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Champion Brick

Southeastern Wisconsin's leader in Brick, Stone, and Landscape products.

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Manufactured Stone

Do I Need a Brick House? Brick and the Alternatives

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Does your house need the regular brick look? Could you use brick alternatives instead?  When it comes to building a home, it’s important to know what material works and looks best. Here’s how bricks compare to other building materials, and how they fare in cost, maintenance, and sustainability.

Brick vs. Vinyl Siding

Cost

Vinyl siding, a plastic sheeting made mostly from PVC, is a popular material. It’s also a very cost effective substitute for brick. Home Advisor’s price rating estimates an average cost of $5,645 – $14,190 for vinyl siding for a home. For a brick home, the site estimates an average cost of $15,000. The high cost of bricks may be off-putting but it can be a real lifesaver.

Maintenance

According to The Brick Industry Association (BIA), both materials are low maintenance; however, bricks have an average 100-year lifespan while vinyl siding averages at 25 years. On top of all that, bricks offer more protection from winds and fire than vinyl siding. A brick’s ability to provide more benefits with less maintenance gives it an edge over vinyl siding. With that being said, the production of brick is more environmentally friendly.

Recyclability

Bricks take the cake for being both low maintenance and environmentally friendly because they require minimal manufacturing. This means there are fewer emissions, and energy is reduced when producing bricks. Brick is also highly recyclable. Damaged bricks from construction sites can be used for fill-in when pouring concrete, DIY home projects, and even making new brick!

15 Creative Ways Old Bricks Can Be Turned Into Beautiful Decorations

Brick vs. Manufactured Stone

Cost

According to roofingcal.com, it can cost you anywhere from $27,000 to $80,000 to install manufactured stone for an average sized home. Brick takes the cake for the most budget-friendly, but each material has its own unique benefits.

Maintenance

Manufactured stone is very malleable, meaning it’s easy for customized design. This makes it a very easy material to install and perfect for getting creative with your home’s appearance.  However, it does not provide the same level of protection as brick does. The BIA points out that manufactured stone does not provide fire protection and may be susceptible to water damage.

Recyclability

According to the BIA, the information on manufactured stone’s recyclability is limited due to it being a newer product.

Brick or Stone? Which One Should I Go For?

It’s important to know the benefits and drawbacks that come with each building material. No matter the material, each one provides its own level of sustainability and either can add a distinguished look to your home.

Can’t decide which one you like? Contact Champion Brick for more information!

4 Unique Ways to Use Landscaping Stones to Spruce Up Your Backyard or Garden

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Are you looking to give your backyard a makeover? Or maybe you just want to spruce it up a little. Incorporating stone can add depth and contrast to your landscape design.

Landscaping stones come in a multitude of sizes, hues, textures, and shapes. And they’re easy to find. They can be purchased at local landscape businesses, the garden shop at home improvement stores, or a local stone yard.

Your budget will determine what you can buy and how big you want to go. In this area, stones native to Southeast Wisconsin are typically more easily accessible and less expensive. But if your dreams are fixed on something different, be willing to absorb the expense.

manufactured stone used as landscape edging in a backyard

Continue reading for four unique ways you can use stones in your landscape design.

1. Create a Stone Walkway

Stone walkways have become increasingly popular. When planning your walkway, remember:

  • Pavers come in numerous sizes and styles. There is also an array of neutral colors that will add great contrast to lush green lawns and vibrant blooms.
  • A design can be as simple as a walkway on the side of the house that takes visitors from the front gate to the backyard.
  • A walkway can be a solid 2 ft. wide path or strategically laid so that grass grows in between the steps.

Another idea is to create a pathway from patios, decks, and lanais to other areas in the lawn, like a fire pit or fish pond.

2. Use Landscaping Stones as a Flowerbed Topping

When it comes to flowerbeds, choosing rock vs mulch is a common comparison. Both bring their own appeal, but there can be drawbacks. For instance:

  • With mulch, you have to replace it at a minimum of once a year. The color fades from harsh sun and changing weather conditions.
  • Rocks come in a variety of colors and last indefinitely. Rock mulch gives a great return on investment and adds an undeniable richness to flower beds.

3. Have a Stone Centerpiece

If your budget will allow, landscaping with rocks can add allure to a bland corner of your backyard. Our tips:

  • Create a centerpiece with a large stone. Have it engraved with a special message for visitors. You can also consider having it chiseled into a unique shape.
  • Surround your centerpiece with exotic flowers or plants. You can also install decorative fencing panels behind the stone or an arbor above it.
  • Cap off your centerpiece with integrated outdoor lighting fixtures to illuminate the artwork as the sun sets on your cookouts and evening outdoor parties.

4. Build a Rock Garden Around a Fish Pond

Backyard ponds are unique fixtures to backyard landscaping. A fish pond can add a touch of serenity to an otherwise lively scene, and they are definitely conversation starters at backyard gatherings.

Accentuate your pond with a rock border consisting of various rocks. You can also create a stone bench for visitors to rest on as they admire your fish collection.

Are You Ready for a Backyard Makeover?

We hope these ideas for landscaping stones have you thinking about creative ways to update your outdoor living space.

If you have questions or would like to review our products, please click here to contact us.

5 Benefits of Using Manufactured Stone for Exterior Renovations

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Renovating your home is a great way to update your living space, boost your home’s value, and to make your house better fit you and your family’s needs. But renovations can also be costly depending on the amount of work you plan to do.

Spending on renovation projects has seen a steady increase in recent years, especially among young homeowners. And with the costs going up, it’s never been more important to do your research and choose the right materials for the job.

retaining wall and house hardscaping made with decorative stone veneer

If you’re looking to renovate the outside of your home, manufactured stone veneer is one great option. From affordability to a wider selection of styles, there are tons of benefits you’ll enjoy. Keep reading to learn more.

1. It’s Affordable

One of the biggest benefits of choosing manufactured stone veneer for your exterior renovations is how affordable it is.

Compared to choosing natural stone, manufactured stone offers huge cost savings. Other benefits mentioned later on this list, such as manufactured stone’s light weight and ease of installation, can also help homeowners save money when it comes to having the stone applied to the exteriors of their homes.

2. You Can Choose from a Range of Styles and Colors

When it comes to choosing real, natural stone, your options are somewhat limited. But manufactured stone veneer can be made to match any color or style, natural or otherwise.

For homeowners, this means a chance to choose the look, style, color, and stone size that matches your home and your personal style.

3. Installation Is a Breeze

Natural stone is heavy, making it expensive and difficult to transport and install. This slows down the installation process, costing homeowners a premium. But manufactured stone is lightweight and easy to handle. It is more durable as well, reducing the risk of materials getting damaged during installation.

For homeowners, this means faster, less expensive installation compared to natural stone.

4. Consistency Makes for a Better-Looking Finished Product

One of the biggest drawbacks to choosing natural stone is that you have little control over the product. You’ll get stones of different sizes, shades, and looks. Even if you’re using a single type of stone, the finished product can sometimes look like it’s a compilation of a variety of looks.

Manufactured stone doesn’t have this problem. You’ll get a consistent, great-looking finished product every time. The consistency will be the only way anyone will be able to tell that you chose manufactured stone rather than natural!

5. Manufactured Stone Is More Environmentally Friendly

Quarries for various types of natural stone can have devastating effects on their surroundings. They change the landscape, reduce natural resources, and drive wildlife in these areas out of their natural habitats.

Manufactured stone production is far more environmentally friendly. You can rest easy knowing that your purchase helped protect nature rather than further damaging it.

Choosing Manufactured Stone Veneer for Your Exterior Renovations

Another great benefit of choosing manufactured stone is that it offers superior durability compared to other products you might choose for your exterior renovations. You’ll get to enjoy your environmentally friendly, gorgeous, custom-designed, and affordable choice for years to come.

If you’re ready to start searching for the perfect manufactured stone veneer for your exterior renovations, start shopping our wide selection of looks and styles today. We offer an excellent selection of premium styles!

Can You Tell the Difference: Manufactured Stone vs Natural Stone

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Do you know the difference between manufactured and natural stone? For instance, are the prices different? Which will last longer, and which has the most options for your home?

In this article, we’ll review a few of the biggest differences between natural and manufactured stone veneer.

Natural stone landscaping in home garden with stairs

Natural Stone vs Manufactured

What’s the difference? Which one is right for your project?

To keep it simple, natural stone is the real deal. It’s cut light enough so you can move it, but it comes from nature.

Manufactured stone, on the other hand, is usually dyed concrete that looks like the natural stuff but weighs less. Quality manufactured stone can be designed to look and feel (at least on the exterior) like most types of natural stone.

Here are three of the biggest differences between the two that you should consider:

Manufactured Stone Costs Less

If you have a tight budget for your stone remodeling project, you may consider manufactured stone over natural stone.

Besides the reduced cost of transporting a lighter material, manufactured stone also has the benefit of creating less waste. All the pieces come pre-designed to fit together, so you will have to dispose of less natural stone when it isn’t used in your project by the end.

Natural Stone Lasts Longer

If budget matters less than getting the job done right the first time, then natural stone is probably the way to go.

You can expect the real material to last beautifully for hundreds of years. On the other hand, manufactured products may only last about 50 years, and any cracks in the surface will expose the obvious synthetic material underneath.

Manufactured Stone Has More Options

“Manufactured stone is available in almost any texture, shape and color you can think of,” says Leslie Rouda Smith, 2016 chairwoman of Texas Association of REALTORS.

In the link above, Leslie also walks through the staggering statistics for ROI and increased property value on stone that matches one’s home. For example, Austin, TX reported increases of over 160%!

With manufactured stone, a company can easily customize the design of your material to complement the aesthetic qualities of your home or backyard. You will have many more options to choose from than its natural counterpart.

However, don’t think natural stone only comes in one size or shape. This article walks you through the cut and color options available to you if the manufactured route isn’t your choice.

Which Is Best For You?

Now that you see some of the differences, take a moment to consider what’s best for your project. For instance:

  • If your budget matters most, manufactured product is probably the way to go.
  • If you’re focused on the long-term, natural stone will last longer and look better even if it’s damaged.

And depending on the project you’re picturing, both types of stone offer plenty of customization options. Manufactured stone certainly has more, but natural stone isn’t one size fits all, either.

If you’re in the market for new stone, or simply have questions about how to approach a project, we’re happy to help. Simply fill out this contact form, and we’ll be in touch soon!

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