I've got an older house, split level, the main and lower level have a brick front, with siding on the upper level. My wife wants to get it painted, which I'm fine with b/c it's been at least ten years. She also wants to paint the brick, which I know has been a topic here in the past. The brick is probably original, and has faded over time a little bit, and she's looking for a light gray. I'd love to keep "brick color", but I'm outvoted b/c of the way ours looks. In other houses in my neighborhood, the brick looks newer and nicer and is a darker shade of red. I think all these are original, I can't imagine someone replaced all the brick in the front. It does get sun all day, so I'm sure that contributes, but is there something that could be done to "refresh" my brick and make it look a little newer and darker? I'm probably destined to have it painted, but this got me thinking.