Brick Veneer vs. Full Brick Costs

Full Brick Walls

• The traditional way to achieve the look of a brick wall is to simply build the wall entirely from brick, but the traditional way is also the most expensive way. Brick walls cost more than timber-framed walls, and they also cost more than brick veneers because the manufacture of full-size bricks uses more clay or cement than that of veneers. Labor costs are also significantly higher because of the greater amount of masonry work required and because the weight of a brick wall requires a substantially larger footing to support it.

Brick Veneer

• Brick veneer is a relatively inexpensive alternative to full brick that provides the aesthetic appeal of the real thing. Brick veneers are manufactured from the same materials as full-size bricks, typically clay or a mixture of cement and aggregate, but veneers are thinner and lighter. They are applied to the surface of an already constructed wall, making the wall appear to be built entirely from brick. The manufacture of brick veneers requires a fraction of the material needed to produce full-size brick, and the installation of veneer is less labor-intensive; both of these differences result in cost savings.

Adhered Veneer

• Traditional brick veneers are attached to wood- or metal-framed walls with metal anchors. Newer adhered brick veneers are attached to walls with an adhesive and offer more flexibility in their application than do anchored veneers. Adhered veneers are not less expensive than anchored veneers, but because they are even thinner than anchored veneers, they are lighter and can be applied in places such as the upper stories of buildings where the weight of a standard veneer would preclude its use.

Mortarless Veneer

• All brick installations, both full brick and brick veneers, require some degree of masonry skill on the part of the installer, making them an impractical choice for homeowners who want to do the job themselves. Mortarless brick veneers are cast concrete modules that attach to walls via screws through pre-cast holes, and they use overlapping joints that don't require mortar. The labor-cost savings associated with these veneers can make them an affordable alternative to traditional brick.