Why so many brick homes? (Weatherford, Granbury: hoa, insurance, for sale)

[trail rider]

I have noticed that most of the homes in the Weatherford and surrounding areas are brick homes. Is that because of the weather or some other reason. And by the way, how bad are the winters in the area?

[Trainwreck20]

Brick is relatively accessible in the area from local manufacturers, which minimizes transportation. You also limit your termite worries, although they can still get in the walls. It is pretty much maintenance-free, too, as opposed to wood or other siding material. Depending on where you are, you will see a lot of stone, too. If you travel further east in Texas, there is more wood houses due to the abundance of lumber and the greater transport cost for brick/stone.

Winters in the DFW area are only really bad for short spurts, and by 'bad', I mean below freezing with ice/snow. West/North (toward panhandle) starts getting worse.

[momof2dfw]

Most cities in the greater D/FW region require that at least 80% of the exterior of all homes be masonry and brick is the most popular. You will see a few (and I mean FEW) homes that are stucco. Most builders use brick especially the tract home builders and they will put the bare min usually. To see a house w/ a lot of "siding" on it in this area is deemed "cheap". The more higher end homes use more brick than 80%. Brick is easy to come by in the area and reasonably priced. The only homes you are going to find that are all wood are going to be in older neigbhorhoods. I do know of one house nearby under construction in an older part of town and they used hardiboard on most of it w/ some stone. People had a cow. It actually looks very nice and attractive.

[MoMark]

Originally Posted by trail rider

I have noticed that most of the homes in the Weatherford and surrounding areas are brick homes. Is that because of the weather or some other reason. And by the way, how bad are the winters in the area?

Although I live in Missouri, many homes are built of brick here too. The homes with just front brick, then siding, or the all siding homes are considered chintzy and not well built. Also, brick is better for rough weather. Ever seen what pounding hailstones can do to a house with siding? It can peel the siding right off and pits it, then damage the materials underneath. A brick home can take high wind, hail, doesn't need painting or much maintenance. There's usually little exposed wood, so little weathering which is a problem for the old all wood homes. A brick home is considered better quality and it makes a difference with home insurance too.

[Just Lookin]

I love the brick look. In East Texas where we want to go there not to many in my price range. I would love it if I could find one. They add class to the home I think.

[texasdreamin]

When I build my home, I wanted to have it constructed with half stucco and half stone. Would that be considered "cheap" looking. It truly won't be cheap, that's for sure. I'm use to the brick from the midwest...chicago and Indiana, but I love stucco and stone.

[Roma]

I think stucco and stone would look better. Where I live in Granbury (not to far from Weatherford) only the cheaper or older homes are made of brick. There are several new subdivision here that will not allow you to build brick homes because they do not look as nice and they feel they will bring the value of the other homes down. Now the new cheaper subdivisions are all brick (So it is very telling). In the newer higher end subs that do not allow brick homes are all a mix of stucco and stone or one or the other. We just bought an investment lot on the lake and they do not allow brick homes either. It was kinda embarrising for my realtor (or for me) because when we were reading over the building restrictions of my new lot it stated absolutly no brick homes and she lives in a brick home. It is well known here that brick is a cheaper or not so up to date way to go. Homes for sale here that are brick sit longer on the market. If you are looking for a older or less expensive home, then what you will get will probably be brick. But if you are looking for a newer, nicer area, higher end home you will probaby get a stucco/stone home. Hope that helps

[momof2dfw]

Are you sure your talking about Granbury, Texas? All of the houses for sale in the upper price ranges are brick, brick/stone or brick/siding. Unless you mean that homes from $300K all the way up are "cheap". Check it out on realtor.com

In the D/FW area there are not many neighborhoods/cities that will allow a house that is not at least 80% masonry. Stone & stucco do apply as "masonry" but check to make sure that the subdivision/HOA/city will allow it. A lot don't like stucco because of the damage that hail can do to it. Brick will not get the hail damage that stucco can and we can get some pretty bad hail storms. One good hail storm could totally destroy the entire outside of a stucco home. And you don't want that on your insurance record. I like the stone look. I have stone on my home. It has gotten very popular in the area in the last few years. There is also what is called the "Hill Country" look that I love. It is stone and cedar. Big porches..... ahhhh, love it.

[anil]

Originally Posted by trail rider

I have noticed that most of the homes in the Weatherford and surrounding areas are brick homes. Is that because of the weather or some other reason. And by the way, how bad are the winters in the area?

I know. That baffled me too? I'm in Toledo, OH and here having a brick house means ...you're rich. I'm moving to the DFW area soon and I'm looking forward to living in a brick home

[texasdreamin]

Hail storms??? Okay, stucco is out. I don't want the repair expense. I will go with stone. Question....since brick is so inexpensive there, does that mean that it will not cost that much to have a brick driveway installed? It would cost a fortune out here. So would an all brick or stone house. One other question. In Northern California, it is very expensive to have landscaping installed. A friend bought a new home and the landscaping cost $60,000. In Southern California, it is much cheaper to landscape due to many immigrants being so wonderful at it and having it as their business. You can get a gardener to come twice, per month, for $60-65. Up here, they would snub their nose at that amount. Soooo...is it expensive to have new property landscaped and gardened in Texas? Any guesses on the cost?