German Schmear Is the Brickwork Update That Adds Character to Your Home

There’s a popular brick treatment on the rise, but don’t be fooled—it’s actually a centuries-old technique that proves what’s old is new again. Meet German schmear (or German smear), the technique that gives your brick façade a patinaed farmhouse look, and typically at a lower cost than paint. 

“German schmear is the use of mortar applied to masonry surfaces to create a thick covering that looks as if it has been smeared on the surface,” says Allison Vaccaro, co-owner of Brick&Batten. Although German smear can sometimes be confused with other brick treatments like limewash and whitewash, Vaccaro says the nuances between the various treatments help inform which process is right for each unique property. “The differences between the terms German schmear, limewash, and whitewash encompass product and application methods,” she says. “The most important takeaway is choosing the right product for the job, choosing the ideal color, and then focusing on the proper application.” 

Here, Vaccaro and Leslie Aiken, co-owner of Romabio paints, lend their expertise as they break down all the differences between the various brick treatments and get into the German schmear nitty-gritty. 

What Is German Schmear?

“German schmear is a very specific technique where you take a thick mortar paste and ‘schmear’ or smear it over your masonry surface,” says Vaccaro. It was first introduced in Germany in the 1500s as a way to finish walls made of brick and stone. While it now is used solely for aesthetic purposes, it can give a nostalgic feel to brick that harkens back to another time. 

In order to keep it cost-effective, German schmear is best used in smaller applications and ranch or cottage-style homes. It carries a rustic, farmhouse appearance so Vaccaro warns it won’t be a match for those looking for a clean, modern look.  

German Schmear Pros and Cons

• Pro: It's aesthetically pleasing. It’s a pretty way to update outdated brick that lends a historic feel. 
  
• Pro: It's more affordable than some home updates. You’ll likely spend less when hiring a pro to apply German schmear than you would if you hired them to paint your house. Therefore, it can be a more cost-effective approach with the right size and style of home. 
  
• Con: Mistakes can be expensive (and permanent). Once applied, if it is done incorrectly, it is very costly to remove, usually many times more costly than the application itself, and sometimes it cannot be removed at all, says Vaccaro. She adds that mistakes should be considered permanent. If you’re trying to cover up a mistake, know that painting over it will only make matters worse.
  
• Con: It must be applied correctly. “Since it does not allow brick to breathe, moisture can get trapped in between the mortar and the brick if not applied properly, creating potential for cracks, peeling, or flaking,” explains Vaccaro. 
  

German Schmear vs. Limewash

“Limewash refers to lime-based paint used to create distressed finishes,” says Aiken. “Europeans have been using limewash for centuries, applying it to buildings and homes.” Unlike German schmear, whose look doesn’t evolve, limewash will patina over time to create an Old World finish. Authentic limewash will calcify to the brick or stone, Aiken explains, allowing it to breathe. When German smear is applied, it does not allow the brick to breathe, which can cause moisture-related issues. 

German Schmear vs. Whitewash

Unlike limewash or German schmear, whitewash is all about the finished look rather than the product type, says Vaccaro. “The look is created by heavily diluting acrylic paint, which is not recommended for masonry surfaces due to the lack of breathability,” she says. For that reason, Brick&Batten recommends achieving a whitewash technique using a limewash technique instead, which does allow for the original brick or stone material to breathe. 

“If by whitewashing you just want to create a veil of white over your current brick or stone because you don't like the color and don't necessarily want a full limewash or German schmear look, then consider a lime glaze that creates a semi-transparent effect like Romabio Venetian Glaze,” offers Aiken. For those who want to alter the shade of their brick or stone to a softer neutral hue, whitewash is a great option. Even the brightest red, harshest orange, and most '70s yellow stone is no match. 

How to Get the German Smear Look

German Schmear Using Mortar Paste

Modern applications of German schmear typically call on a mortar paste that is applied using a towel as it is too thick to be painted on. Instead, Vaccaro explains, it’s applied in a similar fashion as a heavy plaster. “You then take a clean rag or sponge and remove some of the mortar to leave those areas exposed,” she says. “The amount your remove is an artistic choice.” Vaccaro also says there’s no looking back once you take the plunge as German schmear is definitely a commitment and cannot easily (and sometimes not at all) be removed. 

German Schmear Using Limewash 

If you want a German schmear brick look but with the breathability and functionality of limewash, there are two different options, says Aiken. “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.”

One more option for those who want a look between both plaster and paint finishes is using a lime slurry, which would also be applied using a trowel.