Been thinking about updating the exterior of our house and really love the look of brick. But I'm stuck between going with real brick walls or just doing a brick veneer. Real brick seems sturdier and more authentic, but it's also pricier and a bigger headache to install. Veneer seems easier and cheaper, but I dunno, does it look fake up close? Curious if anyone's gone either route and regrets it or loves it...
"Veneer seems easier and cheaper, but I dunno, does it look fake up close?"
Honestly, modern brick veneers have come a LONG way. I've used them on several projects recently, and clients were pretty surprised at how authentic they looked once installed. Unless you're really inspecting it closely, most people can't even tell the difference. Real brick is great too, don't get me wrong—it's classic and durable—but veneer saves you a ton of hassle and cost without sacrificing much visually. I'd personally lean toward veneer unless authenticity is your absolute top priority.
I was skeptical about veneer at first too, but after using it in my own living room remodel, I'm pretty sold on it. I went with a reclaimed brick veneer that had a lot of texture and color variation, and honestly, you'd have to be inches away to even suspect it's not real brick. Installation was straightforward—way easier than dealing with full bricks and mortar—and cleanup was minimal.
"Unless you're really inspecting it closely, most people can't even tell the difference."
Exactly this. My friends came over after we finished the project, and they genuinely thought we'd knocked down drywall and put up real brick. It wasn't until I pointed out the edges around the fireplace that they realized it was veneer. Sure, if you're going for historical accuracy or structural integrity, real brick is unbeatable. But for aesthetics alone, modern veneers are impressive enough that the extra hassle (and cost) of real brick might not be worth it.
Totally agree veneer can look fantastic and fool most people at first glance, especially indoors. I did a kitchen backsplash with brick veneer last year, and even my contractor buddy didn't catch it until he touched the surface. But outdoors or if you're after longevity, real brick still wins hands down. Veneer can chip or fade over time depending on quality and exposure.
"Sure, if you're going for historical accuracy or structural integrity, real brick is unbeatable."
Exactly—it's all about priorities and the space you're working with. Indoors though...veneer's usually plenty good enough.
Good points raised about veneer indoors...but outdoors, I'm still skeptical. Anyone had veneer installed outside for more than a few years? Curious about how well it holds up over time, especially in harsher climates. I've seen some veneer jobs that look decent enough at first, but after a few seasons of weather, fading and cracking seem pretty common. Wondering if higher-end veneer products actually avoid these issues, or if it's inevitable.
