According to the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), brick masonry has a 100-year effective lifespan. This means that with minimal maintenance, your brick home will last more than a lifetime! With very little need for maintenance, the ongoing costs of upkeep and repair are significantly lower over brick's lifetime as compared to other materials.
Below you can see a table as published by the Brick Industry Association listing estimated time for repair of various exterior finishes.
| Material | Application | Estimated Time to Repair (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Brick | Walls | 100-150+ |
| Sealant | Joints | 5-20 |
| Metal | Coping / flashing | 20-75 |
| Metal | Anchors & ties | 15+ |
| Mortar | Walls | 50+ |
| Plastic | Flashing | 5-25 |
| Paint | Finishes | 3-5 |
| Water Repellants | Walls | 5-10 |
| Stucco | Finishes | 5-10 |