Multiple Methods of Refacing a Brick Surface

If you are thinking of refacing brick on the exterior of your house, there are many options that will fit in with your tastes, needs, and also your budget. This guide shows you some of the methods that you can consider using to reface the brickwork on your house.

Stone Veneers

Natural stone veneer is best if you have to fit in with building regulations or have a property with architectural or design features that you want to follow. You will need to remember however that natural stone veneer can be quite weighty, so you may need structural supports such as foundations or special footings. Natural stone veneers can also be expensive.

Faux Stone and Artificial Stone

Faux stone and artificial stone veneers are a much cheaper alternative and are also lightweight so you rule out the need for scaffolding. They also require fewer tools to install so it will also cut down the costs of labor. If you are refacing the bricks on your house but do not wish to hire a contractor to help, you might consider using faux or artificial stone.

Manufactured Veneer

Manufactured veneers are available in a variety of different colors and textures such as limestone and rubble stone. They are produced to be scratch resistant and are pre-sealed, making them weatherproof. This means that you won’t have to treat them with anything once you have refaced the brick. They are relatively inexpensive but only available in set patterns and colors.

Brick Veneer

Brick veneer is made to look like bricks. This may be useful if you are building and wish to create a weathered look or need to choose bricks that fit in with a certain style, but for a smaller cost. Brick veneers are produced to recreate many brick styles, but there are many companies that will also custom make brick veneer for you, for instance, if you are building an extension and require the brickwork to look like the rest of the house.

Stucco

Stucco is another way of refacing brick relatively cheaply. Stucco is generally a mixture of sand, cement, and lime. However other materials can be added to it to produce different effects. Stucco can be applied directly onto bricks as masonry is secure enough to withstand a thick layer of mortar, although you can purchase varieties of stucco that contain glass fiber or acrylic added to it, to strengthen the layer. Modern stucco is generally applied in two coats, a first initial layer, usually made of Portland cement, lime and water, and a finishing coat which is weatherproof.

The benefits of applying stucco to your home are that it is an inexpensive material, that requires few tools to apply. If you are considering using stucco to reface your brickwork then you probably won't need to hire a contractor to complete the work for you. Stucco can also be painted over if required, however, the appearance of stucco can vary greatly depending on which aggregates have been mixed with the base.

By resurfacing your bricks, you have saved invaluable time and money. You also have the added benefit of know the bricks match exactly unlike if they were replaced.