You can put siding over brick, but vinyl and metal siding are better choices than wood
It’s possible to install siding over brick, though we only recommend it for brick veneer, not for old brick houses.
Many types of siding will work over brick, but the best options are vinyl, metal, and fiber cement.
Many homeowners choose to put siding over brick to update the exterior aesthetic of their home, improve insulation, or reduce siding maintenance.
Don’t install siding over brick if there are structural issues with the masonry.
Brick homes offer a lot of charm, and they don’t require much maintenance. Brick is also a reliable material; brick houses can last hundreds of years with regular upkeep. Brick veneer, on the other hand, can be difficult to maintain, doesn’t offer much against fire and pests, and cracks more easily than the solid brick walls found on old homes. If your home has brick siding that has seen better days, you may be ready for a change of scenery, but can you put siding over brick?
We’ll walk you through how this siding project works, when it makes sense, and the best materials to use for the job.
Yes, you can absolutely put siding over brick. You might choose to do this if you’d like to change up the exterior aesthetic of your home, want to increase your home’s insulation or cover up crumbling, flaking, or spalling walls. Many homeowners simply feel their brick siding looks dated or dingy after a couple of decades, and a new type of siding is an affordable option.
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that adding new siding on top of existing brick siding will likely make your walls thicker. You may need to hire a local carpenter to adjust your window and door frames.
Older brick homes, especially in historic districts, are not good candidates for siding. Siding will be challenging to install, and the brick—often 100 to 200 years old—has historical value that potential homebuyers will appreciate.
You also shouldn’t put siding over brick simply to cover up serious structural damage. If there are extensive issues with your brick wall that indicate water damage or foundation issues, you’ll want to hire a mason near you to review the issue and provide a solution.
In short, it can make sense to install siding over brick veneer but not older brick homes. Find out more in our guide to brick veneer vs. brick.
So why would you put siding over brick? Here are a few of the most common reasons:
Exterior upgrade: Over time, the color of your brick siding will fade, and the mortar will start to crack. You can make small repairs, paint the brick, or replace specific sections of brick that look worse for the wear. Alternatively, you can give the exterior of your home a totally new look with vinyl, metal, or wood siding.
Insulation: Installing new siding over your existing brick veneer can add insulation to your home and potentially reduce your utility bills. However, siding may not be your biggest source of heat loss. Get a home energy audit before making any uninformed decisions about how to better insulate your home.
Lower maintenance: While old brick homes are relatively easy to maintain, brick veneer maintenance is more involved. Installing new siding on top of the brick veneer could reduce the amount of work you have to do.
Installing siding to existing brick is challenging, but some types of siding are better suited to the project.
Vinyl siding is a great choice when covering up the existing brick. It’s durable, affordable, and easy for most professionals to install. It’s also easy to maintain (here’s how to clean vinyl siding) and comes in a wide range of colors and styles. Vinyl siding offers decent insulation, especially if you purchase insulated vinyl siding. However, vinyl siding is not as durable as some other types of siding on this list.
Metal siding is much more durable than vinyl siding, though it’s also a more expensive investment. Metal siding is great for lowering energy costs since it reflects sunlight away from the house. Installing metal siding over existing brick is much more difficult, however; you will absolutely need to hire a metal siding installer near you to tackle this job.
Fiber cement is a durable siding choice that can be installed over brick. It’s incredibly fire-resistant, and you can find it in a wide variety of styles and colors. Fiber cement siding is not an ideal insulator, however, and is more expensive than vinyl siding.
Wood siding has a nice charm to it, and it offers a fair amount of customization in color and style. It’s also a decent insulator. However, wood siding requires a significant amount of upkeep, is susceptible to rot and pest damage, and has high upfront installation costs. Wood siding is also more challenging to install on top of brick siding than the other options on this list.
In addition to these four main types of siding, you can install the following types of siding over brick:
Hardie Board siding
Stone veneer
Composite siding
The cost to install siding on top of brick will depend on the materials and the size of your home. The table below shows sample costs in square feet.
| Siding material | Cost (per square foot) |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | $3–$12 |
| Metal | $1–$35 |
| Fiber cement | $5–$14 |
| Wood | $1–$15 |
While basic siding installs may be an approachable project for homeowners who are handy around the house, installing siding on top of existing brick siding is much more complicated. To ensure correct installation and avoid durability and moisture issues, you should always leave this task to a trusted siding contractor near you.
The cost to put siding over brick depends on the type of siding you’re installing over the brick and the size of your home. Installing any type of siding onto existing brick walls is challenging, which can lead to higher labor costs. On average, installing siding ranges in cost from $5,550 to $17,550.
The best siding to cover brick is vinyl or metal siding. Vinyl is low maintenance and affordable, while metal is highly durable and offers some of the best insulation on top of brick. Fiber cement is another great option. Though you can install wood siding on top of brick, it’s not as ideal.
