A house’s outer layer is critical to keeping everything inside safe. A roof is only one part of it. In Oklahoma, most homes have either brick or siding on the outside, but which is better? Can they be changed?

A head to head comparison

Brick wins in pretty much every category compared to siding. Siding will last for a while, but you’ll have to replace it eventually, and hail can occasionally break it. Brick doesn’t have that problem.

Brick is almost entirely maintenance-free. Though the mortar will wear down slowly over time, it takes much longer than siding. Old mortar will occasionally have to be repaired via tuckpointing, which involves grinding back some of the old mortar and replacing it with new mortar up to the brick’s surface.

Also, if there are strong winds or smaller tornadoes, brick tends to hold up better than siding. The walls are more rigid and hold together better under the force. It’s an extra skin around the outside of the building, whereas siding attaches directly to the outside sheathing.

Brick also has a slightly higher insulation value than vinyl siding. Since both are outside the building “envelope” that keeps energy in, the difference is negligible.

The one big advantage siding has is cost. Whether it’s vinyl, wood, or fiber cement board, siding tends to be cheaper than brick.

Retrofits and remodeling

So, if you have a house with siding, can you replace it with brick?

The short answer is no. A brick veneer has to be built upon a footing that’s part of the house’s original construction. A retrofit is impractical.

What you can do, though, is replace older or less durable siding with better material. Replacing something like vinyl with fiber cement will give you a surface that stands up to the elements much better, though you have increased maintenance. Vinyl may not be as durable, but it doesn’t need painting.

If you have brick already, stick with brick. If you’re doing new construction and have the money, brick is usually better, but you’re limited to siding if you already have siding.

Siding is just one of the services we can provide for your home. If you need a hand with the exterior of your home, give us a call at Land Enterprises Roofing. We’ll get the job done right.