Brick Siding vs. Vinyl Siding: A Guide

D.P. Taylor
Written by D.P. Taylor
Reviewed by Robert Tschudi
Updated July 29, 2022
A two story red brick house with a garage
Photo: irina88w / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Highlights

  • Brick siding is low-maintenance, attractive, and long-lasting.

  • However, brick is more expensive up front and has limited color options.

  • Vinyl siding holds up well to the elements, and it's inexpensive.

  • However, vinyl can be vulnerable to leaks and isn't the most environmentally friendly option.

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As a homeowner, your choice of siding affects not just the appearance of your home, but also its ability to withstand weather, insects, fire, and moisture. 

It's hard to think of two types of siding more different than brick and vinyl. As a result, it's easy to contrast the two, which may help you make your decision. Then, contact a siding professional near you for a consultation and a quote.

Brick Siding Pros & Cons

Red brick house with a blue front door
Photo: imagedepotpro / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Brick siding is a popular choice for homeowners, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you. Consider these pros and cons first.

Pros

Some of the chief pros of brick siding are its appearance, long life, and minimal maintenance requirements.

Timeless Look

Brick’s classic good looks will never go out of style.

“Brick siding is always a look that equates with well-built, long-lasting, and stable,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Review Board member and North Carolina-based home builder and remodeler. “Trends come and go, but brick always stands the test of time, in terms of value—maintenance-wise and overall value.

Long Lasting

Brick can last for generations, as is evidenced by the many brick homes that are hundreds of years old and still standing.

Low Maintenance

One of the most attractive aspects of brick siding is that it’s low maintenance. You don't have to do much to keep brick in top shape, other than cleaning it every so often.

Environmentally Friendly

Brick is an environmentally friendly option not just because of the manufacturing process, but also because you can easily recycle the material once removed from the home.

Fire-Resistant

Fire is a constant worry for any homeowner, so it’s comforting to know that brick siding can help protect your home from a fire.

Cons

However, brick is not without some drawbacks.

Higher Cost

Brick is at the high end of siding materials in terms of the cost of installation.

Vulnerable to Moisture

Another downside of brick is that it is more vulnerable to moisture than other types of siding. This moisture can creep into your home and result in mold and rot.

Limited Color Options

Once you go brick, you are stuck with that color for the most part. Many other types of siding can be painted easily, but not brick.

Vinyl Siding Pros & Cons​

A cream colored house with vinyl siding
Photo: Marje / E+ / Getty Images

“We love vinyl siding,” says Tschudi. “Not only has it come a long way in the past decade in terms of look and feel, but the maintenance-free aspect really adds value.”

Here are the benefits and drawbacks to consider when evaluating this popular siding material.

Pros

Vinyl siding’s chief pros are its low cost of installation and its ability to handle the elements.

Strong

Whether it’s harsh weather, insects, or fallen branches, vinyl siding can handle just about anything Mother Nature throws at it. It will not warp or rot, and it even handles blunt force impacts well, too.

Inexpensive

Plastic is inexpensive in general, and that is true for vinyl siding. You will save a lot of money choosing this material over other types of siding.

Customizable

Vinyl siding comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and styles and can even imitate the appearance of materials like wood.

Easy to Maintain

Vinyl doesn't need to be painted and can be cleaned off with a garden hose.

Cons

Vinyl siding’s drawbacks include the potential for leaks and its lack of environmental friendliness.

Difficult to Repair

A significant drawback for vinyl siding is there's no easy way to patch up damage. If there are any cracks or holes, you'll likely need to replace the entire panel.

Vulnerable to Leaks

This is generally only a problem if the siding is installed improperly, but it happens often enough that it’s worth including on our list. If vinyl siding has gaps that allow moisture underneath, it can threaten your home with rot and mold.

Not Environmentally Friendly

Vinyl manufacturing emits a lot of chemicals, so it’s not a great choice for eco-minded homeowners.

Brick Siding vs. Vinyl Siding

Two workers installing new vinyl siding
Photo: Wendy Kaveney / Adobe Stock

So which should you choose? As you can see, brick and vinyl have substantial differences. Here is how they compare across multiple categories.

Appearance

Vinyl siding has lots of customization options, but we give the edge to brick here because of its classic look that has grown in popularity in recent years.

Advantage: Brick

Options & Customizations​

Brick comes in only a handful of colors and sizes, while vinyl is offered in a wide variety of looks.

Advantage: Vinyl

Durability​

Vinyl siding can handle a lot, but brick siding is one of the most durable options out there and can last for centuries. 

Advantage: Brick

Price​

One of the big reasons vinyl siding is so popular is because of its low cost of installation. The cost of vinyl siding is around $11,000 on average, whereas the cost of brick siding averages closer to $18,000.

Advantage: Vinyl

Ease of Repair/DIY-ability​

As mentioned above, if your vinyl siding does get damaged, you may have to replace a whole panel. But individual chipped or loose bricks can be repaired.

Advantage: Brick

Maintenance​

Both of these options are low-maintenance and only require semi-regular cleaning, so we declare this one a draw.

Advantage: Neither

Eco-Friendliness/Sustainability​

Brick easily wins this one, both because of how it is produced and the fact that it is easy to recycle. Vinyl siding is not considered an environmentally-conscious choice.

Advantage: Brick

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