Brick veneer is a type of construction style where a wooden or steel frame for a building is hidden by a single layer of bricks on the outside. It provides the same appearance as double brick, but the home’s structure will still stand if the bricks are removed.
You have to be careful about the quality of the brick veneer that you will use for layering your house. Novabrik is an amazing option for brick siding, but still, you may face some problems with it.
Probable Reasons For Novabrik Problems
There are some reasons for which you might face problems with Novabrik brick veneer. Though some problems are not very serious, you should know about them and take the necessary steps to solve the issues.
In this part of the article, we will talk about the probable reasons behind the Novabrik problems-
- Prone To Damage In Earthquake
During earthquakes, homes constructed of unreinforced masonries, such as bricks, hollow clay tiles, stone, concrete blocks, or adobe, are very prone to damage.
In most cases, the mortar that holds the brickwork together is insufficiently robust to withstand earthquake forces.
Walls can also fall away or crack, causing damage.
As Novabrik does not require any mortar to be installed, it is very like to be damaged during the earthquake. Installing a steel frame can solve this problem to some extent.
- Weak To Moisture
Water is the main culprit behind damage to a house with a wood frame. Also, brick veneer absorbs water like a sponge because it is a masonry product.
If you don’t have a solid water mitigation plan, the wet brick that is right up against your wood frame will eventually cause rot, mold, and mildew to eat through your home.
Due to inadequate moisture protection, there is currently a widespread problem with this brick siding, particularly stucco, stone, and brick veneer.
Novabrick is mainly a brick veneer, and this moisture problem is one of the main problems you might face after installing.
- No Air Gap
You might hear about the problem that the wood base of Novabrik got rotten after a few years of installing the Novabrik veneer. The main reason behind this problem is that there is no air gap between the wood base and brick veneer.
Moisture also damages the brick if it stays wet for a long time. A small gap ( ½” to 1″) helps the airflow, and eventually, the wood and the bricks get dried.
- No Color Coating
If you notice more carefully, you might find some brick veneer that is becoming dull and fragile day by day.
You can find this problem in Novabrik also. It is because of the no-color coating feature.
You can consider this as an advantage also since you can paint your favorite color on them.
But if you skip that option, your brick veneer can face some serious damage.
How To Fix These Problems?
Now it’s time to know how to solve these Novabrik problems. For your better understanding, we have discussed the solutions in detail-
- Repointing
Repointing brick veneer means clearing out the old mortar and installing the bricks with new mortar. During the first ten years, brick veneer repointing is not really necessary. But after that, the mortar may begin to loosen or break.
Also, you’ll need a masonry specialist for repointing. Since no mortar is required for installing Novabrik, repointing these bricks is done differently- by removing the damaged bricks.
Depending on the size of the operation, repairs can be pretty expensive. They may charge $10 to $15 per square foot; overall, it can cost between $50 and $200 for a modest repair.
- Flashing
Masonry walls are strong and long-lasting, but water penetration is one of their weaknesses. One of the sources of this moisture is rain. Humidity, snow, and frost are also on the list of its enemies.
Flashing is a type of coating used to seal off connections, especially around windows and doors, so that water cannot enter the brick cavity. Without enough flashing, the moisture might transfer inside, which will invite expensive repairs.
- Gentle Cleaning
Brick homes are long-lasting and low maintenance, but regular cleaning is necessary to keep them looking their best.
No matter what color, type, or size of brick you have, you will ultimately need to clean the bricks and mortar if they are unclean or have green mold developing on them.
When it comes to cleaning the brick veneer, you have to be careful about that. Because it is porous and prone to accumulating dirt, which causes problems with mold development. Particularly on the shaded portions of the house.
But you shouldn’t use acid washes and power washers for this. Both procedures have the potential to degrade or eliminate the hardened outer surface of bricks.
Instead, professionals advise washing bricks with pressure no greater than that of a regular garden hose.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Yes, Novabrik is good in many aspects. It gives your house an amazing look with a very quick installation. You can also remove the bricks very easily and use them for another project if you want.
Novabrik costs differently according to their sizes and models. However, on average, you will need around $8 to $18 per square foot.
To install Novabrik, you will need a wooden base and vinyl starter strip at the edge of the wall. First, make sure that the wooden base is perfectly attached to the wall. Then install the base row of Nobabrik on the vinyl starter strip.
After that, put four courses of bricks at a time and install them by following the pattern. Then, use a drill to attach them to the wooden base.
Final Words
Brick veneer is better than any other form of siding because of its durability, beautiful look, and low maintenance features. You will find all these amazing features of brick veneer in Novabrik.
However, like some other brick veneers, it also has some drawbacks. There are some Novabrik problems that can be easily solved by following some steps. But keeping these minor problems aside, Novabrik is a good option for siding your house.
Mr. Wade, I read your article on the Novabrik no-morta siding and I am very confused about what you said on “no colar coating “ and on “repointing”. The Novabrik has no motar! How can you remove it and reapply it? Thanks.
Question: should I put during strips on before the house wrap to protect the fitting strips?
Mr Wade,
Novabrick does not attach directly to the house. The siding attachs to a furing strip over the house wrap.