Find a Contractor Buyer's Guide
MCAA Logo
Member Login JOIN
NEWS
Join Us For The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting Sep 7-11 ↗

Comparing the pros and cons of exterior competitors to brick

Words: Dan KamysA video and fact sheets from the Brick Industry Association (BIA) compares bricks with other home exteriors, debunking the common myths about genuine clay brick versus its competitors. With frank pros and cons on the latest in sustainability features, maintenance needs, costs, fire and safety, the package stacks bricks against the top alternatives: vinyl siding, concrete masonry, manufactured stone, fiber cement siding and Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) — otherwise known as synthetic stucco.

BIA's booklets include:
  • The Facts: Brick vs. Vinyl Siding
  • The Facts: Brick vs. Fiber Cement Siding
  • The Facts: Brick vs. Manufactured Stone
  • The Facts: Brick vs. EIFS
  • The Facts: Brick vs. Concrete Masonry Veneer
Eliminating technical jargon, content areas for each product include major myths, strengths and weaknesses in all areas (aesthetics, initial cost, design flexibility, installation, maintenance and repairs, water management, color fading, fire resistance, wind damage, moisture resistance, insect infestation, damage resistance, environmental concerns, insurance issues); physical properties and construction basics; cross-section diagrams; the differences between brick and each product; sustainability comparisons and product performance.

You can view all fact guides at www.gobrick.com.
 0
From Bikes to Buildings: The Importance of Embracing Rainscreen Wall Designs and the New Building Codes.
July 2025

Have you ever been asked to do a project over the course of your lifetime? For example, when my kids were little, my wife asked me to assemble their bicycles. So, I opened the box, dumped out the contents, and cast aside whatever I thought was unnecessary

Keith Lolley
MAP Partner
Read More
Laying the Foundation for Growth: Concrete Masonry Checkoff Unveils Five-Year Vision for Industry
July 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) put the finishing touches on an ambitious five-year vision for the industry, targeting a 20% increase in market share, driven by increased demand for concrete masonry products. “This is about building exquisite, enduri

Industry News
Read More
Proudly American-Made: EZG Manufacturing’s Commitment to Quality, Innovation, and the U.S. Workforce
July 2025

As supply chain disruptions and tariff concerns continue to impact industries worldwide, EZG Manufacturing remains steadfast in its commitment to providing high-quality, innovative masonry equipment—proudly built in the U.S.A. For 25 years, our Malta, Ohi

Abigail Spung
Read More
Five of the Seven Chimneys Have Been Saved: Project Chimney Update
July 2025

In the wake of the devastating January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, a remarkable preservation effort is underway, spearheaded by Project Chimney, an initiative led by Evan Hall, founding director of the non-profit House Mu

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More