Brick has been used to build structures for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest building materials known to man. From the Roman Colosseum to the Megalithic Temples of Malta, there is endless proof of brick's superiority.
There are endless benefits to building with brick and other masonry. Brick is durable, maintenance-free, eco-friendly, stylish, sustainable, thermal insulating, noise insulating, safe, natural, fire-resistant. The list goes on and on. We're going to break it down into three simple points as to why you should choose brick:
Brick is safer than other building materials
Brick is an investment for your future
Brick is safer than other building materials.
Whether hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, tornadoes in the Great Plains, or hail storms in the Mountain West, no matter where you live, natural disasters can hit, and you want to be sure to best protect your family. Building with brick is the best way to do this.
In 2020, the National Brick Research Center and Acme Brick tested the durability of brick and other building materials against various projectiles. See for yourself how brick is proven to withstand debris and weather elements.
Clay brick is made by firing it at around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so brick can withstand even the most extreme heat, depending on the composition. It can resist fires, as well as contain fires - if a building catches fire, brick can prevent other buildings around it from catching fire.
Not only is brick protective against the elements, it's also protective against ballistics. Interstate Brick and the Mason Contractors Association of America tested brick against ballistics. See how brick holds up during unthinkable situations.
Brick is an investment for your future.
Choosing a brick house has a positive impact on your bank account for a number of reasons.
Brick is a natural insulator, meaning it helps control the temperature in your house. This drastically reduces your utility bills. The Department of Energy predicts that on average, you save 20% more annually if you live in a brick house vs other building materials.
Because brick is safer from fires, natural disasters and more, insurance premiums are, on average, 10% lower than other cladding materials.
Brick is essentially maintenance-free, requiring no upkeep. Other building materials may require painting every few years, or require carpentry repairs, replaced insulation, or termite infestation, to name a few.
Brick is better for the environment.
Brick is the ultimate sustainable building material. The abundance of the raw materials don't strain our environment, the durability removes the need to replace a building's brick, the insulation lowers energy usage, and the maintenance-free aspect eliminates the usage of harmful cleaning materials.
Brick's natural thermal efficiency takes advantage of the energy of the sun, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. This can drastically decreases your carbon footprint through reducing power consumption.
Brick comes from abundant, raw materials that come directly from the earth. Its naturally environmentally friendly, and does not emit volatile organic compounds. On the manufacturing end, the long life cycle of brick reduces energy use by removing the need for replacement products on existing structures.
Since it's made from natural materials, brick can be endlessly recycled. Reusing or reclaiming brick helps protect the environment by reducing landfill waste and cutting down on the need for mining.
You bought a brick house but don't like the color of the brick. Now what? can you paint bricks?
In short, paint is brick's Kryptonite.
What exactly happens when you paint brick? Bear with us here - let’s think of brick as a living being for a second. Brick needs to breathe to survive, and a sealant or coating essentially suffocates the brick. Moisture from the air, sky and ground are absorbed into the pores of brick, and evaporates into the brick’s body. When the brick is sealed though, the moisture has nowhere to go, and ends up becoming trapped in your home’s structure. This trapped moisture will deteriorate your walls, and will be detrimental to your brick.
The permanent alternative to painting exterior brick
Masonry Cosmetics offer the permanent solution to painted brick, which is the best brick stain on the market.
Our brick staining product is all-natural and absorbent. What that means is that the stain absorbs into the pores structure and chemically bonds to the masonry. The pigments embed into the pores, sort of like a tattoo on your body. Since it’s breathable, it absorbs moisture rather than trapping it. This means it won’t ruin the brick, it won’t peel or flake, and it won’t need to be reapplied or removed. Don’t just take our word for it, we have over 400 case studies of our brick stains lasting 10, 15, 20+ years in the field. Whether it’s a repair, restoration, addition, complaint or makeover, we’re here to help permanently change the color of your brick. And remember - friends don’t let friends paint brick.
Learn More about the benefits of brick
There's so much content out there from our friends in the masonry industry about why brick is the premier building product. We've scoured the internet to gather up published industry content all in one place. Consider us the librarians to a one-stop content-shop about the benefits of the best building material on the planet - brick.