Can snakes climb up a flat surface like the side of a brick house?
My husband says yes. I claim no. Help us out!

Although I have never seen it personally, it is said that certain snakes with rough belly scales, like the rat snake, can climb vertical surfaces like cedar wood siding and brick homes.

I agree, they can climb some surfaces like lap siding, brick or log but not slick stuff like vinyl.

I can't say for certain because I have never seen it with my own eyes but I lived in an area with many black snakes. My neighbor who I knew well said he saw them climb up the side of his brick house.

I googled "snakes climb side of house". There was a site "Keeping Snakes in Their Place" which led to Wildlife and Ecology. If you read far enough it says snakes can climb walls dependent on the texture of the surface.

I have seen two snakes climb vertical surfaces--a vertical dirt bank and a smooth vertical rock surface (in a river). In each case, the snake was able to balance on its tail until its head reach the top and then pulled the rest of its body up, so it never had its whole body vertical. I don't know if they can just go up a vertical surface that's taller than their own body length. Also, both these snakes were small, less than 15 inches.
Asking

There is no question in my mind at least some snakes can climb brick walls. I came home today to find a snake about a foot and a half long comfortably attached to the wall of my house over seven feet off the ground. I was hoping to use the fact it had to have climbed the brick wall to identify it so I had some idea whether I needed to kill it or how cautious I need to be of it. Can anyone tell me what kinds of snakes are likely to climb brick walls in the Houston Texas area?

Texas rat snakes can climb.

Does it look at all like this?
Texas Rat Snake (http://www.houstonherp.com/TxRat.html)

They are not venomous. I hope you will not kill it!

Thank you. It resembled the picture of the Texas Rat Snake except it had spots on top its head. I presume the snake is doing fine. It was gone thr next morning.

Maybe it left because there are rats at your house. :)
I did not know snakes could do that. Impressive. Thanks for posting here.

I searched this up because I woke in the morning finding a snake in my mailbox and I needed to know if a snake can climb up a brick mailbox and it was a rattle snake