Sealing Brick Foundation?

[Daniel H.]

There is about 3 feet of brick around my buildings before the siding starts. I was going to power wash the brick just to clean it and I was thinking about sealing in the brick? I started reading online on how to do it and it sounds like maybe sealing the brick could be a bad thing because the brick needs to breath.
The house across the street has the brick all covered over with plaster.

Is this something that would help protect the brick or should I just leave it alone? There are no leaks and no issues with water getting into basement. Considering it only as a way to preserve and protect the brick from the elements.

If it is something that would be beneficial can anyone recommend the products to use? I looked at Home Depot and saw thorocrete, thoroseal, drylok, acryl60, etc..