Reply to brick veneer or hardiplank

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[quote=Anonymous]I think brick veneer, which, if successful, is an imitation of solid brick, looks more substantial than Hardiplank, which is an imitation of wood. This is only because "real brick" is generally considered more permanent than wood. I'm fully aware of the fact that a house with either can can be as strong as you care to make it, but that's the impression conveyed. For the same reason, a house covered with vinyl siding will look flimsy, even though what's under the vinyl  may actually be strong enough to survive the worst hurricane. Also, Hardiplank, which seems to be a perfectly good product if installed correctly, hasn't been around in its current form for long enough to establish a track record for longevity; brick veneer, if installed correctly, can last more than 100 years, and there are 130 year old buildings to prove it. Brick also offers somewhat better fireproofing, much better protection against insect intrusion, better noise isolation, and more thermal mass (which is an advantage in DC, I believe). But no siding appeals to everyone  :roll: , so whatever you chose, I'll at least offer these suggestions:

1. If getting Hardiplank, try to avoid the type with embossed wood grain. At best, the embossed grain will make it look like crappy, decrepit wood, at wost, it will make some people confuse it with vinyl siding. Unless it is damaged, flat Hardiplank is indistinguishable  from well-sanded, painted wood, so it won't draw unflattering attention to itself.

2. Some combinations of brick and lap-siding or brick and stucco look good, but a brick front with lap-siding everywhere else just looks stupid; the lap siding calls attention to the fact that the brick is a veneer. A brick front with stucco sides would look a lot more dignified (since stucco could have anything - wood, brick, or block - underneath it). If you must combine brick or stucco with lap siding, having brick or stucco on the first floor and lap siding above that makes the most sense; at least the heavy stuff is on the bottom, the way it would be if each material were the full thickness of the walls. [/quote]

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