For all of the sound reasons to design a home with brick- durability, longevity, low maintenance – it goes without saying that brick offers undeniable, unforgettable curb appeal that everyone can appreciate! Sure a property with brick will retain its value and sell for more on average nationally, but homeowners also can’t get enough of the gorgeous red, brown, gray, white, and pastel options that offer classic beauty, rich texture, visual interest, and engaging elegance. 

With so many excellent options to choose from, how do you ultimately know which brick to pick? That final decision will come from a combination of factors and also your personal preferences. The best part is that it’s hard to go wrong with any brick selection! Here are some of our suggestions for how to pick your brick: 

Get Inspired – Before you make any purchase, you must be inspired! We recommend gathering brick inspiration both the old-fashioned way and using today’s technology: Take a drive around town and in your favorite neighborhoods, take notes on your favorite homes and the way that brick is used, take plenty of pictures using your smartphone, and also explore brick images on our North Georgia Brick Pinterest page. Rank your favorite looks, consider which look matches the rest of your neighborhood, and also consult your Homeowners Association to make sure that your choice follows any outlined design guidelines for your neighborhood.  Once you have put together a list of approved, inspired options, you can decide as a family!

Assess Angles – It’s also wise to analyze your home and assess the angles of the structure itself, how natural light plays off of your property, and where shade falls before committing to colors. If your property has several trees or is located towards the bottom of a hill, you might want to avoid bricks that are darker than medium shade-range to avoid creating a gloomy-looking property. Conversely, a bright-colored or washed-out brick used for a property that receives ample unobstructed sunlight can overwhelm the view from the street and take away from the beauty of your home. Observe which areas of your house receive direct sunlight, and how much direct sunlight they receive, and choose a suitable color or mixed variation that will work best with these natural factors.  

Suitable for Stone – Many gorgeous homes built with brick also incorporate stone in the exterior. If this is the case for your property, the use of stone will definitely influence your brick choice! As a general rule, it’s always sound to avoid picking a brick color that directly matches the color of the stone, but rather contrasts while playing off one of the stone undertones or accent colors. To avoid creating a busy look, keep the stone and brick combination simple, and do not use patterned varieties for both material choices. If you struggle to visualize the brick and stone combination, you can purchase a sample with your choice of brick and stone together. It’s better to ensure that your choices are harmonious than to run the risk of a design that you are not satisfied with! If this unfortunate result does occur, consider painting the brick to coordinate with the stone and get the overall look that you will love. 

Mortar Matters – To really make your design vision pop, consider the mortar that you will use with your brick to better capture the desired effect. For instance, if you love the washed-out brick wall feel, you would want to consider using lighter-colored mortar to produce a lower contrast. Darker mortar will darken the overall feel of your finished walls. Consult with a brick designer or specialist to decide whether you should go with messy, thin, or smeared mortar to achieve your preferred look, and which shade variation will work best as well.  

We are ready to help confirm your brick pick or help in the decision-making process any way we can. Bring your favorite pics and gathered inspiration to either our Cumming or Cartersville showrooms, and we will go through eye-catching options together. Let’s create a unique layout to make your property the best on the block!