Why Brick ROCKS!!

Camosse Masonry Supply and Redland Brick want you to know why Building with Brick is a better investment than building with vinyl, wood, or aluminum siding.

Below are a few facts about brick and why building with this material increases the value of your investment.

A Little Background on Brick

Brick is made of fired clay and is available in an array of colors, textures and shapes. Its color is derived from the clay or from additives. In either case, the color is as permanent as the brick itself.There are two basic brick types - face and paver. Bricks are made in many different sizes, but most outdoor projects can be planned and built using standard units. These measure 3 5/8" x 2 1/4" x 8", and weigh about four pounds each. Both the Mortarless Barbecue and Lawn/Landscape edging projects use standard bricks.For mortarless paving, Redland produces a 4" x 8" paver. The Four-by-Eight Paver gives you a simple two to one ratio and makes installing popular patterns such as basketweave and herringbone even easier. The Patio in a Day project uses these handy paving bricks.

Why Brick is Best

Statistically, 67.8% of homeowners prefer brick. Selecting brick for your home's exterior is a wise choice. Because it offers the highest resale value, requires less maintenance and is more durable, it's by far a better investment than vinyl, wood, or aluminum siding. The benefits of brick are considerable when compared to the less desirable exterior alternatives. Along with the strong preference for brick among homeowners, there are many other aesthetic and economic benefits that make the selection of brick not only the best looking choice, but also the most practical.

- Brick Homes have higher resale value. A home built with brick has a resale value approximately 6% higher than a comparable home without brick. The small initial investment for brick more than pays for itself over time.

- Brick offers better fire resistance. Made from natural clay materials, brick is the most fire-resistant of all siding materials. Home insurance rates are often lower on brick homes.

- Brick Homes are easy care. No cleaning or painting is required with a brick home. You will recoup your initial investment for a brick home with money saved on maintenance in a relatively short time. Brick will not warp, crack, rot, corrode, split or dent, and doesn't mind the weather. In fact, the look of a brick home actually improves throughout the years, looking more distinctive as it ages.

- Brick homes conserve energy and save money. Brick homes shut out noise and pests as well as the chemicals used for pest treatment. As a natural sound barrier, brick also insulates your home from outside noises and adds to the quality and comfort of living in a brick home.

How to keep your Brick in Tip-Top Shape

While one of the main advantages of brick is its low maintenance cost, there are some things you should know to keep your investment looking its best.

- Before cleaning brick, test it for absorption by thoroughly wetting a section with clean water. Use a garden hose if possible. If the brick becomes darker all at once, clean only a small area at a time, otherwise you can clean up to 100 square feet at a time. In warm weather, it's also a good idea to clean in smaller sections.

- Always saturate brick with clear water before applying cleaning agents and rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

- Use wooden, plastic or rubber buckets, wooden scrapers and stiff fiber brushes to clean brick.

- In most cases, stains can be removed by scrubbing with a stiff brush dipped in a strong solution of household detergent and warm water.

- To remove smoke stains, make a smooth, stiff paste of trichlorethylene (a refined solvent) or any dry-cleaning solvent, and purified, powdered talc. Apply this paste to the stain with a trowel and scrape off when dry. Repeat until the stain has disappeared and then wash the area thoroughly with clear water.

- Fresh paint stains can be removed with a commercial paint remover or a solution of two pounds trisodium phosphate, available at paint and hardware stores, to one gallon of water. Apply the mixture to the stain and allow to dry. Remove with a wooden scraper and wire brush. Rinse with water. For older paint stains, you may need to use steel wool or a steel brush. Be sure to protect unstained areas from any chemicals you use.

- Oil stains can be removed with a paste made of one pound of trisodium phosphate and one gallon of water. Add a small amount of powdered chalk to thicken the paste. Spread about 1/2" of paste over the stain and let it dry. Remove dried paste with a wooden scraper and wash the surface with clear water.

- Plants and vines growing over brick walls hold moisture and can cause mortar cracking and brick discoloration. To remove them, use a reputable weed killer, following the instructions on the package. Be sure to protect any areas not bothered by growth.

Start your next brick project today!! To place an order call our Charlton store at (508) 248-4044 and ask for Jay or our Worcester store at (508) 755-6193 and ask for Chris.