Can You Replace Your Home’s Siding With Brick?

Wondering whether you can replace your home’s siding with brick? The answer is yes, and it’s a great way to boost your home’s curb appeal. No matter whether you currently have vinyl, fiber cement, or any other type of siding, you can hire a local siding contractor to remove and replace it with brick. Use this guide to learn all about the key factors to consider before replacing your siding with brick, including durability, cost, and structural considerations.

Can You Replace Siding With Brick?

The short answer is yes, a local siding contractor can often replace another siding material with brick. However, there are several factors to consider before doing so. 

Structural Considerations

Since brick is considerably heavier than most other siding materials, it’s critical to consult a structural engineer to ensure your home can bear the weight of brick siding. In some cases, you might need a new foundation or additional structural support to accommodate the additional weight. 

Building Codes and Permits

Building permits are often required for significant exterior modifications, such as updating your siding material. Permit costs vary by location, but they usually cost between $100 and $500. Often, the company you hire to replace your siding will handle the permit process for you. 

You also need to ensure that the brick siding adheres to local codes and regulations, so make sure that the company you choose is familiar with local codes, which differ by location, and has a clear plan for adhering to them. 

Installation Process

Replacing your siding with brick generally involves removing the existing siding, preparing the surface for proper adhesion, and installing the brick, piece by piece. The brick’s heavy weight, coupled with the precision needed to lay it properly, means that this is a job that’s best left to the professionals. 

Insulation and Climate Considerations

Brick siding generally has good insulation properties, but you may need to update your existing insulation to work most effectively with this new material. Additionally, if you live in an area with lots of moisture, it’s important to seal the brick and create proper drainage to prevent water damage. 

Pros and Cons of Brick Siding

Replacing your siding with brick can bring many benefits, but there are some drawbacks to consider as well. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you make an informed choice for your home. 

Pros of Brick Siding

• Highly durable

• Long lifespan

• Low maintenance

• Classic appearance

• Energy efficient

• Potentially reduces outside noise

Cons of Brick Siding

• Expensive

• Requires a strong foundation

• Limited aesthetic options

• Time-consuming installation

• Expensive and difficult to repair

Other Siding Materials vs. Brick: Key Differences

Brick is just one of several siding materials, so it’s helpful to consider the differences between brick and other materials before booking a siding replacement. 

Durability

Brick is exceptionally durable and tends to last significantly longer than other siding materials. It’s also highly fire-, weather, and pest-resistant. The durability of other siding materials heavily depends on the material. Vinyl siding is fairly resistant to weathering and decay, but it’s more easily damaged by impact and extreme temperatures than brick. 

Meanwhile, wood siding offers a classic appearance and more durability than vinyl, but it’s also fairly expensive, high maintenance, and susceptible to rot. 

Cost

Aside from stone, brick siding costs the most to install, ranging from $12 to $22 per linear foot. Meanwhile, vinyl siding typically costs between $5 and $11 per linear foot, while wood costs $5 to $15, and aluminum and steel siding costs between $5 and $9 per linear foot. 

Maintenance

Brick is among the most low-maintenance siding materials you can install. Its exceptional durability and weather resistance mean that you almost never need to maintain it aside from an annual cleaning and the occasional mortar repair. 

Other siding materials usually require more maintenance. For instance, wood siding requires regular painting and staining. Vinyl siding doesn’t usually require new paint, but it tends to accumulate dirt, algae, and mold, which calls for regular cleanings and, in some cases, replacements. 

Aesthetic

Brick offers a classic, timeless appearance that many people value, so updating your siding to brick can boost your home’s curb appeal and increase its value to potential buyers. However, other siding materials offer more variety in terms of appearance. For instance, vinyl siding comes in many more colors and sizes than brick.