Alternative Exterior Finishes

Alternative Exterior Finishes

When designing the exterior of a custom home, face brick has long been a popular choice in WA. But with the current brick shortages and ongoing pressure on availability, it can be worth looking at what else is available.

The good news? There are plenty of alternatives that can add just as much character, texture and interest to your home.

Rather than seeing a change from face brick as a compromise, it can be an opportunity to explore different materials and create an exterior that feels unique to your home.

Cladding

Cladding is a great way to introduce texture and contrast to an elevation. Depending on the overall style of the home, options can range from clean, contemporary profiles to timber-look finishes that bring warmth and a more natural feel.

It can be used across larger areas or simply as a feature to break up rendered walls and highlight particular architectural elements.

Stone

For something with a little more impact, stone can create a beautiful feature while adding natural colour and texture. It works particularly well around entryways, pillars, fireplaces or selected sections of the front elevation.

With different colours, profiles and finishes available, stone can complement everything from a coastal home through to a more contemporary design.

Feature Tiles

Tiles aren’t just for inside the home. Exterior feature tiles can be a great alternative to face brick, particularly when you want to introduce subtle texture or a more refined finish.

They can be used around an entry, on a feature wall or as a smaller design detail that ties in with the overall colour palette of the home.

Ultimately, face brick is only one of many ways to add interest to an exterior.

With current supply challenges, being open to alternative materials can give you more flexibility while also creating opportunities to do something a little different. As a custom builder, it’s about looking at the home as a whole and finding the combination of colours, textures and materials that brings your design together.