Man began building with masonry way back in time – we know that building with masonry goes back to the great Egyptian pyramids, Greek temples and Roman cities. Many of those structures are still standing today, so, that’s a great incentive to build with brick … whether it is ancient monuments or a residential home, masonry is your go-to choice for enduring and natural beauty. Some homeowners not only like the durability and aesthetic factors, but like the idea of a more earth-friendly concept.
Building with masonry bricks offers a bevy of benefits for the homeowner, among them protection, low energy bills, near maintenance-free living … plus, you are doing your part to help keep our planet green!
There are a variety of finishes for the exterior of your home, but, none are as durable, long-lasting and easy to maintain as brick. A home made with brick also increases the value of your property, not to mention the curb appeal.
Though brick has many fine qualities, it does tend to be more expensive than other exterior finishes due to the cost of the materials, as well as the additional costs for installation, plus it requires a strong drainage system to avoid issues relating to water damage. But any extra costs are well worth it considering brick’s many benefits to homeowners.
Here are just a few examples:
Increase Your Home’s Value
If you put your brick home on the market, it will surely be snapped up quickly, for its aesthetic appeal and because potential buyers know about brick’s reliability and low maintenance, two very key factors in its popularity. It is estimated that brick homes will increase in value some 6%. In a neighborhood where homes are a mix-and-match of different exterior building materials, a brick home is the one which garners the attention and increases the traffic to stop at your home.
Design Possibilities
Bricks come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, and even colors. Part of the beauty of bricks is that they have their own characteristics, and, just like snowflakes, no two bricks look exactly the same – this just adds to each individual brick’s charm Some of the details you can add to brick for decorative effect are brick orientation. Brick orientation involves the use of placing bricks a certain way to give them an altered appearance. Some of the terminology used to describe the various creative effects are: corbelling, racking and banding. Bricks may be made to look either modern or new.
Bricks Are Durable
Catastrophic weather conditions occur, no matter what the climate, or season, and while siding may peel itself right off the house, or, may be subject to pitting from hail, brick is able to stand up to any of the elements and still look good. Bricks just will not decay or dent like regular siding. While siding may fade from the sun’s rays and blistering heat over the years, brick, which is naturally colored, will not fade or change color over time due to its natural coloring. Pesky termites may be the bane of wood sidings, but they won’t be nibbling on baked clay. Those pesky termites won’t be taking any nibbles out of bricks – ouch!
Bricks Provide Good Insulation
Bricks wrap your home in a near-impenetrable “blanket” allowing you to kiss goodbye to large energy bills. Your brick house will provide greater insulation and temperature control because it is different than any other insulated siding used for buildings. When brick is placed around the exterior of the home it provides an added layer of defense against the outside temperatures. Thus, heat or cold is delayed from passing through the walls from the outside to the insider or the reverse. This is because bricks on the exterior of your home have excellent thermal mass. So on the coldest January day in New Jersey, the cold air will stay at bay and your home will be toasty warm. Likewise, the sun’s most-potent rays will stay away in the Summertime. Your furnace and air conditioner will not run continuously because bricks help to trap the heat and cold air inside from escaping outside as well. Not only will you save on energy costs, but in some cases you won’t even have to run your equipment as non-stop to sustain a comfortable room temperature. A final bonus – bricks provide excellent fire protection.
Brick is Easy to Maintain
Brick homes are not totally maintenance free, but they are easier to keep looking spiffed up, as opposed to homes with other exterior materials. Bricks rarely show signs of dirt or wear, nor do they need to be cleaned, except for taking a garden hose to spray off the street dirt and grime. This is for the first 25 years of the brick’s life on a home. After 25 years, special care must be taken to tuck point, or repair loose bricks or mortar joints. This should be done on a regular basis to ensure the bricks are cemented back into place before they damage other adjoining bricks.
Brick Blocks Outside Noise
A quieter home is yours when you choose bricks. Because bricks are dense, they are an excellent choice for providing a soundproof environment for the home. Noisy neighbors, large trucks or roaring motorcycles on a Summer day are good examples, plus bricks block your own noise if you are throwing a party and don’t want to annoy the rest of the neighborhood.
Build With Bricks
By eliminating all wood on the exterior of your home with the use of bricks, you are creating a healthy home that is free from rotting, mold and fungus. Masonry will significantly reduce or eliminate the build-up of fungus and mildew between interior and exterior walls. Masonry homes are healthier for occupants as it eliminates mold and rust which contributes to health ailments like chronic fatigue, asthma and throat infections. A brick home is considered air tight which make them allergy resistant as well, so family members with allergy and asthma will be able to breathe easier.
So, look to bricks to enhance your home, and your life as well. Go green and have a healthier home by contacting a masonry contractor near you today.
