"Buyers usually care more about overall appearance and maintenance history anyway..."
That's true, but I've noticed that in older neighborhoods, buyers sometimes specifically ask about the brick type—especially if they're familiar with local weather conditions. A neighbor of mine had veneer installed poorly, and moisture got trapped behind it, causing some nasty mold issues down the line. Have you found certain climates or regions where veneer tends to perform better or worse over time? Curious if others have seen similar patterns.
I've noticed veneer can be tricky in humid climates. Worked on a project down south where moisture management wasn't prioritized enough, and within a few years, we saw similar mold issues behind the brick facade... Proper detailing really makes or breaks veneer performance.
Had a similar experience a few years back—client insisted on brick veneer to save costs, and we did everything by the book (or so we thought). Still ended up with moisture issues behind the facade after just two rainy seasons. Honestly, I'm still skeptical about veneer in humid climates... real brick walls might be pricier upfront, but fewer headaches down the line. Proper detailing helps, sure, but sometimes climate just wins.
Fair points, but I've seen brick veneer hold up surprisingly well even in humid areas—key seems to be ventilation and drainage detailing. Had a project near the coast, used a rainscreen system behind the veneer... zero moisture issues after five years. Maybe it's more about execution than material alone?
"Maybe it's more about execution than material alone?"
You're onto something there. When we were building our place a couple years ago, I went back and forth forever on brick veneer vs. solid brick. Ended up going with veneer mostly for budget reasons, but I was pretty worried about moisture—especially because summers here get nasty humid. The contractor pushed hard on proper drainage and ventilation, just like you mentioned. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but two years in and zero issues so far. Even after some heavy storms, no signs of dampness or mold behind the walls (yeah, I checked... paranoia got the best of me one weekend). So yeah, seems like if you get the details right, brick veneer can hold its own just fine. Glad to hear your coastal project is holding up well too—makes me feel even better about my decision.
