Photos of brick houses and cottages - choose a facade

Brick houses are good because they can be in any style, and they are "forever" and this is not an exaggeration. Only a facade can be laid out of bricks, hiding behind it another, less weather-resistant material. And to decide exactly how the building will look will help photos of brick houses. Perhaps you will understand which look is closer to you.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any building material, brick has its pros and cons. Previously, there were no special alternatives. It was also possible to build a wooden house, from shell rock (shell rock), limestone and other natural material, from cinder blocks. Everything, there were no other technologies. Compared to all others, brick houses were a priority: the most durable, maintenance-free for decades. And the material is ubiquitous, not like shell rock or limestone.

Today the situation has changed, other materials have appeared. They are also not without flaws, but they lie on a different plane. Nevertheless, brick still remains a popular material, new colors and textures appear, which make it possible to make facades more and more diverse. Photos of brick houses to confirm this.

Photo of a brick house with an attic floor

pros

Let's start with the pleasant - consider the positive aspects of technology and material:

• Resistance to weathering: getting wet, freezing.
  • Hygroscopicity: silicate - no more than 15% (not recommended for areas with high humidity), ceramic - 6-14% (optimally 8-9%).
  • Freeze / frost resistance. It is described by the number of cycles that the material withstands without signs of destruction. F35 is the lowest value for the most inexpensive material. F50-60 is considered normal, but there are 80-90 and higher.
• Non-flammable, does not support combustion.
• High degree of sound insulation.
  

  This brick house is almost 150 years old and there are many structures of this age

• High compressive strength. Depends on the type of brick (solid, hollow, the number and size of voids), but the average is M100-M125, which allows you to build multi-storey buildings.
• High variability. You can make both straight and curved walls, arches, pillars, columns.
• A varied appearance, the ability to use special masonry, bricks of different colors, textures. You can combine brickwork with other finishing materials: tiles, porcelain stoneware, finishing stone, plaster, etc. All this makes it possible, with the same design and layout, to obtain a completely individual appearance.
• Environmental friendliness. In the manufacture, only natural ingredients are used.

It is these properties that make brick houses one of the most popular. They retain their original appearance for decades and centuries, while requiring almost no maintenance and repair. So such a house can pass from generation to generation without changing outwardly.

Minuses

But brick houses also have serious drawbacks. It is because of them that many are thinking about using alternative materials and technologies. Here are the disadvantages of brick buildings:

• The small size of the brick, and this is a lot of labor when erecting walls and partitions.
• Temperature limitation during construction. Masonry is carried out on a cement-sand mortar containing water. Therefore, operation at low temperatures (below + 5 ° C) is impossible or highly undesirable.
• High thermal conductivity.To keep the house warm, it is necessary to make a wall of considerable thickness (80 cm or more, depending on the climatic zone). The way out is to use modern technologies: insulation, well masonry.
• Large mass. This disadvantage, firstly, leads to an increase in transport costs, and secondly, to an increase in the cost of the foundation - it needs a powerful one.
  

  The main disadvantages are the high price and the need for insulation or wide walls

• High heat capacity and, as a result, high thermal inertia. Brick houses take a long time to heat, which increases heating costs. Therefore, it makes sense to build a brick house only for permanent residence. This is not a summer cottage option.
• Long shrinkage period. Due to the significant mass, the foundation shrinks. The amount of shrinkage is small, but it is there. And it is advisable to start finishing in a year or two after the construction of the box.
• The need for interior decoration.
• High price. Building brick houses is an expensive undertaking. Both the material itself and the work are expensive.

The totality of these shortcomings makes us look for an alternative. Moreover, new technologies and materials have appeared that allow obtaining a house with similar operational characteristics at lower costs and construction time.

We advise you to read the following articles:

• "Houses from gas silicate blocks: construction features"

• "DIY frame house"

Brick house facades: architectural styles

One of the main advantages of bricks: the ability to get structures that are completely different in appearance from the same material. Small sizes make it possible to fold almost brick lace. Although, the trend today is more strict lines and styles, which should not be overlooked either. And there are not just a lot of styles in architecture, but a lot. And each has its own currents ... In the article we will talk about the most popular today.

You can lay out patterns from bricks

European style

One of the most popular styles in the construction of private houses in recent years is European. The laconic form is a square or a figure close to a square, with possible bay window extensions. A square is the most convenient form for planning, therefore, houses of this style, with small sizes, can accommodate everything you need. In this style, two-story houses look good, as well as houses with mansards.

If you look at a photo of European-style brick houses, you will notice a plinth trimmed with tiles or stone, a two- or four-pitched roof. The traditional roofing material is natural tiles, which have been actively replaced in recent yearsmetal roofing... The windows are usually small, rectangular in shape, sometimes with a rounded top. Doors and window frames are made in a contrasting tone to the color of the walls.

Very often a brick house in a modern style has two entrances. The main one can be moved forward relative to the main walls; a terrace is made above it. If the entrance is "recessed", a balcony is made above it. Forged products are often present in the design, but their forms are laconic.

Minimalism

The style originated in the second half of the last century, since then it has gradually become more and more popular.The main idea: the absence of unnecessary details, laconic forms, strict lines, if possible, multifunctionality of details. Since there are no "decorations" at all, the main emphasis is on the material, its appearance, properties, and quality. Basically, in the construction of houses in the style of minimalism, stone, wood, metal, marble, glass are used. There are also brick houses in this style, because brick is a natural material. Only bricks are usually of high quality - clinker, dark or light colors, often with contrasting finishes.

In the photo of houses made of bricks in the style of minimalism, there are common features: more windows - from floor to ceiling or almost. The binding of windows is simple - usually without imposts. Roof - flat or single slope with minimal overhangs, but most often without them at all. There may be several multilevel flat or pitched roofs. The facade can be decorated with rectangular columns, with the most characteristic columns in the form of the letter G.

Modern

If you like large panoramic windows, you should pay attention to the photo of brick houses in a modern style. Panoramic or French windows are the hallmark of this trend. The layout implies spacious multifunctional spaces: dining-living room or kitchen-dining room. At the same time, there is often access to the terrace from the common areas.

If we talk about the characteristic features - this is the absence of purely decorative details, relevant solutions using new materials and technologies. The windows are large, separated by wide imposts. Roofs are mainly gable, but they can also be multi-level or multi-gable. The overhangs are large, often so much that they become canopies. Roofing material - metal tiles, soft tiles. Moreover, pay attention to the color of the roofing material in a color scheme close to the color of the walls. Bindings of windows and doors, however, too.

Modern

Unlike all those described above, an Art Nouveau brick house can be decorated with decorative elements. Moreover, they are usually round, oval, repeating natural lines. The facade of a brick house in the Art Nouveau style can be decorated with various kinds of decorative elements, stucco, etc. Particular attention is paid to the windows and their design - they are mostly arched, with complex bindings, stained-glass windows can be used.

One of the principles of the Art Nouveau style is the optionality of symmetry, therefore asymmetric bay windows (and in one building there can be several of them and of different sizes / shapes), ledges, extensions - this is one of the hallmarks of the style. In terms of the building spot, it is square or close to it, since it is disturbed by all architectural "excesses".

The roof is complex, multi-gable, since it is necessary to harmoniously arrange the existing splendor of forms. All this - complex and diverse forms - leads to the fact that the cost of implementing projects for such houses is high. Therefore, in the photo there are houses made of bricks, which cannot be called apart from mansions. Roofing material - clay or soft tile, because of their small size, they are ideal for complex roofs, and they have an appropriate appearance.

Photos of beautiful brick houses

Architectural styles and their movements are complex matter. For the uninitiated, to understand all the subtleties and nuances is a very, very difficult task. It is often not required. You need to find a photo of a brick house that you like. Based on it, you can create your own project or show what you want to an architect. Further - a matter of technology, agree on the cost of the project. But at the same time, remember that, most likely, you will go out of the budget by 35-50%.

One-story brick house in the shape of the letter L - high cost per square meter, but very cozy in the yard

This style in architecture is called "Provence". Characteristic roofs, windows ...

The whole residential complex, however, looks organic

Large two-storey brick house with two open terraces with Art Nouveau elements

Brick goes well with stone. In the photo - a white brick house with wild stone trim

Ethnicity is a way to stand out

The techniques are the same, the view is different - two directions are clearly visible - feuchtver and German style

This style in architecture is usually called American ...

Red-brown brick, white seams and white stucco finish ... very memorable appearance

Brick house in the English style. Compact, functional

If the plot is large and there is no need to save space

An extension is interesting. The house itself is too simple in form ...

Do you want a photo of an unusual brick house? This one is one of the most extraordinary

Another example of English brick houses

Minimalism is recognizable. No frills, conciseness and practicality

Gray brick ... gloomy, but unconventional

Who needs a small country mansion? You can take this project as a basis

Red brick in different shades and dark brown beams, gabled roof with living quarters ...

Against the background of dark brown brick, white windows and trim elements look very elegant.