re ready to get started, we can help bring out the true beauty of your home’s exterior.
German schmear works well on rough, textural brick that's porous. The more irregular the surface of the brick, the better the mortar will work to create the look. Avoid this technique on smooth brick surfaces, because they won't accept the new schmear finish. It's best to avoid historic brick as well.
“German smear is a masonry technique that involves applying a thin coat of mortar onto the surface of brick or stone and then smearing it off, leaving behind a textured and whitewashed appearance,” says Alonzo Perez of Garland, Texas–based Alexander and Xavier Masonry.
German schmear is a permanent application that gives brick a distressed aesthetic. Whitewash is watered-down paint, while German schmear contains mortar. Both methods cost around $30 to DIY. Whitewash is easier to apply, while German schmear is more labor intensive.
And of course, any time you improve curb appeal, you're increasing the value of a home. Keep in mind that this may not be the full layer of paint you typically imagine: techniques like German schmear (a type of mortar wash) also make a big impact.
The German smear technique uses mortar and water to create the white smear, which is then painted or troweled onto your surface. Bricks are only partially covered, allowing for varying amounts of red and white brick to be exposed once some of the wet mortar is wiped away.
You do not have to seal German schmear. The mortar itself acts as a sealant for the bricks to which it's applied. Some people do choose to seal German schmear as an extra layer of protection, but this step isn't necessary for most brick projects. You get all the durability with just the German schmear itself.
If you're looking to fully cover the brick with no distressing, limewash will be a much better choice than German Schmear, if you're hoping to leave a lot of the brick exposed, German Schmear will be a better choice than limewash, which typically looks best with just a little distressing here and there.
First, you'll need to prep the brick for German smear. Remove dirt, grease, and mildew by brushing the brick with a stiff bristle brush or spraying it with water. There's no need to remove hard water stains from the surface of the brick, because these won't impact the adherence of the mortar.
The average cost to German schmear a house is $5,000 . It can range from $500 to $15,000, depending on the size and height of your home and whether you DIY all or some of the work. This mortar wash technique is time-intensive, but it is often more budget-friendly and longer lasting than brushing paint onto brickwork.
It's a relatively easy way to breathe some life back into a boring brick wall and add some old-world charm to your home. The German Schmear finish is a type of mortar wash. It involves troweling mortar onto a brick wall and then wiping some of it off to expose parts of the brick.
Schmear is a word of Germanic origin, equivalent to "smear" or "spread" (usually fat or butter). In some Germanic languages, the cognate of smear itself means butter (c.f. smör/smør in the North Germanic languages).
Another important note: While German schmear is primarily associated with (and beloved for) a creamy white finish, it can also be tinted to any desired color. You can achieve a textured finish in shades of green, black, blue, and even purple!
We're going to look at the traditional method of German Schmear which uses cement-based mortar. There are other techniques that can use paint or limewash, however using cement-based mortar is more durable, long-lasting, resistant to the elements and is easy to maintain.
“You can apply a moderately diluted mixture of Classico Limewash with a trowel over your brick or stone to mimic the German schmear technique,” she says. “Or, you can also use an authentic Italian plaster like Romabio Travertino for a thick and more 'schmeary' finish.”
It lasts about five to seven years before you need to reapply it. German schmear: German schmear is an application of watered-down mortar. So, it has more texture than either paint or limewash, is considered permanent, and is not easily removed.
The cost to German schmear an entire house ranges from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on the size, location, and details of your home. Doing it yourself will cost $30 per 1,000 square feet in materials, but don't underestimate the time and labor you'll spend on the project.
Silane/​Siloxane sealers provide the greatest benefit when it comes to protecting all masonry materials, including stone, brick, paver and concrete. They chemically react with the surface to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores.
In terms of the type of paint used for brickwork, most experts suggest that acrylic latex is the number one choice. Elastodynamic also gets an honorable mention, but acrylic latex is the favorite for a few reasons: It's designed to be weatherproof. Can prevent cracks in the brick.
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