What's the deal with brick fronts? (Bowie: renting, homes, tile)

[firstclassflyer]

Brick is overrated. (I have brick..so no bias.)

[jules07]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Brick is overrated. (I have brick..so no bias.)

Have to agree with you! We have all brick, too (all 4 sides), but I really think it's a regional thing. You see a lot more siding to the East (at least the Southern part, no firsthand experience on the Northern East), and out West there's lots of stucco.

You can have "cookie cutter" and still be all brick. Don't think 4 sides brick defines "not cookie cutter". (But then again, the term "cookie cutter" is so subjective ~ depends on who's defining it! )

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Brick is overrated. (I have brick..so no bias.)

I dunno. When I lived in Indiana in an all brick house, it was like being in a cave in summer. Despite the high humidity and heat, it was quite cool inside. (then we had a roof leak and the ceiling had stalagtites? -or stalagmites, I never remember...and it really was like a cave!)

[banker]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Brick is overrated. (I have brick..so no bias.)

In some way yes...but in terms of keeping a neighborhood better looking long term - brick beats siding hands down. Sadly - there are many neighborhoods with siding that after about 10-15 years look very tired and sad as the home owners don't clean and paint the siding as they should every 4-5 years. In this hot humid climate - brick just holds up better than siding - of any kind.

On a related note - there are some that have accurately commented about how brick can still be cookie cutter. I agree 100%. But even in that situation - I would still take brick over siding for the long term health of the community.

If you can afford it - choose architectural interest + brick over the alternative...but if you can't afford the architectural interest I would take a brick box over siding.

[banker]

Originally Posted by jules07

Have to agree with you! We have all brick, too (all 4 sides), but I really think it's a regional thing. You see a lot more siding to the East (at least the Southern part, no firsthand experience on the Northern East), and out West there's lots of stucco.

You can have "cookie cutter" and still be all brick. Don't think 4 sides brick defines "not cookie cutter". (But then again, the term "cookie cutter" is so subjective ~ depends on who's defining it! )

Places like the north east with lots of siding know how to take care of it...and it doesn't typically equal cheap housing. There are mansions in the north east that are wood shingle covered...so the problem mainly lies in the problem with home owners in South Texas not taking care of their siding. Siding needs to be cleaned and painted ever 4-5 years to keep its clean fresh look. I drive through Stone Oak daily and sadly the big Pulte subdivisions of Arrowhead and Stone Mountain look tired and dated. The primary reason is the poorly maintained siding. Driving up Stone Oak and seeing the big siding covered boxes in need of TLC is sad... This problem is only worse in poorer parts of San Antonio.

And I agree - brick can still be cookie cutter. I wish people would value the exterior when picking upgrades on their homes. I don't know who many homes I have seen that had CHEAP exteriors and loaded to the gills interiors. Pay for the proper structure and a high quality architecturally pleasing "brick/stone" exterior - the things you can't change later - and then improve the interior as you have cash. You will get a better return on your investment long term if you go this route. Of course having enough money to do it all at once is best...but most people can't afford to. That is why you see siding covered boxes with big bucks luxury interiors that will not age well. Just my two cents...

[the_dimwit]

Banker,

Do these communities you mention have an HOA? I'm sure they do, but have to wonder why the organizations don't force the owners to repaint. After all, the provisions of most HOA rules I've been exposed to mention the exterior paint and appearance of a residence. Violation of the rules can result in anything ranging from a nasty-gram to a fine and, eventually, foreclosure.

--Dim

[mrstxcop]

i just don't know how much i agree with brick keeping a neighborhood looking better long term --- IMO keeping a house looking nice long term goes way beyond what the house is built with --- you can have a 4 sides brick home and have a crappy roof with shingles coming off or windows with torn screens or broken blinds hanging in the windows...or you can have 4 sides brick but have a yard full of weeds or overgrown grass or the paint on the garage door peeling or the paint on the trim chipping off ...

my parents have a home that is almost 50yrs old with vinyl siding on all 4 sides of their house --- they had the vinyl put on apx 20+ years ago --- but their home is one of the best looking on the block --- my mom has her yard landscaped to the "T" and keeps the lawn mowed and my dad keeps the paint fresh on the trim...

their neighbors, with all 4 sides brick, have a front yard that they equate to a junk yard, with stuff just thrown out there for all the world to see --- down the street the 4 sides brick home has a yard that is so overgrown you could lose a small child in there ---

i just think that home ownership and pride go hand in hand and that regardless of what your home is built out of ultimately it comes down to the people living in the home as to whether or not a neighborhood is going to be looking nice in 10-20 years...

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by mrstxcop

i just don't know how much i agree with brick keeping a neighborhood looking better long term --- IMO keeping a house looking nice long term goes way beyond what the house is built with --- you can have a 4 sides brick home and have a crappy roof with shingles coming off or windows with torn screens or broken blinds hanging in the windows...or you can have 4 sides brick but have a yard full of weeds or overgrown grass or the paint on the garage door peeling or the paint on the trim chipping off ...

That describes an all brick house in Baja King William that I drool over - and it looks horrible. Amazing potential, but the place is falling apart

[tekka-maki]

Originally Posted by mrstxcop

i just don't know how much i agree with brick keeping a neighborhood looking better long term --- IMO keeping a house looking nice long term goes way beyond what the house is built with --- you can have a 4 sides brick home and have a crappy roof with shingles coming off or windows with torn screens or broken blinds hanging in the windows...or you can have 4 sides brick but have a yard full of weeds or overgrown grass or the paint on the garage door peeling or the paint on the trim chipping off ...

my parents have a home that is almost 50yrs old with vinyl siding on all 4 sides of their house --- they had the vinyl put on apx 20+ years ago --- but their home is one of the best looking on the block --- my mom has her yard landscaped to the "T" and keeps the lawn mowed and my dad keeps the paint fresh on the trim...

their neighbors, with all 4 sides brick, have a front yard that they equate to a junk yard, with stuff just thrown out there for all the world to see --- down the street the 4 sides brick home has a yard that is so overgrown you could lose a small child in there ---

i just think that home ownership and pride go hand in hand and that regardless of what your home is built out of ultimately it comes down to the people living in the home as to whether or not a neighborhood is going to be looking nice in 10-20 years...

I agree 100%

[SA Greed]

Originally Posted by banker

Do you sell new homes?

What is the purpose of this question?