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I'm planning to buy a home around 5 years from now, and I intend for it to be the first and last home I'll ever buy. Are brick homes (structural brick homes, not wood-framed homes with a brick veneer) far superior to wood framed homes in terms of durability and longevity, all else being roughly equal?
There are home building systems superior to frame. But brick or concrete block is not among them. Unfortunately such systems are more expensive than frame and you need to search around to find a builder who can deal with them competently.
Brick homes used to be something of a status symbol in the German midwest. At least that is what I have heard. We are talking about maybe 60 years ago. But masonry homes will tumble in an earthquake. Falling masonry chimneys have killed people in tornadoes. They are also like ovens in the summer.
I have run into really nice looking brick homes in St. Louis. They still exist. One in particular still sticks out in my memory. It was brick, with limestone trim around the front door. Very nice. But I would not want to live in it.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Having been through the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in the SF Bay Area (and smaller ones going back to about 1957) plus the 2001 Nisqually quake here in Seattle, I have seen what happens, so would never consider a structural brick/masonry home. Our current house has brick in the front door/porch area but it's decorative, stuck onto the wood frame.
Repairs and needs to redesign and remodel are inevitable with any structure. I'm sure it's a matter of supply and demand, but in this area, it's much easier to find a contractor who can work with wood, than it is to find a good masonry guy.
Brick homes used to be something of a status symbol in the German midwest. At least that is what I have heard. We are talking about maybe 60 years ago. But masonry homes will tumble in an earthquake. Falling masonry chimneys have killed people in tornadoes. They are also like ovens in the summer.
I have run into really nice looking brick homes in St. Louis. They still exist. One in particular still sticks out in my memory. It was brick, with limestone trim around the front door. Very nice. But I would not want to live in it.
The place where I intend to buy my home is not in an earthquake zone, and Earthquakes are very rare. Major earthquakes are unheard of, so the Earthquake risk factor people keep mentioning is largely irrelevant here.
The place where I intend to buy my home is not in an earthquake zone, and Earthquakes are very rare. Major earthquakes are unheard of, so the Earthquake risk factor people keep mentioning is largely irrelevant here.
It’s impossible to make a generalization as to which is better unless a specific area and wall system type is specified. For instance, in Florida’s hurricane area, masonry walls with concrete block filled and steel reinforced with a lower and upper concrete bond beam will allow the structure to survive hurricanes, so that construction type cannot even be compared to wood framing.
A brick veneer wall system is attractive to those who prefer brick and can outlast other types of sidings and maintenance as long as they were properly constructed. Mortar joints do often fail with time but again it’s contingent upon the original installation.
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