Mixing shades definitely helps—I did that on my patio and after a season or two, you'd never know the difference. Curious if anyone's tried those brick tinting kits? Seen them online but haven't pulled the trigger yet...worth it or nah?
I've seen those tinting kits too, but honestly, I'd be cautious. My neighbor tried one last summer—followed the instructions to a T—and it looked great at first. But after a harsh winter, the color faded unevenly and now he's stuck trying to fix it. If you're already mixing shades successfully, maybe stick with that method? Or test the kit on a small hidden area first...just to be safe.
Totally agree on testing a small area first—better safe than sorry, right? Have you thought about how much sun exposure your wall gets? I've noticed fading issues tend to be worse on walls facing south or west. My brother-in-law did a tint job on his brick veneer, and it actually held up pretty well, but his wall was shaded most of the day. Maybe sunlight intensity plays a bigger role than we realize...?
Good point on the sunlight exposure—definitely underrated. From my experience:
- Sunlight intensity is a huge factor, especially for tinted veneers. I've seen some south-facing walls fade noticeably within just a few summers.
- But brick type and tint quality matter a lot too. A higher-quality tint with UV protection can surprisingly hold up even under direct sun.
- Had a client who went with real brick purely to avoid fading issues, but honestly, it wasn't immune either—just faded differently, more evenly maybe?
- Your brother-in-law's shaded wall probably helped a ton. Shade can make cheaper tints look great longer than you'd expect.
Ultimately, testing a small area like you said is the smartest move. Every situation is unique, and a little trial run can save a lot of headaches down the line.
Totally agree that UV quality in the tint makes a noticeable difference... but honestly, even the best tints I've worked with eventually show some wear under harsh sun. Real brick does fade, true, but I feel like the natural aging process on real brick has a charm to it—more like character than damage, you know? With veneers, fading can sometimes look patchy or inconsistent unless you're really meticulous with installation and selection.
One thing I'm curious about though: has anyone here noticed significant differences in moisture performance between veneer and real brick walls? I've had a few projects where veneer walls seemed more prone to moisture issues behind the surface, even with proper flashing and drainage. Could just be anecdotal... but it makes me wonder if deciding between veneer and real brick should factor moisture management as heavily as sunlight exposure.
