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Brick houses decline in US new construction due to cost and labor

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

The prevalence of brick houses in American new construction has significantly declined, with only 16.8% of new single-family homes started in 2025 featuring brick or brick veneer. This shift away from traditional, durable brick construction towards wood-frame houses with veneer is driven by factors such as the need for rapid, affordable housing post-World War II, rising construction costs, and a shrinking pool of skilled masonry labor. Builders now prioritize speed and cost-effectiveness, often constructing homes designed to last only as long as the mortgage rather than a full century. AI

RANK_REASON The article discusses a trend in home construction and its underlying causes, drawing on expert opinions and historical context, rather than reporting on a new event or release.

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AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Brick houses decline in US new construction due to cost and labor

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The article discusses a trend in home construction and its underlying causes, drawing on expert opinions and historical context, rather than reporting on a new event or release.
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Fortune TIER_1 English(EN) · Emma Witman ·

    Brick houses are disappearing from America’s new construction: ‘Nobody got paid for how long a house would last’

    Brick or brick veneer now covers just 16.8% of new homes. Real structural brick walls are rarer still, as builders trade permanence for speed.

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