JLC · JUNE 1989
Success with
Brick Veneer
Many home buyers like the low
maintenance and quality look of a
brick home. They can get this look
without losing the insulation value of
frame construction if they choose brick
veneer. The veneer will never need
painting; it will protect the house from
wind; and if the work is done right, the
veneer will last the lifetime of the
house.
But contractors with a carpentry
background may not understand the
finer points of masonry-veneer
construction. Mistakes made in
foundation construction, in design,
and even in homeowner maintenance
can undermine long-term performance
of brick veneer.
The brick veneer layer behaves
differently than the structural wall
behind it. Wood begins to shrink the
moment a house is