Plastering outside of my house

[GretchenFranklin]

Should I do you think?

I've noticed how dreary the outside of my house looks. Both neighbours have it either side (terrace) and I'm the grubby brick one in the middle.

I thought I'd plaster it and paint it orange, nice white on the windows/sills, grey door.

Shall I?

We need a photo OP. Rendering the outside of your house is a sizeable undertaking.

Rendering! Yes that's it.
I can't do a photo I'm supposed to be working

I wouldn't. You're creating future maintenance for yourself. Can you get the bricks cleaned if they're dirty and paint the painted bits (door/trim etc) instead to freshen it up?

It's hard without seeing a pic of your house and its neighbours - but if it's just for appearance's sake, I really wouldn't. As a pp has said, you are creating maintenance for yourself - repainting a whole house every five years is a big and expensive job, much more so than just doing the window frames and doors.
Also, render can damage a building, trap moisture and not allow it breathe.
Much better in my opinion to freshen with newly painted windows and doors and if have green fingers, some nice plants to soften the effect.

Btw - just noticed "Orange"??!! Are you sure?

It certainly won't look dreary!

You can get masonry paint? So maybe paint the bricks but not plaster, not trapping moisture etc and worrying about it needing repair,

But yes orange? Why orange?

I wondered about orange which was why I asked the OP for a photo.

Oh thank you for these replies everyone.

My old dad said 'never trust a painted house' so I wouldn't paint the bricks.

A tired looking house nearby didn't sell, it had cream coloured render. They've performed a right box of tricks by repainting the windows and the render is an amazing orange - not tangerine more 'Georgian orange' - I'm guessing it said that on the tin.

It's beautiful and I wanted my house to look like it.

I don't want years of upkeep however. Should I clean the bricks (how do I) and paint the door orange?

I would say "never trust a rendered house"... who knows what's lurking underneath?!

Render is just years of upkeep. It needs re doing and repainting etc over the years.

Most people I know have it redone every 3 years.

I wouldn't bother.
If you want to neaten it up, get nice window frames and door / strip and revarnish all the woodwork.

my neighbour has creak marks in their render. Is that bad?

how do I clean up bricks? Up a ladder with liquid and sponge? Gawd.

'never trust render' yep I expect dad would have said that too

You can hire a company to come and clean and restore your masonry. Makes it look lovely.
I would buy a brick house over a rendered or pebbledash house any day.

thank you squinkie