Q: What are the advantages of building with brick?
A: No other building material can match brick’s classic elegance, high resale value, energy efficiency, unsurpassed durability, low maintenance, and wide variety of available colors and textures:

  • Brick conveys an image of substance and permanence, and it never goes out of style. Many of the world’s most beautiful, enduring, and admired homes and other buildings are made of brick.
  • Brick homes have resale values as much as 6 percent higher than those of comparable houses finished with other siding materials.
  • Brick offers few opportunities for air infiltration than other commonly used siding materials and is heavy and dense, giving it a very high thermal mass. This means that during the summer a brick home remains cool in the heat of the day and then releases the heat energy during the night hours. Similarly, in winter a brick home stores and reflects heat back into the living space, keeping it warmer.
  • One of the oldest and most durable building materials in the world, brick resists fire, doesn’t rot or corrode, and can’t be eaten by termites or other insects. Brick structures hundreds of years old are still in use today. Their durability and resistance to hazards often make brick homes eligible for discounts on homeowner’s insurance (check with your agent).
  • Brick homes never need painting, and their siding never rots, splits, corrodes, dents, or tears. Compared with  wood-, vinyl-,  aluminum-,  or artificial-stucco sided structures, brick homes are virtually maintenance free.

Q: I have a white powder on my brick. What is this and what do I do about this?
A: This white powder is called “efflorescence,” and is caused by water in the wall dissolving mineral salts in the brick or mortar. When this leaches to the surface, the water evaporates, leaving a whitish mineral-salt residue. Most efflorescence is water soluble, so it can usually be removed by washing with plain water when the weather and the wall are warm and dry. This helps keep the cleaning water from causing additional efflorescence.

The only long-term cure for this condition is to stop water from entering the wall by ensuring that any flashing or caulking is correctly installed and defect free.

Q: What is a “jack arch”?
A: A “jack arch” is an assembly of specially shaped brick used as a decorative accent over windows and doors. They are made to order for each job and usually take several weeks to produce from the ordering date. Jack arches often use a keystone, a decorative triangular shape made from clay, concrete, or limestone and placed in the center of the jack arch.

Many other specially shaped decorative bricks are used on steps, window, water tables, and doorsills. Please see our website showroom, shapes brochure, or contact your sales representative or local distributor for more information.

Q: How should I clean my brick?
A: To clean excess mortar off of the face of the brick on new construction, see our instructions on the back of each tag on every cube of our bricks.

Other products are available for removing mud, scum, algae, etc. Please consult your Triangle Brick representative or your masonry-supply dealer for further information.

CAUTION: Do not use muriatic acid. Do not use any type of liquid to clean light-colored sand-faced brick. Do not use high-pressure washers.

Q: Should I allow ivy or other plants to grow on my brick walls?
A: The short answer is “no.” Plants that grow on brick walls force root tendrils into mortar joints. Moisture can then penetrate deeply into the wall, and the freeze-thaw cycle, as well as the mechanical action of the roots, can cause serious damage to the mortar and even the bricks. This can dramatically shorten the life of a brick wall.

The issue becomes more complex when plants have grown on a brick wall for a long time. Without great care, removing old growth can cause further damage to the wall. Consult with a professional mason before removing extensive old growth.

Q: How accurate are the brick images on your website?
A: We've attempted to portray Triangle Brick's product line as accurately as possible for display on this website, but differences in monitor brightness and settings on viewers' computers can have an effect on color consistency and clarity. If you'd like to see a particular Triangle Brick product, you can visit a dealer’s showroom or use our online Home Locator to find real homes in your area built with our products.

Q: I found a style of brick on your website that I think I might like to use for my new home. What's my next step?
A: We've included a useful tool on our website, the Dealer Locator, which you can use to find a reseller in your area. Simply type in your city and state, and we'll list a number of dealers in your area that can help you. And if you still have questions after using our Dealer Locator, please contact us with any questions or comments you may have.

Q: I'm looking for something on your website, but can't find it. Any help?
A: Sure. First, check the Sitemap to find any content that's available on this website. If you still can’t find what you need, feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

Q: I'd like to learn more about how Triangle Brick makes its products. Is this something I can find on your website?
A: To let you know about our manufacturing processes and advantages, we’ve included a Virtual Tour on this site. To learn more about how we make our bricks, just click wherever you see “Take a Virtual Tour.”

Q: I still have questions.
A: We welcome any questions or comments from our website visitors. Just contact us via the “Contact Us” page, and we'll be happy to answer your questions in a timely manner.