FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
2026 Midyear Meeting Registration is OPEN ↗

New Study Debunks Actual Cost of Brick Homes

Words: Lorelei HarloeAn independent study debunks common misperceptions of the actual cost to build a brick home versus competing exteriors.

RSMeans, North America's leading supplier of construction cost information, developed "The Installed Cost of Residential Siding" study for the Brick Industry Association (BIA). The October 2015 study compares RSMean's estimated construction cost of homes with brick veneer over wood framing with stone veneer, fiber cement, wood siding, wood shingles, vinyl siding and cement stucco in major metro areas throughout the U.S.

Nationally, RSMeans estimates that the average total construction costs of brick wall cladding is just 8 percent more than vinyl siding, 1 to 3 percent more than stucco and wood siding and 4 to 6 percent more than wood shingle and fiber cement siding. Moreover, brick is estimated at 13 to 15 percent less than comparable homes with stone veneer. In 11 of 17 major, selected U.S. markets, brick's cost is not only less expensive than stone in every single market, it is also less expensive than wood siding.

"The initial cost of a brick home is quite competitive, especially since most homes require less exterior cladding than people think," said Ray Leonhard, BIA's president and CEO. "An average 2,700- square-foot two-story house only needs 2,265 square feet of cladding material when accounting for windows, doors, etc."

Leonhard said the unparalleled benefits of brick more than offset the relatively small increase in the initial cost of a new a brick home, including little to no maintenance with no painting required; extreme durability with some 100-year manufacturer warranties; better fire and wind safety; non-fading color and reduced exterior noise with improved energy savings.

The metropolitan areas shown here include Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Minneapolis, Minnesota; the New York City suburbs; Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
 0
Masonry Repair and Retrofit: Materials and Systems for Long-Term Performance
May 2026

Masonry has defined architecture for centuries, prized for its strength, durability, and timeless aesthetic appeal. From historic sites to modern designs, masonry buildings are durable and visually distinctive. However, exposure to moisture, freeze-thaw c

David Biggs
Technical Talks
Read More
Rethinking Shelf Angle Design for High-Performance Masonry Walls
May 2026

If you've been around masonry construction long enough, you know the shelf angle is one of those details that’s easy to take for granted. It’s been used the same way for decades, set it at the slab edge, support the veneer, move on. But as building requir

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
When Schedules Tighten, Experience Shows
May 2026

In construction, schedules rarely open up; they tighten. Weather delays, trade coordination, and last-minute scope changes all add pressure, even on jobs that were planned down to the minute. When that happens, experienced masons don’t start cutting corne

Jeff Tew
MAP Partner
Read More
Shelf Angles and Their Impact on Wall Performance
May 2026

Shelf angles have long been a standard component in masonry construction. Installed at the slab edge, they provide support for brick veneer and are often treated as a routine detail. However, as building performance requirements evolve, particularly aroun

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More