How is a brick house built?

How does a brick house differ from a wood framed house with siding? Can the siding just be replaced with brick? Or are the bricks in a brick house load bearing? Also, how are windows put into a brick house? A web-site that details the building of a brick house would be very helpful--it just has to be general, I'm not really going to build one, but my younger cousin was playing with his blocks and some questions came up...and I can't answer them.How is a brick house built?
36-24-36...she's a brick house!!!How is a brick house built?
Brick is a veneer just like other siding types but it is not directed attached to the structure like say wood siding. As aforementioned, brick ties are affixed to the structure approximately every 4 - 8 square feet of wall surface and embedded into the mortar joints between the brick. The primary difference between brick veneer and siding lies in the foundational needs of brick homes. On concrete slab houses, a 5 1/2 inch ledge is formed on the perimeter of the house's continuous foundation. That recesses the brick 1 1/2 inches below the finished floor elevation of the home. Windows and doors are installed prior to the installation of the brick and nailed to 2x4s that are attached around the perimter of the windows. This brings the window flanges out to the needed distance for the brick veneer to cover. If the windows are eventually replaced, it is a bigger job that entails carefully ripping the window jambs out of the opening to the exterior side. Replacement windows are specifically ordered to the exact size of the opening (brick in this case) without a nailing flange as before. They are attached by drilling holes through the vertical sides of the window frame and held in place by long screws that hit the 2x4 flange that encases the window. As far as replaced siding with brick veneer, you'd have to place an engineered concrete footing for the brick to bear its weight on. Plus, additional cornice work would be needed to receive the brick at the top of the wall. Work around windows and doors might be needed as well. I'd leave siding in place and use it as a solid surface to attach the brick (wall) ties to. By the way, brick ties simply keep the brick from putting away from the wall. One last bit of information: bricks are typically porpous and water can leak through the veneer and flood your home. I learned this the hard way a few years ago when the remnants of a hurricane brought 5 hours of continuous rain. Most of the 2-story brick homes leaked through on the north side of the homes where the wind-driven rain came from. 2-story brick homes need to be sealed with a transparent water sealer to truly be water repellant. Hopefully this will answer your questions.
Brick by Brick....
Well to quote the Commodores:





She has to let it all hang out





Then she has to be stacked, holding nothing back





36-24-36





and she'll be mighty mighty and that's a fact.
BRICK VENEER IS ACTUALLY HELD IN PLACE BY THE WALL TIES ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, SITS ON STEPPED DOWN BRICK LEDGE USUALLY FORMED BY A 2 X 6 ON THE FLAT WHEN POURING THE SLAB, THIS WAY MOISTURE CAN PENETRATE %26amp; CONDENSATE %26amp; EXIT THROUGH WEEP HOLES AROUND THE BOTTOME COURSE OF THE HOUSE
The frame house is built. If a brick veneer is the finish, the foundation wall has to be made larger to accomodate the brick, tie -ins and insulation. If the house is frame with siding, the first course of siding will cover the base plate which is laid on the foundation.
The foundation is wider to have a shelf for the bricks to bear. Today's brick house does have the bricks support any more load than just the bricks. The bricks above the window openings are supported by a 3/8'; steel angle, the same thickness of the mortar joint. The mortar covers the edge of the angle.
The bricks are not load-bearing, they are merely a skin. Brick houses are framed.
Brick by brick.