Al Carrell: One of the most popular surfaces for the outside of the house is brick. It really is a beautiful way to finish out your house. Now you amy wonder why you've got a space in-between here. The brick is not going to support the house. It's actually called brick veneer. It's going to be attached to the house by these brick ties. The metal ties secure the brick veneer, or facade, to the house, giving it strength. The space between the brick and the house allows the house to breath from any moisture that builds up. Did you know that on an average day in the USA, bricklayers lay almost 23 million bricks. It's an extremely popular siding. A brick home gives it a traditional look. A look that never goes out of style. Brick may be a little more expensive than other types of siding, but today, there are over 10,000 shapes, sizes and textures to choose from, not to mention all sorts of colors as well. And the best part of owning a brick house, there's virtually no maintenance. If it ever gets dirty, you simply wash it down. One of the many decorative ways to use brick is with this protrusion, called a coin. Not only does it look good, but it also makes the house look bigger. Like anything else though, it doesn't support the house. The rest of the wall, everything here is just a veneer.
Michael Holigan: Another item you might ask your builder for to dress up you brick veneer is double rollocks around your window. That's where the end of the bricks protrude, instead of just running horizontal into the window frame. It looks a lot nicer. Up top, these are soldiers. That's bricks that run up and down. This is a walking solider though, because every third brick kicks out, the way a soldier's feet would if they were marching. Down at the bottom, make sure you have weep holes. If any moisture builds up behind the brick, it needs a place to escape. Well what it does is run down the wall and it comes out right here. Don't ever fill in that weep hole, and don't ever let your landscaping get up as high as the weep hole, where water might back into the house.
A.C.: Next to brick siding comes vinyl. It used to be that vinyl siding had a bad reputation. And it deserved it. It would crack and it would fade and it would shatter. And it just wasn't a great thing to have around your house. Now, the newer siding has been improved so much that it looks great. It not only looks great, but many manufacturers of vinyl siding guarantee the siding for a lifetime. Vinyl is now a very good product. You can pick all sorts of styles and looks. You can ever install vinyl that looks exactly like traditional wood, only it's better than wood. The vinyl of today won't crack or fade like the old type. It won't deteriorate from the sun's harsh rays because it's made with an ultraviolet inhibitor. Summer heat and winter cold will not adversely effect it. It's easy to install and cost much less than brick. It comes in tons of colors and it's easy to keep clean. Just wash it down with a hose. Let me show you one really big advantage. Now this is a painted surface. It's about three years old and it's already peeling. With vinyl siding you'll never, ever have to paint, and it will never peel. Vinyl will add some insulation to your house and will button your house up against air infiltration. So if it's vinyl or brick, both are great choices for finishing out your house. It's largely just a matter of taste.
Episode 36 1996 - 97 Season
| Winterizing Your Home | Cola to Kill Mice | Brick and Vinyl Siding | Driveway Oil Spots | Decorating with Houseplants | Paper Plate Paint Catcher | Furniture Polish Recipe | Adjustable Rate Mortgages |