When driving through established neighborhoods, nothing stands out quite like the timeless elegance of a brick house. If you are asking yourself, “Are brick homes better?” you are not alone. Millions of homebuyers and builders weigh the benefits of brick against vinyl siding, wood, or stucco every year.
But owning, building, or renovating a brick home comes with a very specific set of rules. From surviving extreme weather to figuring out how to replace windows or whether to paint the exterior, there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Drawing on real-world construction standards, we have compiled the ultimate guide to brick homes, answering every question you could have about their durability, maintenance, and hidden costs.
What Is a Brick Home Actually Made Of? (Solid vs. Veneer)
Before diving into costs and renovations, you must understand how your home is built. The phrase “brick home” usually refers to one of two entirely different construction methods.
- Solid Masonry Brick (Double Brick): In older homes (typically built before the 1950s), the house is made out of two layers of solid clay bricks. These bricks actually support the roof and provide the home’s structural integrity.
- Brick Veneer: How are modern brick homes built? Almost all modern brick houses are actually wood-framed houses. A single layer of brick is built on the outside of the wooden frame, acting simply as siding. The brick supports its own weight but does not hold up the house.
Brick veneer is preferred today because it allows modern fiberglass or spray foam insulation to be installed in the wood-framed walls, making the home highly energy-efficient.
The Pros: Why Brick Homes Are Highly Desirable
Does brick add value to a home? Absolutely. Studies show that brick exteriors can increase a home’s value by up to 6%, depending on the local real estate market. But the benefits go far beyond aesthetics.
1. Extreme Weather Protection (Are Brick Homes Safe in a Tornado?)
One of the most common questions from buyers in the Midwest is whether brick homes are safer in tornadoes or high winds. Yes, they are. While no home is completely “tornado-proof” against an EF5, a brick exterior can easily withstand wind-blown debris traveling at over 100 mph, whereas vinyl or wood siding would be instantly shredded. Brick homes offer significantly better impact resistance.
2. Fire Resistance
Are brick homes fireproof? Because clay bricks are fired in a kiln at 2,000°F during manufacturing, they are non-combustible. A brick exterior acts as a massive firewall. While the interior wood framing and roof can still burn, a fire starting on the outside (like a wildfire or a neighbor’s house fire) will have a much harder time penetrating a brick home. This often results in lower homeowner’s insurance premiums.
3. Do Brick Homes Get Termites?
Many people believe that buying a brick home makes them immune to termites. This is a myth. While termites cannot eat brick or mortar, remember that modern brick veneer homes have a wooden frame beneath the brick. Termites can easily build mud tubes up the brick foundation and sneak into the wooden structure through “weep holes” (the small drainage gaps at the bottom of the brick wall).
4. Energy Efficiency: Do Brick Homes Hold Heat?
Bricks have excellent “thermal mass.” This means they absorb heat very slowly. In the summer, brick homes stay cooler because it takes all day for the sun’s heat to penetrate the brick. In the winter, the brick absorbs the sun’s rays during the day and slowly releases that heat into the home at night.
The Cons and Costs of Brick Construction
Despite their benefits, brick homes come with challenges, mostly related to upfront costs and remodeling difficulties.
Are brick homes more expensive to build? Yes. How much does it cost to build a brick home compared to vinyl siding? Generally, bricking a home costs between $9 and $28 per square foot of exterior wall space, including materials and labor. This can make building a brick home 10% to 20% more expensive overall than standard siding.
Can You Paint a Brick Home? (And Should You?)
The trend of painting brick homes white or gray is incredibly popular right now, but it comes with heavy debate in the real estate world.
Does Painting Brick Devalue a Home?
It can. Natural brick is a “zero-maintenance” material. Once you paint a brick home, it becomes a “high-maintenance” home. Paint traps moisture within the porous brick, which can cause it to crumble during winter freeze-thaw cycles. Furthermore, you will need to repaint the house every 7 to 10 years. Many traditional homebuyers will avoid painted brick for this reason.
Staining vs. Painting
If you hate the color of your brick, can you stain a brick home? Yes! Masonry stain is vastly superior to paint. Stain actually absorbs into the brick, allowing it to “breathe” while permanently changing its color without risking peeling or trapping moisture.
Renovating a Brick Home: Windows and Shutters
Adding on to a brick home or changing its features is notoriously difficult because you cannot easily cut through masonry.
How to Replace Windows in a Brick Home
If you are wondering how to install replacement windows in a brick home, it requires precision. Because you cannot remove the brick casing, you must buy “insert replacement windows.” The old window sashes are removed, but the original window frame stays in place. The new window is slid into the old frame, and the exterior gaps are sealed with expanding foam and custom aluminum wrapping (capping) to protect the wood and make it watertight.
How to Attach Shutters to a Brick Home
You cannot simply screw shutters into brick like you would with wood siding. To attach shutters, you must drill holes directly into the brick (or preferably the mortar joints) using a hammer drill and a masonry bit. You then insert masonry anchors or plastic wall plugs into the holes before driving in the screws to mount the shutters securely.
Can You Brick a Mobile or Manufactured Home?
Mobile home owners often ask, “Can you put brick around a mobile home?”
Yes, you can brick a manufactured home, and it is a fantastic way to increase its curb appeal, insulation, and structural stability. This process is called brick underpinning or brick skirting.
How to underpin a mobile home with brick involves pouring a concrete footing around the perimeter of the home and building a small brick wall up to the base of the trailer. How much does it cost to brick a mobile home? Depending on the size of the home, professional brick underpinning usually costs between $2,500 and $6,000. Be sure to include proper ventilation vents in the brickwork to prevent moisture buildup under the home.
DIY Guide: Buying Bricks at Home Depot
If you want to build a small brick oven at home, create a retaining wall, or repair a damaged exterior, big-box stores are your best friend.
How to Cut Bricks at Home
Does Home Depot cut bricks for you? No, they do not offer custom masonry cutting. If you need to cut bricks at home, you have two options. For a few bricks, you can use a hammer and a masonry chisel to score and snap the brick. For larger projects, you should rent an angle grinder equipped with a diamond masonry blade or a wet tile saw for clean, precise cuts.
Conclusion
From their ability to withstand high winds to their unmatched longevity, brick homes remain one of the smartest investments in real estate. While the initial cost to build or add brick siding is higher, the long-term savings in energy bills, insurance premiums, and exterior maintenance make it incredibly worthwhile.
