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Stone veneer siding is approximately four times less expensive than stone because it's made of concrete and aggregates instead of natural stone. But veneer looks like real stone, is easier to install, and acts as a great, durable siding option. 

Brick spalling—which refers to the crumbly, flaky, or pitted appearance that can develop over time—is caused by a few different conditions. These include:

• Climates with constant freeze-thaw cycles

• Use of non-breathable sealants

• High-pressure water cleaning

• Improper installation

While you can’t do anything about the weather, you can preserve your bricks by cleaning them with soapy water and a good old-fashioned scrubbing. Pressure washers may be satisfying to use, but they can eventually wear away the surface of your bricks. If you don’t have advanced-level DIY skills in masonry, you can hire a reputable masonry contractor in your area for your project.

Yes, but used or reclaimed bricks can be more brittle, cracked, or uneven than new bricks, so they’re harder to cut cleanly by hand. For that reason, you should take extra care when scoring and striking, and expect a higher chance of breakage. If a brick feels especially fragile, score deeper before attempting to split it.

Yes, an outdoor fireplace should use fire bricks. Fire bricks are specially designed to withstand high levels of heat and thus won’t crack as easily as regular bricks when exposed to the intense heat inside a fireplace.