Brick homes features a timeless quality, showcasing beauty, character, and value. The standard of quality demonstrated in brick homes has been a highlight of the building industry known for its strength, durability, and longevity. Today, brick has a great deal of competition from a wide variety of exterior building materials, unknown in times past. With a plethora of exterior options from which to choose, many homeowners wonder if brick is still the right choice for their homes’ exteriors.
Brick remains a popular choice as a quick glance around Toronto and the surrounding area can certainly attest. In fact, when homeowners were polled regarding their top choice for their homes’ exterior, the majority answered brick and agreed they would be willing to pay more for it. Brick exteriors were followed by vinyl siding, stone, stucco, and wood. If you are searching for a home for your family or building a new one, you should know the pros and cons of brick exteriors, and Turnbull Masonry is here to help.
The Positive Aspects of Brick
The benefits of brick exteriors are many. Brick, compared to other exterior building materials, is low maintenance, durable, and retains its original color well. Unlike vinyl siding or wood, brick doesn’t rot, dent, or bend over time, and it doesn’t need to be painted. Bricks are made from clay and shale, both of which are abundantly available here on earth. Bricks are eco-friendly in the way they can be repurposed as walking pathways, retaining walls, landscape edging, or even broken down and used as permanent mulch or sub-base materials.
In addition, bricks are weather and fire resistant. Because bricks are non-combustible, they can limit the spread of fire, even containing it to a room or area of your home. Brick exteriors also offer an added measure of protection from storms, able to withstand greater windspeeds and impacts from flying debris than other exterior building materials. These safety characteristics can also save you money in other ways, as insurance companies generally offer homeowners with brick homes lower rates.
The Negative Aspects of Brick
While bricks are the top pick for home exteriors, they are often more expensive (up to seven percent) than other exterior building products, like vinyl siding and wood. Though bricks come in a variety of colors, those colors are somewhat limited compared to vinyl siding, stucco, and even wood. Brick can be painted, but the process is time consuming, especially if you want to do it yourself. Plus, should your brick exterior become damaged over time, due to its exposure to the elements, repointing may be required. The repointing process requires experienced professionals to restore the mortar and maintain the integrity of your brick structure.
Making the Decision for Your Home
If you are considering bricks for your home whether as an exterior or an addition, the professionals at Turnbull Masonry are ready to answer your questions and get the job done for you successfully. Turnbull Masonry offers a variety of brick services including repair, replacement, and cleaning. As expert masons, the team at Turnbull Masonry in Toronto promise handle your brick work correctly, with the highest quality, competitive pricing whether your project is large or small.
From residential to commercial brick work to brick maintenance and repairs, Turnbull Masonry has the expertise you need for your brick work project. From malls to condos, homes to offices, the Turnbull team are experts in the industry with years of experience. They deliver excellence and efficiency on every job, on time and on budget, with the promise of complete customer satisfaction backed by their signature quality satisfaction guarantee.
