What is Brick Veneer House?
Brick veneer is a procedure of constructing a property of a steel or wooden frame with just one layer of bricks which are considered as the exterior layer. This type of construction is very popular in some parts of Australia.
Appearance-wise, it looks the same as the double brick wall. However, the difference here is, if the bricks are removed, the whole house will still stand straight. This implies that rather than the bricks holding on to the new construction or home, the construction is holding on to the bricks.
In double brick construction, there are two layers of bricks. Also, Brick veneer offers sophisticated look like brick cladding.
Difference Between Brick Veneer and Double Brick House
The most evident difference between both is that the nature of the double brick structure is an important part of the whole structure and the veneer just looks like a solid brick formation. Also, it does not support the structure. Double brick homes get that additional support with the help of mortar. Moreover, Double brick and brick veneer can be added to full brick constructions and double brick building projects.
Difference Between Brick Veneer and Solid Brick House
The prime difference between brick veneer and solid brick houses is the main building support. Solid masonry is the support of the building. In the case of brick veneer, the support comes from the steel frame, concrete, or wood that develops a backup wall, and the brick design stays on the outer part for aesthetic purposes.
How to Check if your Home is a Brick Veneer House?
There are certain things that you can try and find out whether your home is brick veneer or double brick –
- Tap the inside wall – If the wall sounds hollow, it will be a veneer.
- Date of the building – This concept came into the picture after the 1950s. Therefore, if your property was constructed before that, then it is a double brick. After 1950, the building materials often include veneer.
- Measure the thickness of the windows and door frames. This is likely to be greater on a house built with two layers of bricks, as the walls are twice as thick.
Houses built in the last three decades typically have this type of construction due to its affordability and simple application. As opposed to solid brick homes, it does not provide structural support and requires a steel or wooden frame for reinforcement.
Cost of Brick Veneer Wall
This solution is very cost-effective as compared to solid brick or stone. Here, you may pay around $4 to $10 per square foot. As its construction process is easier than solid brick walls. you can easily eliminate the need for a mason.
1. Installation
Solid brick structures are installed when the construction is going on. However, you can do veneer construction at any point in time. you do not need header bricks. Therefore, it can easily be kept horizontally as a siding.
Since it requires the support of the house, you just need 1 band to install it and it will look almost identical to solid brick structures. Therefore, the installation process is much faster than solid masonry construction.
2. Insulation
In the war of solid brick vs brick veneer, the latter is a better insulator. When you install it, you will need a cavity wall between the exterior walls and this solution so that you can add insularity. Solid brick homes are not that insulated.
Let’s now see advantage and disadvantage of brick veneer construction:
Benefits of brick veneer construction
Benefits associated with brick construction include –
- Adaptability: Brick veneer is much flexible and can be installed after the construction of a building.
- Cost-effectiveness: Brick veneer homes are generally more affordable than solid brick, with savings of up to three times the cost.
- Thermal Insulation: Brick veneer wall has thermal properties. So when used in construction materials it provides superior insularity compared to traditional solid brick, as air pockets between the 2 layers prevent the accumulation of moisture.
Drawbacks of Brick Veneer home
The culprit is the single-layer design. It is built using a single-layer design which makes it thinner than double-brick and solid masonry houses. This means that it is not as durable as it should be.
How to Install it?
Step 1: Prepare the wall of it. You need to make sure that the wall where you are using it is smooth and clean. This is important because debris and dust can make it difficult for the glue to stick properly.
Step 2: Once you have finished grooming the wall, you can now start trimming the assets by using a saw or a diamond blade grinder.
Step 3: Start installing the bricks from the bottom corner just by pushing the brick to the outer edge of the bottom corner. Now you can move upward with a thin brick cut in half in a way of full-half alternatively.
Step 4: Now, make sure the rows are on a straight level.
Step 5: Here you need to keep the space vacant for grouting.
Step 6: Install the remaining bricks now.
Step 7: Grouting
What is difference between Solid Brick and Brick Veneer?
The main difference between both is in the building support. In solid masonry walls, the brick provides the structural support for the building, while in the latter one, the structural support comes from the backup wall, which is usually made of concrete, steel, or wood. It is then added to the exterior of the backup wall for aesthetic purposes.
Is brick veneer better than cladding?
Wall cladding is cheaper than brick. Also, it is easy to use in the construction procedure. There are various colors, designs, and materials that can help you create unique and specific looks. Also, it is very low maintenance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would say that if you want a cost-effective decision regarding your new construction project like a brick wall, then you must go for brick veneer. If you wish to invest in double brick building then keep high construction costs in mind. The appeal of brick veneer is quite high because the veneer is quite a lightweight and looks more aesthetic.
Construction project or home purchase need a lot of thinking. Decisions associated with brick construction without thinking much can negatively affect you.
Frequently asked Questions
1. Is brick veneer real brick?
It is a single layer of fill-thickness and full-size brick which is built on houses. In newer constructions, you will usually find it. You can locate it just by looking at the sides of the construction.
2. Is it waterproof?
It’s important to note that brick is not waterproof when deciding on the appropriate weather-resistant barrier (WRB) for use behind it. This is because brick is highly porous and can easily absorb water, so it should not be relied upon to prevent moisture from entering a wall system.
3. How long does it last?
In terms of its lifespan, a house made with high-quality materials can last between 50 and 100 years. Its durability depends on the quality of the brick used. However, since it is composed of thin sheets of brick, it is generally less durable than solid ones. Additionally, as bricks are porous, they have the ability to absorb water.
4. Are brick veneer houses good?
In terms of their overall quality, these types of houses are generally less expensive to build and easier to construct, which is why they are more common than solid ones. However, they tend to be less durable than solid brick constructions and are typically more vulnerable to environmental conditions, termites, and fire hazards.
5. Can you drill into brick veneer?
If you need to drill into brick veneer, it’s a job that most homeowners can do with minimal carpentry skills and the right tools. To get started, you should first determine the location of the hole on the wall and then go inside to make sure there are no studs where you plan to drill.
6. Is it soundproof?
A properly constructed brick veneer with good insulation can effectively reduce airborne noise (Rw 55-60), and thicker plasterboard or gypsum lining can further increase sound insulation.
7. Is it fire-resistant?
Adhered veneer with a combined masonry thickness of 13/4″ provides 1 hour of fire resistance, while a thickness of 2″ provides 2 hours of fire resistance.
8. What supports a brick veneer wall?
Its panels are supported by a structural shelf that is mechanically attached to the interior wythe. The interior wythe, made of steel, concrete, or wood, provides the structural support for this section.
9. Is brick veneer good for thermal mass?
In traditional ones, the mass of the brick does not contribute to thermal storage because it is insulated from the inside and not the outside. However, double-cavity brickwork with appropriate insulation can provide good thermal mass.
