There is something very cozy about brick floors — they imbue a home with a storied, old-world feel and emit a feeling of relaxation and nostalgia. Bricks unite the durability of tile or stone with the warm colors of wood, and they are able to work with almost any home design. Yet for all those positive features, they stay a relative desktop player on the grand stage of floor coverings.
If you’re thinking about brick floors for your home, keep these concerns in mind.
Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc
Experts of Brick Flooring
• Style flexibility. As with tile, brick’s modular character lends itself into an infinite number of patterns. Running bond (staggered), basket weave, herringbone and others are classics, but you can make a customized motif or a mosaic-style therapy. Brick also lends itself well to paint or epoxy, if you would prefer a radically different color than the typical earth tones.
• Sturdiness. Recall the Three Little Pigs? There are good reasons brick has been a building stalwart for centuries: It’s tough to ruin, it doesn’t rot. Also it will not require sanding or painting. Brick withstands extreme circumstances and weathers heavy foot traffic effortlessly, and it’s also heatproof. Individual bricks can crack or chip as time passes, but they are relatively easy to pry out and substitute.
Dennison and Dampier Interior Design
• Affordability. Since brick used for inside design is usually in paver or tile type, it’s thinner and less costly than exterior brick. On average you will pay less than $10 per square foot, uninstalled. Unless you’re a very skilled DIYer, you will want to factor in professional installation prices (typically around $500 to $700 to an average-size room), as brick can be difficult to put properly.
• Sustainability. Clay brick is made chiefly of natural substances, such as shale, kaolin and minerals. Additionally, bricks from older or demolished structures could be salvaged for new programs — especially nice if you’re aiming for a vintage effect.
• Slip resistance. Left pristine, brick has a slightly rough, textured coating that offers traction underfoot. However, if you seal it with a slick or waxy coating, then you are going to have to take different measures to prevent falls.
• Cosmetic appeal. One reason people love brick is its own inherent conventional warmth, which few different substances can replicate. It evokes a feeling of the past and feels like a powerful, reassuring holdover from bygone days. Natural variations in its own coloring provide it a beautifully nuanced palette.
Cons of Brick Flooring
• Hardness. Durability includes a cost: Brick is unyielding under the feet. If you’re using it in a kitchen or a different space where you spend long periods of time standing, then look at incorporating a cushioned mat or a thick rug to ease the strain on your thighs and back.
• Unevenness. The best-laid brick floors are not 100 percent level, so you may want to compensate for slipping shims under pads or furniture under precarious breakables.
• Weight. As you would imagine, bricks are heavy, even in paver form. As a result, they are often impractical to get a home’s second or third story; it’s very hard to reinforce the floor enough to support all this weight.
Wright Design
• Moisture damage. While bricks onto a vertical surface resist water well, bricks onto a horizontal surface are another story. Moisture can accumulate and penetrate the mortar, and whether the bricks are porous, it can seep beneath their face too. You’ll want to apply a sealant occasionally to guard against mould, mold and cracking.
Tell us : Have you utilized brick floors in your property? What tips would you share?