Brick vs. Brick Veneer: Choosing the Right Option for Your Project

A build is more than just brick-and-mortar. It's about design and function, balance and contrast, and those all-important final touches that make any architectural vernacular stand out in its surroundings.

But, selecting the right materials at the outset is the foundation of bringing this vision to life - and will make all the difference to your project.

Brick "a.k.a full size brick" and brick veneer are both popular options for all manner of applications, and present a strong, aesthetic finish for your build. Understanding the key distinctions between the two materials will help ensure you make the right choice, and that your project stands the test of time.

Forever home, commercial space, or large-scale development, here's what you need to know about brick vs. brick veneer.

What Is Brick Veneer?

Brick may be a commonly used material, but it's worth taking a moment to talk about its counterpart.

Brick veneer is usually made of a mix of clay or concrete, water and aggregates for a strong, yet lightweight end product. Meaning it's ideal for a lighter, often easier installation application.

In practice, here's what that looks like:

A structure can be built using timber, steel or concrete (or a combination of these) to develop a sturdy foundation. Then, brick veneer can be used on some or all of the building's surroundings as cladding. This improves its longevity, for one, against the weather and elements, and provides structures with an almost "second defense" against natural wear-and-tear. It also means a cost-effective way of introducing your desired aesthetic finish for a more tailored look.

To state the obvious, this a pretty appealing solution for many modern architects, contractors, developers and homeowners. And today, there's a wealth of options available in the market.

But for all its many uses, that doesn't necessarily mean it's always the right option for your project.

The Pros & Cons of Brick vs. Brick Veneer

So, let's talk about the pros and cons of both materials, and how they might be deployed.

Brick: the pros

• Resilience. Brick is resilient. It can withstand hardier weather conditions like snow, strong wind and rain, and with good care, it will maintain its stability for decades and even centuries to come.

• Uniform Look & Feel. Whether it's for a single component in your project, or the entire structure, brick brings a cohesive look and feel to your build.

• Resistant. Much like brick's resilience, the material is also very resistant against common structural damage - like termites and other pests, rot and so on. Making it a good option if longevity is what your project needs.

Brick: the cons

• Cost. Brick is solid which can naturally lead to increased cost outlays. Installation of full brick requires a special brick ledge, takes up more space and is often installed by highly skilled brick masons.

• Repair Challenges. If not cared for correctly, brick can bring about its own difficulties. The time, cost and resource needed to repoint brick, for example, can be significant. It's also very difficult to impossible to change the style of a façade when it's been constructed with full dimension brick.

Brick Veneer: the pros

• Low Maintenance. Much like brick, brick veneer is an extremely low maintenance material. It's durable, and solutions such as Creative Mines Paintgrade Brick Veneer enables you to customize the color. More traditional brick styles like Cannery Brick Veneer or the contemporary Warehouse Brick Veneer offer a wide variety of color palettes that will complement a variety of designs.

• Cost Efficiency. Generally speaking, brick veneer is a more cost-efficient option, providing for easier application across several common building substrates used in new and remodel construction. Meaning you can add dynamic, character and texture to your build, for less. Unlike full size clay bricks, brick veneer siding is lighter weight and easy to move, and costs less to ship.

• Ease & Speed of Installation. Brick veneer is easier to install than full brick and can be installed with either a Type N or S mortar meeting ASTM C270 or a Polymer Modified Mortar complying with ANSI 118.4 and 118.15 depending on the substrate and local code requirements. Here is an installation video by Creative Mines, walking through the step by step on how to install Brick Veneer over cement board.

• Interior & Exterior Capabilities. Due to its lightweight construction, brick veneer can be deployed inside or outside of most buildings, from fireplace hearths, accent walls and exterior facades. Plus, since it’s a veneer it takes up very little room, leaving you with more square footage in your space.
• Design flexibility, especially as it relates to access to extensive color palettes, including lighter whites and darker blacks that are ofter difficult to achieve with clay brick.

Brick Veneer: the cons

• Structural Support: Full-size brick is a load-bearing material, providing structural support to the building, whereas brick veneer is purely decorative and relies on a separate structural wall for support.

• Acoustic Properties: Full-size brick walls provide better sound insulation due to their thickness and density, reducing noise transmission from outside. Brick veneer does not offer the same level of acoustic insulation, however this is usually addressed in the wall framing.

The Eco Benefits of Brick Veneer

Safe to say, the energy efficiency of any build comes top of the priority list for modern homeowners. And for developers, contractors, and architects, building solutions need to have lower emission outputs now more than ever. This is a central benefit to brick veneer - but not all veneer is made equal.

At Creative Mines, we supply concrete brick veneer materials which are not only stronger and more durable than many clay counterparts, but have a more eco-conscious end-to-end lifecycle.

Our brick veneer has an average of 7x lower carbon emissions than most clay veneer options, and thanks to their composite materials, don't require the same energy demand from a kiln.

Concrete brick veneer is also easily recyclable, and because it's both lightweight and readily available, more can be transported in a single shipment. Reducing fuel usage, emissions and cost.

Let's Talk About Your Next Build

Small- or large-scale, one-off or ongoing, our crew can help ensure your next build comes to life precisely how you envision - down to the final details.

We've been working closely with building and architectural communities since 2011, supplying the highest quality stone, brick and masonry veneer products, and offering real insights in modern application and technical performance.

If you're looking for the ideal solution for your project, get in touch to speak to a member of our team today.