I have to agree about the moisture part! Google "Magnolia Queen" by Boral. It is an off white color brick, and with an ivory mortar looks really nice!

A concrete block is not a concrete brick.

While concrete bricks will absorb more moisture than clay bricks, neither used as a veneer will resist moisture satisfactorily unless they are used in conjunction with a drainage plane. The same applies to most other siding materials.

Clay bricks are used where a deep brown or red colour or texturing is desired. The long term life of colourants in concrete bricks is not certain.

Concrete cladding doesn't spell "cheap". Citadel building stone from Arriscraft

Despite the animus of the clay brick industry, the negative image they have promoted hasn't stuck. It could be in part that the biggest clay brick suppliers also manufacture concrete products.

This post was edited by worthy on Sun, Dec 29, 13 at 11:53