Best Practices for Installing Engineered Wood Siding with Brick

Siding is often a top contender for homeowners looking for ways to refresh their brick exterior or expand their home—and they are looking to builders like you for guidance on how to best pair the two materials. Let’s take a look at some popular ways to use engineered wood siding with brick and the best practices for installation of LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding with brick.

Adding to a Brick House with Siding Accents

There are a few reasons that combining siding with brick may be a great choice for your clients. First is a home expansion. If your client wants to add on to their house that is largely brick, it may be too expensive or difficult to match the existing brick. Often it is more convenient to use siding for add-ons, but many homeowners worry it will look too choppy. However, trading brick for a more durable wood siding, such as LP SmartSide engineered wood siding, can provide an opportunity to elevate their exterior.

Check out these tips for ensuring a cohesive addition of siding to a brick exterior:

1. Match Architectural Features 

When adding on to a structure, it is important to maintain the overall aesthetic of the house with the cohesive architecture. Paying attention to details like roofline and window style will make the add-on look more intentional and natural. 

2. Consider Color

Choosing a color that makes sense for your client’s exterior will help ease their concerns about a cohesive look. Consider other elements on their home such as door color, shutters and accessories—such as lights—to inform your suggestion. Using the LP SmartSide Home Visualizer is a great way to help your clients envision what their exterior will look like with LP SmartSide Trim & Siding on their home.

Check out this article for more siding color ideas to pair with brick.

3. Carry on Partial Brick 

If your client is dead set on keeping their beloved brick exterior but may not have the budget or time for a complete brick add-on, consider carrying brick on throughout the lower third of the addition and using siding for the rest. 

Siding Adds Style to Brick Exteriors

Beyond home additions, many homeowners are interested in the aesthetic possibilities of a brick house with siding accents. Others are looking to elevate their wood siding with brick accents. Help your clients choose the right color combinations by keeping their aesthetic preferences in mind. 

For example, a modern look can be achieved by combining painted black brick with black siding such as LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Abyss Black siding. Complement red brick exteriors with navy blue such as LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Rapids Blue siding.

Best Practices for Engineered Wood Siding with Brick Installation

Once you’ve moved past the planning phase, it’s time to get to installation. Follow these guidelines to help ensure proper installation:

• Since siding needs to be applied to a smooth and level surface, it should never be in direct contact with masonry, brick or concrete. To install, leave a 3/8-inch gap with the flashing where it meets horizontally and a 3/8-inch gap where siding meets vertical corner seams and seal. For more information on installing siding over concrete and masonry, review technical notes here and here.

• If you are adding siding above a brick portion of an exterior but not directly onto brick, installing flashing is crucial to prevent issues such as water pooling on the brick. Be sure to install flashing to the sheathing starting 4 inches above where the transition from brick to siding will be. 

For more details on how to install flashing under siding, click here.

Brick and siding continue to be a trending combination and knowing how to properly install LP SmartSide trim and siding for whatever exterior preferences that your clients bring to you will help you tackle more projects. Click here for more LP SmartSide Trim & Siding installation instructions.