Brick vs. Stone Home Siding: Costs, Maintenance & More

Natural Brick
Brick is made from clay and shale, and comes in standard block sizes that are perfect for creating a timeless, uniform design. The standard sizes also offer a level of flexibility, making it easy to use brick as an accent material.

Natural Stone
Sourced from quarries, stone can be cut into various shapes for more artistic flexibility.

There’s a reason why some of the oldest structures in the world are made of stone and brick. As building materials, both brick and stone are fire resistant, long-lasting, and able to withstand strong wind and hail.

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Both brick and stone are considered to be on the expensive side of building materials. The average-sized home can cost between $25,000 and $55,000 for standard brick siding and $27,000 to $80,000 for standard stone.

However, the exact costs will depend on a few factors, like your project’s exact specifications and the location of your home.

To give you an idea of how much you might pay for various building materials, here’s a quick cost comparison from Roofing Calculator:

One of the reasons for the high cost of brick and stone is the installation process.

Brick and stone are incredibly heavy materials that aren’t exactly suitable for a DIY weekend project. Installing these materials is physically demanding, requiring a specialized process and professional masonry team to get the job done safely and accurately.

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Natural brick and stone can crack over time and should be inspected on at least an annual basis. Small cracks can easily be patched, but larger issues could require additional masonry work.

Brick and stone also require mortar to bond the materials. Since the mortar takes on most of the structural pressure, it will require maintenance to ensure that your stone or brick doesn’t become damaged.

Natural Brick

• Timeless look
• Eco-friendlier than stone because it’s made of abundant materials
• Can potentially lower heating and cooling costs
• Highly durable and long-lasting

Natural Stone

• Timeless look
• Available in various shapes and tones
• Naturally cool material, making it ideal for hot climates

Natural Brick

• High installation cost
• Can weather over time and change color slightly
• Mortar will wear over time
• Water can seep through the area behind the brick, so it needs a drainage plane or weep holes so water can escape

Natural Stone

• High installation cost
• Negative impact on the environment since it’s removed from the ground
• Mortar will wear over time
• Its cooling aspect means you’ll need additional insulation

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Whether you know exactly what type of material you want or are still on the fence, consider the following before making a final decision:

• Will you be adding brick or stone to the entirety of your home’s siding or just one section? This will ultimately affect the final price.
• Are you willing to pay for a mason in addition to the high cost of brick and stone materials?
• Will you be able to maintain the material and make necessary upgrades or repairs?
• Brick and stone come in various style options, so you should have a specific design aesthetic in mind before choosing a material.

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The laborious installation process and high cost of brick and stone means the materials may not be the best option for the majority of homeowners. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives!

Stucco
Stucco is an attractive, long-lasting material found on homes all across the country. The best thing about this material is that it can be used to complement other building materials, so you could have a brick base while the rest of your home is stucco. Stucco typically costs between $6.50 and $12.50 per sq. ft. installed.

Metal
Metal is another versatile material that complements other home design features. It’s also durable and capable of lasting up to 40 years. The cost of metal home siding usually runs between $5.50 to $11 per sq. ft. installed.

Faux Brick & Faux Stone
For those who still want the timeless look and feel of brick or stone, there are more affordable options that will give you the exact style you’re looking for.

Faux brick and faux stone (sometimes referred to as brick veneer and stone veneer) are far more cost-effective and easier to install. Available in any color, shape and style, faux materials can be installed at any point after home construction since they won’t impact the structural integrity of the building.

Other benefits include:

• Extraordinarily realistic style options
• Made from lightweight, yet durable materials
• Air cavities between panels and home help keep moisture out
• Available at a fraction of the price of natural materials
• No mason required. Installation can be a weekend DIY project!

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If you’re looking for a high-end look without a high-end price, Texture Plus offers faux brick panels and faux stone panels that are designed for interior and exterior applications. You can use our USA-made faux wall panels as siding for your home, around your fireplace, over your kitchen sink and for hundreds of other applications.

Ready to see our faux wall panels for yourself? Order free samples of your favorite brick and stone styles or explore other material options here.