Champion Brick

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

Phone: 262-786-8260

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4 Ways to Incorporate Brick to Your Home

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Brick is a material that can be used in any home to create a variety of looks. Elegant, modern, modern chic, rustic, country and more. Whatever your aesthetic appeal, brick is an excellent choice to help create that. In addition, it’s highly versatile in where it can be used. Whether you’re making plans to build or looking to give your home a makeover, consider adding brick to those plans. Here are four awesome ways to incorporate brick into your home.

Interior design

Brick is frequently used in outdoor spaces but it doesn’t have to be used only outdoors or for the structure of a home. Incorporating brick to the inside of your home gives you endless options for creating a beautiful space. It can be used in any room and you also can paint it any color you like. The versatility in looks that can be achieved make brick a fun and smart choice to add to the interior of your home.

Steps, caps, & landscape design

Some of the outdoor spaces where brick is great to use are on steps, places that need or can use cappings, such as steps or an outdoor structure, and in landscape design. Using brick for your outdoor steps is a great choice because not only do you get a striking look, it’s also highly durable and will last a long time. It makes an excellent cap for outdoor structures as well. In addition to steps or caps, brick is an eye-catching addition to landscape design. Use it to frame an area of plants or flowers to create a more elegant and attractive yard.

Driveway and walkways

Using brick for a driveway or walkway is an up and coming trend. Brick driveways have become increasingly popular again in recent years. They can blend in well with your landscaping, offer easy maintenance, and usually last for decades. They can give your home a distinguished look and both curb appeal and value to your property. Likewise, a brick walkway can be created in a range of designs and is as beautiful as they are functional.

Patios

It may not be the first thought, to use brick for a patio but it is an excellent choice. As has been mentioned, brick offers a lot of diversity in design and with creativity, the options are nearly endless. An assortment of colors only further expands the design looks that can be achieved. In addition to the aesthetics, in an area that can have a lot of foot traffic and use, the robustness of brick is another perk. Champion Brick has experience installing beautiful outdoor patios. Check out some of the projects we’ve done on our website.

Contact Us

Like to add brick to your home? Contact the experts, Champion Brick, today. We’d love to hear from you and see how we can help you achieve your dream home look.

4 Ways to Use Brick to Design an Outdoor Living Room

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Winter is approaching in Milwaukee, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still think about outdoor home additions or renovations. Use patio space to create a beautiful outdoor living room. An outdoor living room can be enjoyed year-round and provide extra space for entertaining. Brick is the perfect material to use to create an outdoor living room. Here are 3 ways to use brick to design the flawless space you want.

Brick Patio Floor

The patio floor is going to be the foundation of any outdoor living room. Choosing to use brick for the floor is a smart choice because it’s as durable as it is beautiful. With an array of colors, sizes, and shapes, any design and look can be achieved. Champion brick offers a wide variety of brick and can help you find the brick and color you want to create your perfect outdoor space.

Brick or Stone Outdoor Fireplace

An outdoor living room isn’t complete without a fireplace. Having a fireplace makes the space useable to nearly year-round. Enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fire on a summer night or bundled up in a blanket on a quiet winter night with a glass of wine. No matter when you want to enjoy your patio living room, a fireplace encompassed in brick will set an elegant ambiance for any time of the year and any occasion.

Brick Walls

You can use brick to create a more enclosed space with walls that are 3 or 4 feet tall. This will help define your outdoor living room better. If you do want to use it during cold seasons, brick walls will help make it more useable by providing some protection from the wind. Whether you want a more open, summery outdoor living space or one that is usable year-round, you can achieve it with full or half brick walls.

Brick or Stone Bar/Grill Area

Depending on how fancy you want to get, you can also add a brick bar or small grill area. Designing a bar or grill area with brick is beautiful and elegant. It’s ideal for when you’re hosting parties and don’t want to be running in and out of the house while preparing food and trying to socialize. A variety of designs and layouts can be created with one or both. Really give everyone something to talk about by adding a bar or grill area to your outdoor living room.

Contact Us

Ready to start designing your outdoor living room? Contact Champion Brick today. We’ll help get you started selecting the perfect brick to achieve the look you want.

5 Reasons to Add a Pergola to Your Home

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Pergolas can provide an elegant way to enjoy your back patio during the summer, fall and even spring seasons. They provide a nice sitting area that allows you to enjoy fresh air and sunlight without having to sit completely exposed to the harsh sun. Incorporating a brick foundation to your pergola is a way to elevate it even more. Champion Brick can help you to select just the right paver or decorative stone to add to your pergola and give it the look you want. Here are 5 reasons to add a pergola to your home.

Create a defined space.

Depending on the layout of your backyard and what you have done already, if you are looking to create a more purposeful space there or perhaps more functional one, a pergola is a great solution for both. This is especially true if you have a small back yard or don’t have a deck or patio. A pergola automatically creates an entertainment lounge or dining area, perfect for when you are entertaining guests.

Create privacy.

If you just have an open patio area but want to feel like you have a little more privacy a pergola is a great remedy. It is an open structure. but with that structure you can create privacy by adding drapes, latticework, or screens to a couple of sides. Get the feeling of some privacy while still enjoying an open space.

Create protection from the elements.

Already mentioned briefly, pergolas provide protection and shade from the harsher elements, such as direct exposure to sunrays or wind. They create a space to enjoy the beautiful weather while it’s around without having to worry too much about a sunburn.

Add value to your home.

According to experts, you can add as much as 20 percent value to your home with attractive landscaping. Unlike gazebos, pergolas are extremely affordable, but still add worth. They add a lot of beauty and interest to your outdoor area, making it a poignant asset if you decide to sell your home.

Combine it with different materials to make it shine.

If the previous four aren’t reason enough, incentive number five takes the cake for those who love landscape design and architecture. Pergolas have an elegant look in and of themselves, but when you combine that with other materials such as brick pavers, that look of elegance is furthered even more. Champion brick has a beautiful selection of stone or wood pavers that fit beautifully with a pergola or even decorative stone to frame the outside. Check out Champion Brick’s Heartland Pergolas page for examples of some of the striking looks of the combination of pergolas with brick and paver materials to see for yourself.

CONNECT WITH US

If you’re interested in adding a pergola to your home, Champion Brick would love to hear from you and talk with you about design options that fit your style. Connect with us via email on our contact page or find our phone number there to talk a professional today.

Retaining Wall Dos and Don’ts

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Frequently, the need to install a retaining wall stems from the desire to prevent erosion, hold back soil, separate two areas of your yard, or create a raised garden bed. These utilitarian functions make retaining walls a highly functional addition to your yard, but they can also serve a decorative purpose, and add beauty and interest to your outdoor spaces. Champion Brick is your retaining wall expert in Milwaukee, New Berlin, and the Southeastern Wisconsin area, and we have a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind as you plan your retaining wall project.  

Do: Be Creative

Think of the aesthetic potential of your retaining wall. If it’s purpose is purely utilitarian, you can greatly increase its visual appeal by choosing a brick that compliments your home or other structures on your property. Be creative with your material choice as your retaining wall will be a dominant feature of your space for many, many years.

Don’t: Forget About Structure

Smaller retaining walls, such as those less than four feet, can be easily planned and created without worrying too much about structure. Larger walls above that height may need an engineer’s touch. They’ll need additional reinforcement to stay solidly in place, without risking eventual leaning or sagging, and ultimately becoming a safety hazard. Also, be sure to check with local codes before starting one more than four feet tall.

Don’t: Skip the Base

A retaining wall installation is only as good as the base upon which it’s built. Remember to plan properly and spend considerable time on your substrate. Make sure the ground is level and that you’re using sufficient solid fill, and spend considerable time on this part of the project. You’ll thank yourself down the line.

Contact Us for Your Next Retaining Wall Project!

Champion Brick is your Milwaukee brick, paver, stone, pergola, and hardscape product supplier for commercial and residential projects. If you have questions about any of our products or services please call us at 262-786-8260 or submit your message on our contact form to message us.

Stone Veneer: Get a look indistinguishable from real stonework, anywhere!

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A natural stone facade adds a gorgeous texture to any room. These stone accents create a highly-desired and aesthetically pleasing look that is timeless and always in fashion. In the past, natural, full-thickness stone walls, fireplace surrounds, and accents were expensive due to the materials themselves and the weight and labor involved with the installation. It’s only been in recent years that the quality of thin stone veneer materials have begun to match the look of real stone. Champion Brick, your stone veneer experts in Milwaukee, New Berlin and all of Southeastern Wisconsin, is here to answer your questions about stone veneer.

Manufactured stone, which is cast into molds produced from the contours of real stones, has never been more authentic or affordable. The colors, textures, and contours of these imitation products are nearly indistinguishable from real, full-thickness stone.

These lightweight veneers are incredibly versatile. Our products are widely used in interior as well as exterior applications. Backyard kitchens constructed with stone veneer create an authentic-feeling backyard oasis without the exorbitant cost of traditional stone construction. Plus, these materials can closely replicate rare and aged stonework that would be expensive and impractical for outdoor applications.

Inside the house, our lightweight and flexible stone veneer products are installed on accent walls in rec rooms, great rooms, and kitchens. A plain fireplace surround can be upgraded quickly and easily with stone veneer to create a true centerpiece that your family will love for many years to come. 

Although the installation process of stone veneer is relatively straightforward, it takes a trained eye and skilled hand to complete an installation that looks natural and is highly durable. Careful installation procedures should be followed to avoid mistakes that could shorten the lifespan of the installed veneer, especially in high-traffic areas.

Champion Brick is your Milwaukee brick, paver, stone, pergola, and hardscape product supplier for commercial and residential projects. Champion Brick is located in New Berlin and serves all of Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin. We are a family-owned business that was established in 1971, and our focus and motto has been and always will be “Excellence in Customer Service.” With each passing year, we are continuing to grow our areas of expertise and expand our product lines. Champion Brick is equipped to service homeowners, do-it-yourselfers, masonry and hardscape professionals, and everyone in between. Our full-service showroom and highly trained sales staff are here to assist you with all of your product selection and supply needs.

Contact Champion Brick for your project today!

Champion Brick is your stone veneer expert in Milwaukee! If you have questions about any of our products or services please call us at 262-786-8260 or submit your message on our contact form.