Brick and Masonry Siding

Brick is one of the most durable siding materials: it doesn't need to be painted, doesn't rot, doesn't fade, and weathers handsomely. Brick-veneer siding is usually applied to a wood frame wall over building paper. Bricks can be laid in many patterns and come in many sizes, textures, and colors. Brick also provides excellent insulation for your house. Bricks are held in place with mortar, which is a mixture of cement, sand, lime, and water. The mortar that holds the bricks together can be finished, or "tooled," in a number of ways. It can be: * Concave * Flush with the bricks * Extruded between them * Raked * V-joined Solid mortar and properly tooled joints are the key to keeping your house weathertight. And although bricks and mortar are solid, they are porous. If you live in a very rainy climate, you may want to consider a clear water-repellant coating for your brick building to preserve the brick, especially if you have several spells of freezing and thawing during the winter.

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