Brick siding is generally not a structural part of a house but rather a veneer constructed on the outside. The bricks are held together with a mixture of Portland cement or lime, sand, and water that is referred to as mortar. Water does penetrate brick veneers so it is important that a membrane is installed between the structure and brick veneer. Although brick siding is considered permanent, masonry does deteriorate, generally at the mortar joints, which are the gaps between bricks that are filled with mortar. Repointing, or pointing –removing and replacing deteriorated mortar from the joints – might be necessary but generally not for many years if installed properly.
Get free estimates from local siding professionals.
Before you begin, make sure you really want to paint the bricks. Removing paint from brickwork is difficult, requiring the use of nonsteel scrapers, chemical strippers, or professional sandblasting.
Get free estimates from local siding professionals.
For your home, brick walls mean that in the summer months, the interior stays cool during the day as the heat of the sun is slowly absorbed. By evening the bricks will be warm enough to raise the temperature indoors just as the sun is setting. During winter, brick walls store the heat emerging from inside and can help keep heating costs low.
Get free estimates from local siding professionals.
Get free estimates from local siding professionals.
Those old-fashioned bricks give this home the look and feel of the 17th century. Bricks made this way are solid with slight irregularities and softened shapes. They are sand-dusted to help them achieve the color variations and to create the velvety texture. When placed in a wall, the slight variations translate into a subtle elegance that’s perfect for a stately mansion or a cozy cottage.
See Colonial-Style Brick Homes
