Brick or siding for my home exterior?

There is no universal winner here; the right call depends on your climate, your budget, and what the rest of your neighborhood looks like. Let me break it down. Brick: - Extremely durable, low maintenance, and it reads as "solid" and permanent to a lot of buyers. It handles weather well and rarely needs refinishing. - Higher upfront cost, fewer color changes later (you are painting or you are not), and in earthquake country older unreinforced masonry can be a concern, so newer brick veneer over a framed wall is the norm. Siding (and note there are several kinds): - Vinyl is the budget option, fast and cheap, but it can look it. - Fiber-cement siding is the one I would point most people toward. It gives the crisp painted look, takes color, resists rot and pests, and, importantly here in California, it is a non-combustible material that helps in fire-prone areas. Wood siding is beautiful but higher maintenance. Two things matter more than the brick-versus-siding debate: - Match your market. Walk your street. If every home is brick, an all-vinyl re-side can look out of place and hurt resale; if the neighborhood is classic California ranch and beach homes, siding often fits better. Buyers reward "belongs here." - In California, think about fire. If you are anywhere near a high fire hazard area, non-combustible materials are not just a style choice, they factor into insurance and disclosures. Fire-resistant exteriors are increasingly a real selling point. My honest take for most sellers: for resale value and cost, quality fiber-cement siding is the safe, broadly appealing choice, with brick worth it where the neighborhood and architecture call for it. I am a real estate professional, not a contractor, so get bids for your specific home. I am based in Los Angeles, in the South Bay. If your home is near here I am glad to tell you what buyers here actually reward, and if it is elsewhere I can connect you with a strong local agent from my network. Zoltan

There isn't a universal answer because it depends on the condition of the brick, the style of the home, and what buyers in your market expect. In many areas, brick is considered a desirable exterior material because of its durability, low maintenance, and timeless appearance. If the brick is structurally sound but simply looks dated or worn, cleaning, repairing, or painting it may be more cost-effective than covering it with siding. Before making a major investment, I would ask: • Is the brick actually damaged or just unattractive? • How do comparable homes in your area look? • Will the cost of new siding be recovered when you sell? Since you're preparing to sell, I'd be cautious about taking on a large exterior project without first speaking with a local real estate professional. Buyers often care more about overall curb appeal and maintenance than whether the home is brick or siding. In many cases, improving landscaping, painting trim, updating lighting, and addressing obvious maintenance issues provides a better return on investment than completely changing the exterior material. Before spending the money, get a few opinions from local agents who know what buyers in your market are responding to. The best option is usually the one that maximizes curb appeal without over-improving the property for the neighborhood.

I would be careful about covering brick with siding right before selling. Brick usually has a strong reputation with buyers because it feels durable, lower maintenance, and more permanent. If the brick is structurally fine but just looks dated or unattractive, you may have better options than replacing the whole exterior. Sometimes cleaning the brick, improving trim color, updating shutters, painting the front door, refreshing landscaping, changing exterior lighting, or improving the entry can make a big difference without taking on a major siding project. Siding can look great when it fits the home and neighborhood, but it is not automatically better for resale. Buyers may wonder why the brick was covered, and a big exterior change can get expensive fast. Before spending that kind of money, I would have a local real estate agent look at comparable homes in your area. If brick homes are common and preferred there, keeping the brick and improving curb appeal may be the smarter move. Austin Moore Austin Moore & Company Real Estate Realtor in Longview, Texas

Don’t switch brick to siding just for resale. That usually hurts you. Buyers generally see brick as more solid and higher value than siding. Covering it can feel like you’re hiding something, not improving it. If the brick looks bad, fix the look instead of replacing it. Clean it, repair damaged areas, or paint/limewash it. Those give a fresh, updated feel without losing the “brick” appeal. Siding makes sense only if the brick is truly failing or the cost to fix it is extreme. Simple way to think about it. Keep the brick, improve the appearance, and you’ll get a better reaction from buyers.

Have you thought about possibly painting the brick?

Working here in the Central Iowa market, I can tell you that I regularly hear from buyers who prefer brick because they associate it with better durability, lower maintenance, and overall higher quality — it has a long‑standing reputation that sticks with people. That said, buyers ultimately respond to whatever looks clean, updated, and well‑cared‑for, so if the brick is in rough shape or dragging down curb appeal, new siding can absolutely help the home show better. But if the brick is structurally sound and just needs a refresh, keeping it often preserves that “solid home” perception many Iowa buyers already have.

Paint the brick. It will make it look like a new house.

I would agree with the other agents responses that brick is very much preferred up here in New England. I would pressure wash the house and make sure the pointing is "on point" pun intended, LOL. and that will be a whole lot less costly than installing siding. Hope that helps! Warmly Stacy Corrigan Real Estate Broker RI, Southeastern MA, Northeastern CT

In most cases, brick is the better option for selling. It’s more energy efficient, requires less maintenance, and can sometimes lead to lower insurance premiums because of its fire-resistant qualities. Many buyers prefer brick over siding. That said, what specifically is making the brick look bad? Is it just the color, or are there cracks in the brick or mortar? Could there be foundation issues causing the damage? If there are structural concerns, those should be addressed first. If the issue is mainly cosmetic, you could repair any cracks and consider painting the brick a color that complements the rest of the home. Updating the look can give the house clean, attractive curb appeal—which can make a great first impression on buyers before they even step inside.

In most markets, brick tends to hold value better and is usually more appealing to buyers than siding. It’s also durable and many insurance companies view brick exteriors favorably. If the brick doesn’t look great right now, you might consider improving it instead of covering it up. Cleaning it, limewashing it, or adding some stone accents can dramatically improve curb appeal without losing the value brick provides. Every market is a little different, but generally speaking brick is a safer choice when you’re preparing to sell.

I would keep the brick, You could explore staining the brick if it really looks that bad but overall people and appraisers like brick because it is lower maintenance and more durable than other exterior materials. Also, covered brick can indicate covering a problem and there is no easy way for a buyer to check if there are cracks/repairs needed to the masonry after the siding has been put over it.

Hi Carl, I'm writing to you from North Carolina. I work as a builder and as a real estate broker. I cannot speak to your local market conditions, but I offer some universal feedback. Brick is preferred over siding for its lower maintenance and durability perception. Appraisers also tend to give brick homes a higher edge. Covering brick with siding would likely trigger some questions from the appraiser and any home inspector who then would share those concerns with any potential buyer. The best route would be to clean the brick, repoint the mortar joints-if necessary, then paint the brick if color is or becomes an issue after repair. If the brick has significant structural issues, then there might be a bigger issue. In that case, call a local contractor and ask for a quote or advice on how to repair. You could then market the home with the intention to repair once under contract. Hope this helps!