Bricks and Pavers

Bricks and pavers can be an upgrade that pays dividends in new home construction
By Shalleen Mayes Bricks and pavers come in all shapes and sizes to suit the many tastes of the home or business construction customers to whom you cater. The difference between a brick and a paver is that pavers are designed for sidewalks and driveways, while bricks are designed for veneering. Pavers are denser and generally more expensive than brick because they take more of a direct beating than brick installed vertically on a wall.

Brick may have a higher up-front cost compared to vinyl or wood siding, but many of your construction customers will opt for this timeless, maintenance-free alternative, recognizing that it increases resale values down the road. Consider the following measures when planning and estimating your customers’ brick projects:

1. Get samples of brick styles and mortar colors from a brick supplier from which to have your customer choose.

2. Ensure your customers understand that oversized or handmade looking brick is more costly, while a square red brick, or modular brick, will be the least expensive.

3. Offer to use recycled or reclaimed brick for a building or paving project to add historical value and promote resource conservation to customers concerned with such details.

Consider the many possibilities with bricks and pavers design

Brick can be a welcome addition to any new construction project, whether it's a new home or a business expansion. Brick can add beauty and value to the project. It's best to develop an ongoing relationship with your brick supplier to ensure you receive the best wholesale brick pricing for your customers' construction projects.
Try:  Glen-Gery Brick offers many different brick styles to meet the demands of your customers. Check out Hanson Brick, which divides its offerings into styles that reflect different regions in the United States.

Pave your way to success with brick pavers

Pavers can be a beautiful addition to the landscape of any home that you're building, and can spruce up existing landscaping at businesses. Suggest to your business customers including a lovely curved path of brick pavers in lieu of a concrete sidewalk to welcome customers with class. If you're lucky enough to find genuine antique street pavers, snatch them up, but you can find new wholesale brick pavers in many attractive styles.
Try:  Boral Bricks, the largest brick supply company in the United States, produces brick pavers in several styles, colors and sizes. The City Line of pavers from Belden Brick can provide a safe, attractive walking surface for the public. Stone City USA is a good place to find wholesale brick pavers for residential or commercial applications. Historical Bricks is the largest supplier of antique bricks in the United States.

Use imagination to create a beautiful veneer or sidewalk with bricks

Get creative with bricks and pavers and add visual interest to your customers' construction projects using techniques such as herringbone, basketweave or soldier coursing or bullnose (curved) brick to project the accents. Adding details will help to break up any monotony in a brick veneer. Confer with your brick supplier and your mason to research ideas and take advantage of their design tools.
Try:  Triangle Brick prides itself on color consistency and a variety of brick choices, and allows you to see how the brick has been used on various projects in your area. Redland Brick has a "Virtual Mason" tool to demonstrate how their brick will look in different applications.

• When writing a contract with a mason, make sure it specifies who will pay for the brick paver's supplies.