On: Where are the robotic bricklayers?

[com2kid]

Bricks can last a long time.

Brick houses also hold their value well.

No one cares about a brick facade.

Also why do you say bricks aren't structural? I assumed those 100 year old brick houses used bricks for structural support.

[turtlebits → com2kid]

Bricks are for decorative purposes nowadays (pretty siding). They aren't practical as you won't meet code for insulation. You will also need to frame another interior wall for vapor control.

A single layer brick wall isn't structural.

[MagnumOpus → turtlebits]

> A single layer brick wall isn't structural

My 92-year old house with single layer brick walls says otherwise. (And yes, it insulates badly, but it kept standing through a lot of storms.)

[danans → MagnumOpus]

> My 92-year old house with single layer brick walls says otherwise. (

Not structural by current building standards. No doubt it is carrying a load today, bit you can't build a house that way anymore.

[uCantCauseUCant → turtlebits]

There are foam bricks which meet the insulation codes in europe - in one wall with no additions. Will all be special waste though one day.

[mypalmike → com2kid]

Even in 100 year old brick houses (like the 1920s craftsman I once owned), the brick is almost always non-structural. Only in old urban commercial buildings do you typically find structural bricks.

[robocat → com2kid]

Structural bricks absolutely suck if you are in a high earthquake risk zone. Earthquakes or slumping really screw up brick buildings (and brick façades).