Striking details. Flowing lines. Dramatic color combinations. These are just a few of the design elements that create great looks in building design. What material delivers more design possibilities to achieve them then brick? Whether simply adding a decorative watertable or dressing up a window with a distinctive arch, architects, builders, and masons maximize the potential of brick, transforming even the most ordinary structure into a vision of timeless beauty and lasting value. With its many colors, styles and shapes, and the unlimited ways it can be configured and detailed, brick sets you free to create your own, very personal style.

 

 

 

Brick is so familiar on homes and walls it's easy to overlook how its durability, natural beauty and unique warmth can enhance things horizontal walkways and paths, patios and driveways. Yet it has a very long history of complementing the landscape and welcoming guests.

 

Brick is an all-natural building material that is made from a mix of clay and water that is then baked, or "fired," in a kiln until hardened. Different clays produce different colors, and there are many different types of clays. In addition, various natural coatings, such as sand and limestone, can also be added during the firing process to produce different colors, effects, textures and finishes. Even a brick's position in the kiln can affect the final look. When you combine these with the tonal varieties of today's mortars, you can see that your color choices in brick are virtually endless.

 

Nothing else can match the classic beauty and elegance of a brick home. But there's more to brick than just looks. Brick offers lasting value. It can enhance the resale value of your home by as much as 6 percent. Brick is virtually maintenance free. It doesn't rot, dent, or need to be painted and it won't be eaten by termites. Brick is also energy efficient, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In short, brick offers you a combination of advantages not found in any other siding material. Brick costs more than some other commonly used siding materials because brick is a premium product, but it's not nearly as expensive as you might think.

 

A brick home is virtually maintenance free. Brick is one of the oldest building materials in the world, and one of the reasons it's still so popular is brick's ease of upkeep. Brick never needs painting, never rots, will never be eaten by termites and will never dent or tear. Brick homes built hundreds of years ago still stand today.

Brick is a building material that has exceptional "thermal mass " properties. Thermal mass is the ability of a heavy, dense material to store heat and then slowly release it. For you, this means that during the summer months your brick home stays cool during the hottest part of the day. During the winter, brick walls store your home's heat and radiate it back to you. The superior thermal mass qualities of brick have been known for centuries. Most notably, the Pueblo Indians in the Southwest used adobe masonry to moderate weather extremes and keep their homes comfortable.

A brick home is fire resistant, pest resistant and weather resistant. Brick is such a strong and durable building material that your insurance companies may even offer you a discount on your home insurance costs. Check with your agent for more details.

Staining is a common practice and is usually done by a professional with expertise in its application. The stain itself is a proprietary product made specifically for brick. Since the surrounding mortar joints must be masked, it is a time consuming process and is usually only done when a limited number of brick are involved. If staining is done properly, it should have no detrimental effect on the bricks and should provide a long lasting finish.