Some of us dream of having a brick house because it is aesthetically pleasing and gives us a sense of security. However, most of us are hesitant to take the plunge and renovate our homes with brick because there are many misconceptions about brick and its price. So, if you want to know more about brick, keep reading this blog because you should do your research before thinking and moving forward with the idea of renovating your home with brick walls.

Why choose brick walls?

Building a home exclusively with brick can be expensive, but it’s a wise investment that pays off. Brick walls help adjust the temperature of the building by storing heat and cool air. In winter, the walls provide warmth, while they have a cooling effect on a hot summer day. This creates a pleasant indoor climate, which means healthy homes.

In addition to comfort, a brick building also has financial advantages. Homes built entirely of brick cost less in the long run because they require less energy to heat. Research has proven that bricks are best suited for low-energy households, as brick walls effectively support the home’s heating system and absorb moisture.

Finally, it is also very beneficial that brick walls are often more attractive and have a higher value if you wish to sell your building or residence one day. This is due, among other things, to the excellent properties related to energy consumption and indoor climate. In addition, houses made entirely of brick are already associated with better quality.

What are the characteristics of the brick?

Among the properties of bricks, some basic ones are related to physical characteristics, and some additional properties describe their mechanical properties, durability, and thermal characteristics.

The compressive strength property of the brick depends on the composition of the clay and the degree of burning. In general, bricks have high compressive strength. The use of bricks in load-bearing walls is due to their high compressive strength.

A wall built with very hard bricks that absorb little water may be more easily penetrated by rainwater than a wall built with bricks that absorb a lot of water. This is because rain will more easily penetrate a small crack in the mortar between the bricks if the bricks are dense than if the bricks around the mortar are absorbent.

Clay bricks contain soluble salts that migrate to the surface of the masonry when water evaporates into the outside air. These salts will accumulate on the face of the bricks in the form of an efflorescence of white crystals that appear in irregular and unsightly spots.

This white salt efflorescence is most pronounced in parapet walls chimneys and where the masonry is most subject to saturation. However, salt efflorescence is usually only unsightly and does not cause any damage.

Aesthetic 

When comparing a stone to brick for the construction of your exterior wall, most advantages go to brick. Natural stone is inferior to brick in many ways. Repairs to stone walls are more common than to brick walls.

On the other hand, if there is one aspect on which the latter surpasses brick for many, it is the visual aspect. The charm and authenticity of natural stone can transform your home.

So if you don’t have a lot of constraints for your wall, opting for stone can be a convincing solution. However, it is more suitable for a decorative exterior wall or a stone pool than for an exterior wall that is essential to the structure of your home.

It is difficult to find other advantages to credit to natural stone. It is outperformed by brick in many ways. It is less well insulated, which is a problem given the harsh American winters. Overall, stone is more expensive than its competitor and more demanding maintenance. Cleaning stone walls require special care.

From a rational point of view, the choice between stone or brick is quickly made, given the versatility of brick. Brick is non-combustible, which makes it effective protection against fire, limiting the spread of fire. Also, compared to vinyl or fiber cement siding, homes with brick exterior walls can provide better shelter from high winds.

The advantages of a brick house

Faced with such a high-performance material, you can imagine that building a brick house has many advantages compared to other solutions on the market. Let’s take a look at the characteristics of a brick house and its advantages:

A solid and durable house: since brick is durable and does not alter very much over time, a brick house is bound to have a long life. You don’t have to worry about the future of your home!

• A fire-resistant house: since brick is non-combustible, a brick house is more resistant to fire.

• A well-insulated house: brick is a naturally insulating material. Building with brick is, therefore, already a positive step for the house’s insulation. It is also quite simple to insulate a brick house.

• A house resistant to humidity: a brick house has almost zero humidity, which also contributes to the excellent insulation of the brick house.

• Anesthetic house: finally, it should be noted that the brick house offers a warm and pleasant aspect, especially since it allows many different architectures.

Looking for help?

For all your building needs, you should call Century Architecture. With years of experience, their team of professionals will help you design the home of your dreams. So why wait? Make your dream become a reality with them.