What Are the Pros and Cons of Installing a Brick Backsplash?

There’s something classic about a brick backsplash — it’s timeless and invokes a nostalgia about the simple days gone by. Installing such a backsplash provides a distressed glamour that looks great in your kitchen area. And, adds warmth and lovely textures.

Are you thinking of installing a brick backsplash in your kitchen? Read on for some pros and cons associated with brick backsplashes. And then, make an informed decision. 

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Brick Backsplash Pros

• Unique looks: You can accommodate a number of design themes with brick backsplashes. Each one is more unique than the next. Create an old-world feel or a contemporary nook in your kitchen — your choice. They have an undeniable rustic charm and easily become the focal point of your cooking space. 
• Durable: A brick backsplash is known for its strength and durability. Install it properly, maintain it well, and the backsplash will last you a long time.   
• Easy to install: Brick backsplashes are easy to install. An expert DIYer will be able to handle the process well. Having said that, it’s best to hire a professional installer for the home improvement. The installation typically involves laying brick over an existing masonry foundation behind your stove wall.

Take a look at these 12 kitchen backsplash tile ideas for the perfect focal point

Brick Backsplash Cons

• Highly absorbent: Unfortunately, a brick backsplash absorbs things. If something splashes or splatters on it, it may soak it up. 

Moreover, it tends to retain moisture. Due to this, you will notice that it will invariably grow weaker and even start to deteriorate. 

Furthermore, real brick structures in general are a good breeding ground for molds. If your backsplash is in constant contact with moisture. You need to treat it properly or else, it may even start to produce an unpleasant smell.

• Requires sealing: A solid brick backsplash needs to be coated with a clear polyurethane sealant — either in a satin or matte finish. The idea is to keep air and moisture out and also keep stains from food, oil, and cooking fumes at bay.
• Hard to clean: A brick kitchen backsplash is difficult to clean due to its uneven surface. Moreover, the mortar between the bricks can absorb stains that are not easy to clean out. 
• Common source of efflorescence: Generally, kitchen brick backsplashes (both indoors and outdoors) develop chalk-powder-like spots of white mineral deposits. This usually occurs when water-soluble salts formed within bricks, mortar, or brickwork backing move onto the brick’s surface. 

FYI: The salts can come from soil, groundwater, or from water, sand, or cement that’s added to the brick or mortar during manufacturing. 

• Installation requires special tools: While the actual brick backsplash installation is simple enough, you still have to have the appropriate tools to do it. For instance, you need a special saw that can cut through the brick.
• High cost: A brick backsplash will cost you between $12 and $20 per square foot to purchase and install. The high cost does discourage budget-conscious homeowners. 

FYI: If you too are on a tight remodeling budget, a good alternative is to opt for brick veneer that mimics the look of real brick. A brick veneer involves decorative paneling made of thin, interlocking brick panels.

Planning a renovation for your kitchen? Try our free kitchen remodel cost estimator; it’s easy and convenient to use!

Read more: Smart Tips to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash

Written by Ramona Sinha. January 29, 2020

Ramona is a content writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depths of her soul.