Thin brick, often called brick veneer flooring or brick tiles, is a slim, high-density brick suitable for both interior and exterior use. It adds a warm, rustic feel to any space and is easy to maintain.
However, thin brick flooring does have its downsides. Installation can be quite expensive, and the surface can feel cool underfoot. Before dismissing brick flooring for these reasons, we invite you to learn more about it, including installation, care, and the various pros and cons. Make an appointment at one of our showrooms to explore our flooring options.
About Brick Flooring
Brick tile flooring gives a home a historic feel, whether used for indoor kitchen floors or outdoors on patios, walkways, and driveways. Bricks used for flooring are different than those you will see in a brick wall, which are usually 1 ¼-inches thick and have holes in them that make the production process less expensive and allow for better insulation.
Brick tiles, however, are solid and made to be only ¼ to ½-inch thick. Therefore, you can rest assured that brick flooring will be a similar height to other flooring options, making transitions between two different types of flooring seamless.
Is Brick Floor Cheaper Than Tile?
The cost of materials and installation expenses determines how expensive it will be to install a thin brick floor over traditional ceramic tile. In general, thin brick flooring and ceramic tile are comparable in price. Take into consideration how long it will take to have your floor installed, what type of labor is needed, and if the floor will need to be sealed to complete the installation.
Why Should You Choose Thin Brick Over Tile or Other Flooring Options?
Thin brick is a DIY-friendly option made with the same materials as modular clay brick. This gives the product a natural brick look without the heavy weight of traditional brick. Homeowners throughout Williamsburg, Norfolk, and Hampton Roads, VA, choose thin brick over traditional tile for flooring because it is versatile and easy to create unique designs.
Which Areas of Your Home Are Best for Thin Brick Flooring?
Many homeowners choose to use thin interior brick flooring in high foot traffic areas of the home, such as entryways, the living room, and mudrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are also excellent places to use thin brick flooring because of the often-present moisture.
What Design Patterns Are Popular With Thin Brick Flooring?
When it comes to designing patterns for thin brick flooring, you can choose a traditional pattern or create a unique design. Some classic patterns include the running bond, basketweave, stack bond, and herringbone patterns. Improve the look of your interior space with a unique thin brick floor pattern that creates an aesthetic appeal. Choose a brick pattern using brick pavers in a variety of colors and shapes.
What is the Average Cost Per Square Foot for Thin Brick Flooring?
The average cost per square foot to install new thin brick flooring in your home depends on the type of brick pavers you choose and the installation cost. Material costs range from about $3 to $10 per square foot, and installation will add anywhere from $5 to $10 per square foot. The quality of the thin brick used, the difficulty of the pattern, and labor rates for your area will all impact the cost of installation.
Pros of Brick Flooring
Brick tile is a unique flooring option, so it’s important to consider both the pros and the cons before choosing to make the switch. Some of the greatest advantages of brick flooring include:
- Anti-slip: Brick tiles are naturally rougher than traditional tile flooring, making them slip-resistant even when wet. This anti-slip property is one reason brick flooring is popular in kitchens, mud rooms, laundry rooms, and entryways where water is commonly spilled or tracked in from outdoors.
- Durability: Brick is known for its durability, which is why it’s been used as a building material for thousands of years. It is fire-resistant and wears down slowly, so a quality, well-maintained brick floor can last for hundreds of years.
- Eco-friendly: Bricks are made from natural, abundantly available materials that rarely need to be replaced. When the flooring eventually needs to be replaced, it can be recycled and remade from reclaimed bricks.
Cons of Brick Flooring
While brick flooring provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing rustic look, it has some drawbacks, such as:
- Texture underfoot: Many find that brick flooring is uncomfortable to walk on and cold underfoot.
- Difficult installation: Installing brick flooring may not be easy for the beginner DIYer because it can be hard to cut and requires a perfectly level subfloor to ensure a seamless installation.
Brick Flooring Options
As brick is made from natural materials, no two brick floor tiles will be exactly alike. There are many tone and color options available, as natural clay powders can be added to change the tone of the brick to create white, yellow, orange, black, gray, or brown shades.
Brick flooring also comes with many options in size, shape, and texture as all are dependent upon the molds and finishing techniques used in their creation. From a hexagonal shape to a worn-in square, you can have any shape to create unique floors.
The price of the brick flooring will also vary depending on what options you choose. Although it can get pretty pricey, brick’s durability means that you will never have to replace your floors.
What Materials Are Needed for Installing Thin Brick Flooring?
Thin brick flooring installation materials include thin brick tiles, grout, a trowel, mortar, a level, sealer, and a tile cutter. Using quality materials for your thin brick floor will create a more durable and long-lasting flooring solution in your home.
Brick Flooring Installation
Installing thin brick flooring is similar to installing a tile floor in your home or outdoor space. If you are going to DIY the project, make sure you have a smooth, even subfloor to work with. To install thin brick flooring:
- If you are installing over a wooden surface, first install a cement backer board to the ground using thin-set mortar.
- Decide on a pattern you want, and lay the bricks down before using any mortar to secure them.
- Once you have determined where all the bricks will go, you can cut them with a wet saw.
- Use mortar to glue the bricks to the subfloor.
- Once your bricks are installed, use mortar or grout to fill in the space between each brick.
- Wipe off any excess mortar or grout when it is still wet for ease of removal.
What Maintenance is Required for Thin Brick Floors?
Bricks are not naturally water-resistant, and neither is grout. Both can be easily stained, which is why it’s important to seal bricks and grout once the grout dries. For a matte surface, use a sealer that penetrates the bricks and grout to invisibly protect them from staining. For a shiny surface, use a surface sealer that will sit on top of the bricks and grout and protect them that way. Penetrating sealers rarely need to be reapplied, but surface sealers will need a new layer every few years.
Once the brick flooring is sealed, it becomes easy to maintain and only requires regular vacuuming and mopping.
Why Our Customers Choose Batchelder & Collins
Homeowners throughout Williamsburg and the Hampton Roads area trust the experts at Batchelder & Collins when it comes to choosing the right brick products for their interior design projects. Whether you are creating a new brick patio for your outdoor space or looking to install a thin brick floor in your home, the staff at Batchelder & Collins is ready to answer any questions you may have.
Testimonials
“This is an excellent company. Even though I am a small time customer compared to their average customers-builders, construction cos, landscapers, etc., they were very helpful. They answered all my questions and taught me how to do the work. I never felt like I was a bother or not a important enough customer. I have been back there several times for extra materials and they are always helpful and respectful and courteous. Their prices are comparable, if not lower than, the big box stores. I highly recommend this company.” — Elise P.
“Our company has purchased from these fine folks for almost forty years. They are a corner stone to our area.” — Rebecca S.
“This place is awesome. They’ve been around for a very long time. A there always great service. A good place to go if you need to get quality materials.” — Brett M.
Ready to Upgrade? Explore Your Thin Brick Flooring Options With Us Today.
Batchelder & Collins works with customers throughout the Williamsburg and Hampton Roads area to provide the products you need to create great-looking indoor and outdoor spaces. When you have a brick project in your home or outdoor area, it’s time to see how Batchelder & Collins can help.
For more information or to get started on your next brick project in the Hampton Roads area, call 757-625-2506 or use our contact page today.
