Stone vs. Brick
If you’re wondering which of the two is better, it comes down to preference. Both are extremely similar in terms of benefits and drawbacks. Both materials are on the expensive side. The exact cost varies from project to project but stonework tends to be more expensive than brick. If you’re looking for the best possible exterior, stone and brick have every other exterior beat when comparing it to wood, vinyl siding and aluminum siding. Masonry work is durable, leaves a beautiful appearance and weather resistant.
Stone
While both are durable and strong, stone is the stronger of the two. Stone work is known to last from generation to generation and won’t be going anywhere. While it easily lasts a century it is a lot more labor intensive and tedious to put together. Once everything is said and done, the maintenance on stonework is non-existent for a minimum of 25 years.
We wouldn’t recommend making a home full of stone since it will look tacky and the price on that would be at a very high cost. We recommend stone work for projects or only a certain area of the home. By projects we mean a new addition such as a stone grill, a stone mailbox, or stone-patio.
The Drawbacks Of Stone
Stone work tends to be on the thicker side of things. This means it will eat up a good amount of space so be sure you have enough estate before you agree to a stone project.
Apart from eating up space, it’s almost permanent when everything is set. Removing and relocating stonework is never fun for anyone and is a costly mistake.
Majority of people already know this but what about the maintenance? The maintenance on it is nonexistent but just like any other exterior, a pressure wash every now and then keeps it looking fresh. The natural stone needs no touch up but the mortar joint may need a repointing (fill in) but that isn’t for 25 years.
Brick
When thinking of a huge project like changing the entire exterior of the home, brick is the way to go. Brick is more affordable than stone, takes up less space and is more fire resistant than stone.
If some damage were to occur replacing it is a lot less hassle than stone. The main drawback is that in most cases you need to pressure wash the brick after it is fully set in order to show its full beauty.
In the end, you can’t go wrong either choice. Between the two of them it’s an upgrade from any other exterior which is reflected In the price tag. In case it wasn’t clear, brick is more affordable but still reinforces structures effectively. Also, you can mix and match the mortar to brick/stone since there is variety. It all comes down to preference, if you are in need of mason’s in the state of Georgia and want quality craftsmanship our masons are sure to deliver.