Get MORE than you pay for with brick!

We all know the phrase “you get what you pay for”. In daily life, we use this discretionary thought process all the time. Grabbing pens for the office, picking shoes for our kids, selecting appropriate sporting equipment that may or may not get a lot of use… As savvy consumers, we make these decisions all the time and know the consequences up front.

On routine purchases, price seems to matter a little less. As the cost goes up, we question whether it’s worth it to spend a little more. Isn’t this true when buying a car – do I really need a heated steering wheel?  Joking aside, we absolutely think differently when spending thousands, as we should. Don’t we ponder what features we would most value day in and day out?

While cars depreciate at a furious pace, home purchases are a unique expenditure that we consider an investment. We don’t expect depreciation or to lose any money, in fact we intend to build equity. Let’s consider the choices we make when building a home. We start at a base price and build up – interior finishes, flooring, fixtures, cabinetry. Have you considered that the most important place to spend your budget is on a quality exterior?  The old adage, you get what you pay for, holds a pleasant surprise for home buyers – are you listening? Choosing brick has many benefits that actually reduce costs over the life of your home.

Here are some key benefits and how different exterior choices perform:

Buy cheap now – pay the price later!

As you can see from this chart, vinyl presents the most ‘cons’ which could reflect a poor outcome compared to other exterior choices. What does this mean for the home owner? Higher heating and cooling costs, more maintenance, extra wear and tear from weather conditions, and lower resale value. So while you might save on the overall price of your home on day one, that savings will get eaten up by extra daily, monthly and yearly costs on utilities, cleaning and repairs.

Choose quality – reap the rewards long term!

Clay brick performs very well on each benefit. Save on heating/cooling costs by up to 10%**, enjoy lower insurance premiums (due to higher resiliency to accidents, extreme weather and hazards), have very little maintenance or repairs (if any). Plus, your family could benefit from a safer environment with improved fire, pest and storm resistance. Last but not least, you have the peace of mind of a better resale value.

Pay (a little) more, but get more too!

At General Shale, it’s incredibly important to us to share these important brick benefits that protect both your family and your pocket book! We’ve recently done a great deal of research on the comparable benefits and costs of various home exterior cladding products. This graphic shows the incremental extra cost each month (of choosing brick) is minimal. Remember, your savings on repairs and utilities alone will likely offset this difference.

Please check out our extensive brick selection online or visit your local General Shale dealer to get started on building smart with brick!

*All prices listed above are based on data by RSMeans | The Gordian Group, Installed Cost of Residential Siding, Comparative Study; October 2015 and a 30-year fixed rate of 3.24% as of August 2016.

**Source: Insistonbrick.com