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Brick is the closest choice when seeking to capture the timeless look of stone with a more practical and budget-friendly option. When comparing stone versus brick siding, the price range of $200,000 to $400,000 for average brick home construction is dramatically lower compared to the cost of building a stone home. If you'd like to keep the stone aesthetic without the cost, stone veneer and manufactured stone are both less expensive than real stone.

Brick can increase the value of your home depending on the type of masonry materials used. Homes generally have a higher resale value when they have brick siding, and brick is also easier to maintain (and lasts longer) than other types of siding, which can motivate buyers to make an offer.

Just keep in mind, however, that although brick can up the asking price when you sell your house, the cost to brick a house is also more expensive than other typical siding costs—so you’ll invest more in the project.

Yes, concrete is significantly stronger than masonry, especially if the concrete pour includes reinforcements, like steel rebar. Concrete is a uniform material that can withstand compression, sheer force, and tensile force as long as it’s reinforced. Masonry involves the use of mortar or grout to connect individual building materials, like brick, stone, or tile. Mortar and grout are also reasonably strong and resist compression well, but they don’t come close to the strength of poured concrete.

You should generally drill into the mortar joints when installing shutters on brick. Mortar is softer, which makes drilling easier and puts less strain on your tools. It also lowers the risk of cracking a brick—something that’s a lot harder to fix. Mortar holds fasteners well enough for standard shutters, and if you ever need to patch the holes later, it’s a much simpler job than dealing with damaged brick. Just keep in mind that if your mortar joints are too thin or the hardware calls for brick anchoring, you'll need to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and adjust accordingly.