Masonry Magazine May 2003 Page. 17
A brick is a brick is a brick. Ah, but what a little variation can accomplish! There has been a trend toward giving both residential and commercial buildings a unique look through the application of color and texture via brick, block and stone. No more "all-the-sameness" even though the elevations might be identical.
We contacted several suppliers of brick, block and stone for input on what they see as the current and coming trends in their materials. Here are some of the answers.
Brick
THE BASIC BRICK has become standardized in size and shape. But there is a wealth of variation available-including new non-standard sizes and shapes-from many companies. According to the Brick Industry Association (BIA), over the past two or three years, brick manufacturers have added, and continue to add, new and more textures to their product lines in response to-or in many cases, anticipating customer demand.
Bill Seidel, marketing manager at Acme Brick, Ft. Worth, Texas, agrees with the BIA and notes that colors are also "hot." He says, "Our newest product is the 'Acme Handmades' line but we see another trend in the use of white, gray or pastel brick with matching mortar color to achieve a Mediterranean or contemporary look. In the past these looks were achieved with a product that can have water intrusion problems, such as Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS)."
Seidel adds, "Architects seem to be using more banding and mixing of different brick colors on buildings. Sustainable design, which is one benefit to using brick, is also becoming more popular. One of the most popular brick designs with builders is tumbled or 'used effect' brick."
Acme produces a line of king-sized bricks that, Seidel claims, is gaining in popularity. "In our region, the cost efficient king size it requires 4.8 brick per square foot of wall-is increasingly popular. Today, even custom homebuilders demand this size."
Duane Walker, director of marketing at Mutual Materials, Bellevue, Wash., continues the regional theme. "In the Pacific Northwest, we're seeing particular interest in blended brick both for revitalization projects and new construction projects. The architects mainly drive this trend. Use of ground face block, for visual appeal, is also growing among architects. The major regional difference out this way is the specification for reinforced brick to confront West Coast 'seismic' concerns."
Regional differences abound. J. L. Miles, vice president for sales at Redland Brick, Williamsport, Md., says, "There are definitely regional brick color and texture preferences. For example, Redland Brick's plant in Hartford, Conn., has developed most of its brick colors for the New England market. Traditionally, this market has preferred primarily red brick. However, the market is changing and all colors, including pastels and earth tones, are now being selected in New England. As a result, we have introduced many new colors and have broadened our product line to include grays, tans and browns. The discriminating tastes of homebuyers, especially custom-home buyers, are forcing brick distributors and manufacturers to broaden their product lines. In this market, style can rank ahead of price."
Perception of value more than price can be an incentive. Miles, continues, "Builders are always looking for new brick styles and colors to help them keep their home appearances fresh. After several years, tract builders need to change colors so that their new subdivisions do not continue to look the same.
"In addition, architects continue to design buildings with banding of different colors and/or textures. Brick manufacturers who specialize in commercial brick styles must be able to provide different sizes and textures in all of their standard colors."
Miles delves into some other things that he sees across the country. "A residential trend is adding colors that are either a substitute for stone or that compliment stone. Today's home designers often mix their exteriors with stucco, stone, brick and siding,. Many older brick colors and styles don't fit well into these new designs. A lot of the new brick styles include grays, tans and other light earth tones that do work well with different exterior colors."
Several manufacturers, including Redland Brick, have developed products that are designed to replicate stucco. Miles comments, "When these new light brick colors are installed with a matching mortar color, the result is a very mono-chromatic look that fits the desire of customers who want masonry but do not want a traditional brick appearance.
"Many brick manufacturers are also developing 'thin brick' that can solve several design issues and also help meet strict seismic codes. Because of design and load requirements, we are seeing an increase in thin brick specifications. Often the building will require 90 percent of the exterior be done with traditional brick units and 10 percent will require thin brick. There are several different thin brick systems in the marketplace, but this brick category remains a very small part of the brick industry."
In Macon, Ga., Cherokee Brick and Tile's Ray Hughes is proud of a new line that was developed by their plant workers. "It's a machine tumbled line of brick that we've never had