From the Oregonian by Connie PotterÂ
Builders use brick for all kinds of reasons, from its strength and durability to the value it adds.
But to Jerry Reeves, the bottom line is: Brick is beautiful.
Reeves, owner of J.C. Reeves Development & Construction, combines brick and cedar siding on virtually everything his company builds. It’s his signature look.
One of his newest developments, on Sitka Court in Tualatin, features six luxury homes, all with brick and cedar exteriors, used in differing combinations for unique looks. The homes range from about 3,500 square feet to more than 4,500 square feet, with prices of $790,000 to $995,000. A gated entrance is anchored by a brick wall that borders the project.
There’s a perceived value in brick that buyers appreciate, said Reeves. And there are benefits beyond beauty. Brick is durable and won’t warp, rot or burn. It never needs painting. Because of its dense mass, it can help moderate temperature extremes and even lower heating and cooling bills.
Reeves, who started his company in 1980, also appreciates the feng shui qualities that brick and stone and other natural products bring. Feng shui is the ancient Chinese practice of arranging home or work environments to promote health, happiness, and prosperity. Natural products have an energy that man-made products don’t, he said.
Buyers of his homes are drawn to the classic look of brick and the fact that natural products are proven, said Reeves. There are no questions about whether the product will wear well over time or whether it will be adversely affected by the elements.
“That’s a huge benefit to them,” he said.
Although brick adds beauty and interest to the architecture of a home, it also adds to the cost. It takes more time to build a brick house, said Reeves, and engineering costs are higher because of the extra weight. On the plus side, many insurance companies offer lower fire insurance rates for brick houses.
While people use various adjectives to describe brick homes — classy, timeless, high-quality, to name a few — Reeves said many buyers don’t know exactly what it is they like about brick. They just know that they like it.
“When they come up to a home and see brick and stone, it has a higher perceived value,” he said, “and they feel better about their home.”