Personally, I think all-brick would be overwhelming, although I can picture it as nice for the first floor, with siding for the second floor. To me, brick adds a lot of visual weight and mass which doesn't seem appropriate for the house-style. OTOH, your neighborhood may differ.

Unless the siding is fibre-cement, your insurance company will like the use of brick and lower rates accordingly. However, I understand Hardiplank and similar are rated very close to brick.

I am biased because I'm not a big fan of multiple gables and inconsistent use of shutters.

I think that you would be better off choosing a different plan. There's a lot going on with this one and I think that adding brick to the mix will make it messy looking. Plus if you choose something a little simpler you may recoup some of the cost of the brick.

Aesthetically I like wood siding just as much as brick. But the maintenance aspect of brick is very appealing. However, if you go with this plan I would stick with siding. If you want to take advantage of brick masonry prices you could do some really nice brick hardscaping - a patio, built-in grill, outdoor fireplace, etc.

I don't think that house would look good in brick.

Well, I happen to really like that plan, and in fact - almost built it in 2006! We ended up building the Southerland instead. Main thing I didn't care for was that the Master bedroom only had 1 closet. I love my DH - but hate sharing a closet with him!

Anyway - I love the outside, but I don't think it would look good in brick, as the whole appeal of it is that it looks like an older farmhouse. On the Southerland we built, we went with hardie board - it's a bit more, but worth it I think. There is no maintenance really, and because it is fire-resistant, your homeowners insurance also is reduced.

I'll love to see pictures of this home completed!

I agree with everyone else that this house would not look as good in brick as in siding.

Another option is steel siding. There are no seams and it can fool some people. I have steel siding on this house and after it was built, several people asked me what the siding was. When I told them it was steel, they argued with me that it WASN'T!!!! I thought that was pretty funny.

There is one big downside to steel, however. If you use a cell phone, many times you'll have to go outside to get a good connection. Steel is a very good RF shield.

I really like it in this picture. Maybe some would disagree, but to me it looks very pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks for the opinions!!!

If we decide not to go brick, we will be using a fiber-cement product. In comparing prices, the fiber-cement is about $35-50 less per square, labor and materials.
If we did go brick, I would want to calm down the front of the house, so that it doesn't get too "busy." Maybe go with shingle roof over the front porch instead of metal, no keys over the windows, with a simple soldier course instead of a jack arch.

We will be grading on June 9, should have some framing pictures by the first week or so in July. I can't wait!!!

This is a typical Gardner plan with 'way too many gables and jogs. That trend looks least bad as a farmhouse style. Stick with siding. There were brick farmhouses, but they were much less busy. (If you do use brick on a home planned for siding you will need to beef up the exterior wall foundations for brick ledge.)

I love a farmhouse look, but agree the upkeep would be more costly in the long run. Until I clicked on the line provided by eventhecatisaboy, I couldn't picture brick - but I love the look of that home. If you do go with brick, do select a more brown brick and not a red brick. Good luck!

mjob,
Out of curiosity, I searched for houses with two story and about the size as yours in the gardner site.
It looks like gardner do not have a problem with houses similar (somehow) to yours and using either full brick or full stone.
My concern was the big porch that you have wich I thought was the mayor problem but surprise surprise! look at these samples:
The Vernon Downs House Plan
Plan# W-GOO-1142
http://www.dongardner.com/images.aspx?pid=3242&fn=renderings%5c1142f.jpg&f=

The Riverdale House Plan
Plan# W-GOO-1175

The Ashton Ridge House Plan
Plan# W-GOO-1194
The Arcadia House Plan
Plan# W-GOO-1172
just to mention some samples.

I do think that if you go brick (wich looks cleaner than stone and not trendy) you are going to get a better insulated home and save in the long run.

I recoomend that if you go brick, change the windows for cleaner looking ones like the ones in
The Sagecrest House Plan
Plan# W-GOO-1226
with a simple low arch and maybe just casement without the grills (unless you love grills/muttins) You could also stop the front porch at the dining room level and make the window above the foyer a bit smaller.

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/renderings/1226f.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful: The Vernon Downs

Thanks, that is very helpful.

I think that doing away with the circle top over the foyer, or even both front circle tops, could accomplish what you are talking about. I saw a house nearby me that has a very simple grille design. I don't know exactly what it is called, but there is a link below. I would like to use the same brick and mortar combo, maybe even the shake color. What do y'all think? (sorry for the tilt, I was using someone else's camera)

By the way anyone who lives in the southeast and is looking for brick colors, chek out Statesville Brick. They have some of the best brick I have ever seen. (www.statesvillebrick.com)

Thanks for all the help from everybody, and keep the opinions coming!!

Here is a link that might be useful: