Maybe it’s brick, but probably not – your home is most likely a wood-framed structure with a brick cladding called brick veneer. We call homes clad with brick “brick homes,” but normally their structure is wood. This is not obvious unless you can observe the attic walls and consider the depth of the windowsills: solid brick or masonry walls are thicker, and you may see the brick or block in the attic.
If your home was built prior to about 1900, there is a chance it is a masonry structure in which brick and block form the outside walls and support the structure. If your home was built prior to 1850 and has a brick or stone exterior, there is a good chance it is solid masonry or solid brick.
Since about 1900, it became more efficient to build homes with wood framing and brick veneer. Since the homes look like solid brick, they are called brick homes. This type of construction offers the advantages of a maintenance-free, quality exterior and a simple-to-build structure that can be properly wired, plumbed, insulated and sealed.
Don’t worry. Call it a brick home and enjoy the low maintenance and high quality – everyone else does, and you can keep the secret.
