Brick Veneer

What is a brick veneer?

Brick veneer refers to a construction technique involving the covering of a wooden or steel frame with a layer of bricks on the outside of the property. In brick veneer, the bricks serve a more decorative role, and the removal of the bricks wouldn't compromise the integrity of the house. 

What's the difference between brick veneer and double brick? 

While brick veneer uses a decorative layer of bricks on the exterior and relies on a separate structural framework, double brick construction involves using two layers of bricks for both structural support and exterior appearance. With this, building with double brick tends to be more expensive than a brick veneer. Some common indicators that might suggest your home being a brick veneer include: 

• Hollow inside wall sound - if it sounds hollow after knocking/tapping, it may be brick veneer.
• The property being built 1950s onwards - brick veneer is is more common with newer buildings.
• Depth of windows and door jambs - in double brick houses, these features are likely to be more pronounced or deeper, as the walls consist of two layers of bricks.

Is brick veneer better than cladding? 

While cladding or a ‘skin’ of a building tends to be cheaper to install, brick veneer has greater durability and maintenance requirements over time. Cladding requires a lot of work and maintenance to ensure it retains its colour and features. This is due to the fact that it offers lower resistance to weather and fire compared to brick.