Residential Masonry: Tips on Making the Right Choice

• Color — What look do you want? Traditional, contemporary, southern, western? Each style suggests color pallets that will provide you with a reference point. Keep in mind, brick and stone do not change color over time. You will typically change shingles or siding several times over 50 years of a brick home's life, so pick a color that reflects your personal tastes.
• Mortar Color used to build the walls will represent close to 20% of your wall color. Changing from a grey to a tan or to a red mortar will typically result in a noticable shift of color. If you are unsure, there are several “on-line” services that can help illustrate what that change will look like. Feel free to ask one of our sales representatives to help you with this program.
• How much brick? While it might be tempting to consider more exciting “bells and whistles” for your home, keep in mind the long term value of brick. Ask yourself how many times you will have to replace this item over the term of your 30 year mortgage? Think twice before financing upgrades that won't last for the length of the loan you are making.
• How do I make sure I get the look I want? It is always acceptable to ask your builder or mason to lay up a sample panel to establish the agreed upon standard for construction. This may be a 3′ or 4′ separate panel, or it might be the a small corner section of your project. Regardless of the location, we encourage you to talk with your contractor and express the style you are looking for. That's one of the beauties of masonry. The “hand-laid” craftsmanship can make your home unique to you.