"RicodJour" wrote in message
...
On Aug 12, 12:24 pm, Larry Blanchard wrote:
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:02:00 -0500, Leon wrote:
Brick and stone are the bones of the house and usually show the best
when they are designed to work that way. Some house styles, like
Federalist houses, pretty much require all brick veneer.

I still remember my father, when looking for a home back in 1950 or so,
turning up his nose at brick veneer. None of that "fake" stuff for him,
he wanted a real brick house - and he found one!

I'm guessing that the '50s were about the time that brick veneer started
being used to lower costs.

Solid wall masonry construction is not a good choice in all climates,
and energy code requirements for a wall's R-value are a hang up of
plan examiners and building inspectors. It's tough to argue the
thermal mass point with them.

Having grown up in a 1840ish-built home with 16" thick brick exterior walls,
I have to agree about the benefit of mass. However, beyond the price of
materials, solid masonry construction doesn't easily permit wires or pipe to
be installed, modified or maintained. Insulation, if required, is also a
problem, as is the cost of labor building it.

Nonny