Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 02:28am | #1

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   I saw some of this at a home show about eight or nine months ago. Picked up some literature but can not seem to find it now. Not really brick in the truest sense. More like a cement roofing tile adapted for vertical surfaces. A ledger is attached at the sill and the bricks are stacked on in a running bond. The bricks have a nail hole or two and are tacked to the sheething per schedule. I do not recall how windows and other openings were detailed but corners were available. My impression - better than vinyl but still something pertending to be something else.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 03:22am | #2

   *Searched "mortarless brick system" on Excite. #1 was Nova Brick at [http://www.novabrik.com]. Looks like the stuff I was talking about in my first post.

2. 
   elephant_bb | Aug 30, 1999 05:31am | #3

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   I went and looked at this, I'm impressed by it. Will consider for the office I'm getting ready to start self-build on. Am calling for more info and sample in the a.m. Anybody used/seen/have opinions?

   http://www.novabrik.com

   EBB

1. 
   Mark_Helling | Aug 30, 1999 05:36am | #4

   *They demonstrated that brick on one of those home shows-- HomeTime I think??? It looked like it went up fast.

1. 
   novabrik | Aug 30, 1999 07:09pm | #5

   *C'mon guys, what, no comments on this stuff?Goo or bad?

3. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 08:27pm | #6

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   I think the biggest problem with the Nova brick, is that the starting course must be level, since there is no way to adjust as you go up. I would think that with virtually any other siding product you can make slight adjustments as needed, but I don't see how with Nova. Even if the first course is dead level, the quality control must be perfect to prevent any variations in thickness from upsetting the level.

   This is just a thought from someone who has never installed any kind of siding whatsoever, and who has never seen Nova brick on a house. Accept this shaker of salt with the comment.

   Thought experimenting.

   Rich Beckman

4. 
   PRP | Aug 31, 1999 02:50am | #7

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   Have the Novabrik installation guide infront of me right now. It is essentially brick siding, that's it. I understand it is great if you like to change siding to the look of masonry -- no foundation work, it all hangs from the studwalls just as siding. Gets screwed to the wall rather than 'set-in.'

   There is some prep work but that's always the case, ie. furring, housewrap etc.

   Finally, corners don't look fitted and polished like real masonry (brick masonry) because there is an "outside corner piece" that sits outside the nova brick regular coarsing, like qoins in a true rough stone masonry wall.

   But, you can make a none load-bearing wall look like brick, like the wall plane above a roof where a low gable meets a taller gable, they call it a "floater."

   No mortar joint, good if you only want to save time; bad is you like the appearance of true masonry set in mortar. Mortar joints can be struck different ways; Novabrik gives you one look, a v-like groove.

   I was told by the rep that Denver was a big test market for this product. Using Denver area 'burbs as a test market might be to promote the cold weather installation possibilities of Novabrik -- just another thought as I ramble.

5. 
   vv | Sep 06, 1999 10:04pm | #8

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   I have heard about this type of brick that does not require the use of mortar. The builder puts it on in an overlapping manner,similar to vinyl siding. Does anyone have any info on this type of brick,and how/where to get it? Please respond.

6. 
   Guest_ | Sep 06, 1999 10:04pm | #9

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   this brick is an answer to Canada's building boom. a company in Ontario(?) developed this to help combat the boom and the lack of masons. it seems that houses were going up faster than the masons could lay brick. so this was created to fill the gap. anyone--siders,framers etc could install. in addition it is now being used for remodels as said before----no brick ledge needed- so previously sided homes can now have an inexpensive update in masonry. a west mich remodler has used this product some and has been featured in trade articles using this product. one nice feature is the lack of mortar, check out any older brick buildings and the mortar is (or has been) in need of repair. as a tin knocker i see many chimneys and brick walls being rebuilt or tuck pointed---one advantage that mortarless brick does have.