Nothing has a bigger impact on the curb appeal of your house than the siding. Whether you are planning to sell or intend to stay, choosing the right siding material can make all the difference in the first impression visitors have of your home. Whether you are building a new house or upgrading an existing building, it is important to choose the siding that bests suits your region. Two of the most popular siding materials are brick and stucco ¹. Each of them has distinct advantages, but which will work best for your home?

Installation

Neither stucco nor brick is an easy DIY installation job. It is much better to entrust these jobs to professionals. However, the labor costs for stucco installation are substantially less than for brick siding. So, stucco is typically less expensive.

There are several stages in the stucco installation process, and many differences exist depending on what the stucco is being applied over. If it is covering an existing masonry wall, a concrete bonding agent is used first, followed by a scratch coat that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. After it starts to harden, it is scratched all over to a depth of an 1/8 inch and left to completely harden for 36 to 48 hours, being misted occasionally to keep it moist and prevent it from setting too quickly and cracking. Once it is cured, a smooth or textured finishing coat is applied and left to cure in a similar manner to the scratch coat. That top coat can be tinted to the desired color or painted after 6 weeks. If installed over a wooden surface, a layer of roofing felt is first laid down, topped with metal netting. The scratch coat is forced into the netting. The rest of the process is the same.

Installation of a brick wall starts by cleaning the surface of all dirt, oil, and loose plaster ² and paint. Once the metal flashing ³ is attached above the concrete foundation, the bricks are connected to the wall surface with construction adhesive, and mortar ⁴ is pressed into the joints ⁵ with a trowel. As the bricks are installed, wall ties firmly attach the bricks to the sheathing every four courses, meaning every four horizontal bricks in a row. Once the mortar starts to harden, the joints are finished to a concave profile, and any excess mortar is brushed off.

Energy-Efficiency

There is not much difference between the energy-efficiency of brick and stucco. Both deliver an R-value, which is the capacity of a material to resist the flow of heat, of about 0.4, roughly half that of wood siding. It is important to add extra insulation between the siding and the interior walls to raise the R-value of your exterior walls to an adequate level. An R-value of 13 is the recommended minimum. For an R-value as high as 15 or 18, use 2x6-inch lumber to increase the thickness of the walls and the insulation inside them.

Durability

In most parts of the United States, brick is a more durable choice. In areas of high humidity, such as the Pacific Northwest, stucco siding will be susceptible to the development of rot and mold. Also, in severe winter conditions, brick can better withstand the inevitable freeze-thaw cycle that could affect stucco siding. However, it needs to be installed properly with a good vapor barrier ⁷ behind it to prevent a buildup of moisture, and there must be drainage holes near the bottom to allow any moisture that does find its way behind the brick to drain out.

On the other hand, stucco is well-suited to dry, temperate regions such as the Southwest, where it has been traditionally used for centuries. It is not recommended in earthquake-prone areas where cracks can easily develop.

Environmental Concerns

Brick is made of clay, an all-natural material, and can last for a century or more without needing to be replaced, making it a good choice in terms of sustainability. However, that needs to be balanced against the high energy consumption in the manufacturing process. Bricks are fired in a kiln at 2,000⁰F for several days. And, if bricks need to be transported any distance, their weight results in high fuel consumption during shipping. It is best to source bricks as locally as possible.

While stucco is also made from natural materials, like Portland cement, sand ⁹, water, and lime, stucco siding will not last as long as bricks. There is also a high energy cost in the production process, and if it must be shipped over a long distance, there will be considerable fuel consumption.

Resale Value

Brick has a higher resale value than stucco of up to 6%. The attraction of low maintenance, high fire resistance, and durability gives brick an edge over stucco for home buyers.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Stucco: A type of durable plaster finish made of aggregates, a binder, and water (traditionally Portland cement, sand, and water) used on masonry, walls, ceilings, and decorative moldings

² Plaster: A paste composed of sand, water, and either lime, gypsum, or cement, which forms a smooth hard surface on walls, ceilings, and other structures upon drying

³ Metal flashing: A thin sheet of metal used around the edges and junctions of the roofing material,such as around a chimney or vent, to prevent water from entering the structure through those joints

⁴ Mortar: A mixture of Portland cement or lime or a combination of both, sand, and water used to bind bricks, stones, and concrete masonry units together

⁶ Grout: A fluid form of cement used to seal the joints between tiles. It also makes the surface stronger because it bonds the tiles together

⁸ Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others

⁹ Sand: Process of removing the top surface of a material, such as wood, using sandpaper and/or a specialized sanding machine (for large surface areas)