exterior cladding
Traditional brick (full-bed)
Standard 4-inch-thick mortared clay brick veneer over a structural backup wall. Long-lasting, low-maintenance, and a classic residential exterior across many regions.
Brick cladding offers 75+ year service life with minimal maintenance and outstanding fire resistance. The labor cost is high, but the material outlasts vinyl/fiber cement by decades.
Cost tier
PREMIUM
Cost / sqft
$14–$28
Install
specialty
Durability
premium
Maintenance
low
Moisture
excellent
Cost notes
Requires masons; cost includes brick + mortar + labor + flashing + weep details. Cheapest in regions with strong masonry trade (Midwest, Southeast).
Aesthetic
- Finish: matte
- Color range: red, brown, tan, buff, gray, white-painted
- Pattern: running bond, stack bond, Flemish bond
- Visual weight: heavy
Climate suitability
Code notes
Class A fire rating. IRC R703.7 governs masonry veneer attachment, flashing, and weep holes.
Alternatives
Source
Architectural Graphic Standards — Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper) — Materials chapter
Tags: masonry, traditional, low-maintenance, fire-resistant