A Look into Brick Siding Options

Red Brick Home

Brick is one of the most, if not the most, popular choice when it comes to siding for your home. Why is brick so popular? Brick siding is very easy to maintain, only needing to be washed with a water hose every now and then. Brick should hold up very well only needing a little maintenance after the first 25 years. Additionally, brick should last the lifetime of the home.

When deciding on brick siding options, you aren’t stuck with one color (brick red) like you used to be. There are many options to choose from when it comes to brick including color, size, textures and more. Let’s take a look at some of the options:

Colors:

There are literally hundreds of different color options for a brick home. The different color categories include: red brick, white/gray brick, tan/brown brick, dark brick, pink/rose brick and bold/blend brick. From reading that list you can see that homeowners have to option to use one color or a blend of several colors.

Mortar:

Like the brick itself, the mortar used to hold the bricks in place can also add variety. There are nine different textures or shapes of brick mortar that can be used to get different looks. The use of mortar in different ways can give brick a modern look or make it look fifty years old. Different mortar colors are also available which can give your brick a drastically different look.

This homeowner matched texture instead of color.

Size:

The standard brick size is 2-1/4 x 3-3/4 x 8 inches, but there are several other brick sizes to choose from. Brick sizes vary according to manufacturer and country of origin. There are also many ways to lay the brick, so brick can look different sizes depending on which side is facing out.

Textures:

Brick texture can also vary although it is not too noticeable from a distance. Sometimes brick manufacturers go out of business and it’s hard to find a brick that matches exactly to what is currently on your home. If you have to choose between matching color and texture, match the color. You’ll be able to notice the difference up close, but you won’t be able to notice from 50 – 100 feet away. The same cannot be said for color as that discrepancy can be seen from any distance.

Now that you’re aware of some of the different options, you’ll probably have a difficult time deciding exactly what you want. If you live in a neighborhood, you might want to stick with a color that will fit in nicely with the other homes around you. Also take into consideration that your homeowners association might not allow for you to choose just any color of brick.

If you do not have a brick layer of choice, feel free to browse through our Dallas-Fort Worth contractor list for the information of brick and siding experts in the area.