Fiber Cement Siding vs. Brick: 3 Reasons Why Brick Is Your Best Choice

Engineers and architects in the home building space have been debating the merits of fiber cement siding vs. brick more in recent years. In today’s economy, cutting costs has become the most important priority for builders and homeowners alike. 

However, when saving money in the moment becomes a bigger priority, the costs can pile up once the home weathers a few seasons.

This is often the case with fiber cement siding homes. While brick may be the more expensive option upfront, it requires less maintenance and is stronger against the elements. Unlike fiber cement siding, there are also things you can do during construction to even further protect and strengthen your brick walls so they stand the test of time.

Here is a closer look at the differences between fiber cement siding and brick and why one is a much better option for a worry-free home.

What is Fiber Cement Siding and How Does it Differ From Brick?

To look at these two options for the exterior of a home, let’s first define both materials. Brick is a block of clay that was either baked in the sun or in a kiln to make it a hard and strong building material. It is often reddish in color because of the way the iron oxides within the clay react to oxygen during the firing process. It is an ancient building material that continues to be a popular choice because of its durability and aesthetic impact.

Fiber cement is a more recent option for protecting the exterior of the home. Fiber cement siding sheets are made from a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose that have been mixed together, and then steam-pressed into their final shape. With paint and pre-planned design changes, the sheets can match a variety of aesthetics and can provide a tough shield for your home. 

Both brick and fiber cement siding are options for protecting and finishing the exterior of a home or building. The main differences between the two come down to their appearance and performance.

Fiber Cement Siding: Is It Actually a Cheaper Option?

One of the main reasons fiber cement siding is gaining popularity among home builders is because of its price. In some cases, fiber cement siding can be cheaper to buy and install. But that is not always true, as pricing can be very dependent on the location of the build. In some states, brick may be cheaper because of its availability or superiority in that climate. Depending on the builder and the construction project, it may even be more expensive to install fiber cement siding. When you weigh the average costs of materials and installation from state to state, it’s hard to say for certain that one is always cheaper than the other.

What is certain, however, is that fiber cement siding costs more after the project is complete. 

Fiber cement siding is infamous for being easy to damage and penetrate. While daily wear and tear may not hurt it, one good hurricane can leave it dented, cracked, or even punctured. It is also more susceptible to fading. For these reasons, it needs to be re-examined and repainted every five to seven years.

There have been a few examples of this in the news in the last couple years. In one story, homeowners in a new development found many cracks in the fiber cement siding along the exterior of their homes only eight years after it was installed. This brand promised their siding had a 50 year lifespan. In another example, multiple families noticed their siding fading after only three years.

Fiber Cement Siding vs. Brick Siding: 3 Reasons Why Why Brick is Still the Best Choice

Bricks are a building material that are almost as old as time, with some artifacts dating back to 7000 BC or even earlier. In America, the earliest appearances of brick homes date back to the 1600s. In fact, America’s oldest brick home from that time period is still operational as a residence!

1. Brick Has Greater Strength and Durability

There are several key qualities that make brick a popular and timeless choice for homes. The first is its strength and durability. Many centuries-old brick roads, houses, and city buildings are still in use because brick can handle the elements and years of wear and tear. This strength comes partially from the hardened clay material itself, but also from the interlocking way bricks stack together in a build. A wall of staggered, strong bricks connected with mortar and rebar is hard to break. It can be even stronger than other solid concrete walls, and it will always outperform wooden ones.

2. Brick Maintains a Like-New Appearance for Much Longer

Brick also maintains a like-new appearance much longer than fiber cement siding. This is because, unlike other materials that need paint or stain to achieve the desired color, brick’s color is baked in when it is first formed. This makes it resistant to fading and means, even when chipped, the color underneath is still the same.

3. Brick Resists Damage

Some of the main downsides to brick are the cost to repair it when it is damaged and the lack of stylistic options available. While repairing brick walls or siding is often more expensive than repairing other types of siding, damages to the home happen much less often. One of the main things that can damage a brick home is the deterioration of the mortar between the bricks. This is usually the result of excess water and can be prevented by making sure your brick walls have proper drainage pathways from the start. We explored that topic in our earlier blog article, “How Do You Get Moisture Out of a Masonry Wall? A Step-by-Step Guide.”. 

And, yes, a brick home is going to look like a brick home! You can change it up to fit different aesthetics with paint and decor, but it will always be a brick house. If you have a very specific aesthetic in mind, it may not be the right thing for you. But if you want a classic-looking home that will hold up to the elements, brick is the best choice.

Extend the Life of Your Brick Home with Galvanized Masonry Products

While brick on its own is already stronger than most building materials, you can increase its lifespan by pairing it with the right materials. This can start with using the right mortar and materials for framing. But, it also includes choosing the best materials for the interior components of your brick walls.

Galvanized masonry materials are some of the best options on the market for reinforcing and stabilizing your brick construction projects. Like bricks, galvanized materials are stronger than many of the alternative building materials. Their zinc coating makes them rust-resistant, which also protects the materials around them. When installed within brick walls, galvanized materials help strengthen them and prevent more serious issues like rust jacking from happening around the home’s entrances or openings.

There are many standard masonry products that can be hot-dip galvanized. These include:

• Wire
• Rebar
• Lintels
• Masonry ties
• Nails
• Steel Angles
• and more!

Using these products during your brick build will reinforce it and make it more resilient than a material like fiber cement siding ever could.

Want Quality Masonry Products On Time and On Budget? Call South Atlantic Today!

At South Atlantic, we take great pride in working with manufacturers across America to provide you with the highest quality construction materials. We even hot-dip galvanize our galvanized masonry products ourselves to make sure they meet the strictest industry standards. By working with long-standing suppliers and coating the products ourselves, we are able to guarantee our customers the most competitive prices for materials, along with turnaround times they can trust.

To request a free quote and speak with our knowledgeable team, contact us today. We look forward to learning more about your upcoming projects.