Expert: Dan Griffin - 12/16/2007

Question
We are planning to build a new house in Central Texas and have conflicting opinions abut whether to go with brick or stucco exterior. Our main concern is insulation as the summers get hotter and hotter. All other things being equal (such as r-15 walls) is brick or stucco better for insulation. I also read that brick is more durable. Thanks for any input you have about this.

Answer
We need to define stucco.

There is "real" stucco which is a 1/2 to 3/4 inch layer of cement based exterior plaster held to the wall by chicken wire.  It would be typical to sheath the walls with plywood, fasten tar paper to the sheathing, fasten chicken wire, coat the walls with a heavy scratch/brown coat, finished with final coat that gives texture and often integral color.  There is no R value to speak of and little thermal mass.  It would not have a dead air thermal break.  The insulation value would need to be taken care of in the framing.

There is another category often called stucco which is a hybrid.  A better technical term would be EIFS, often called Dryvit - a brand name.  This is a thin (1/8") cement based, nylon mesh reinforced exterior product bonded to foam sheathing.  It is very waterproof, so much so that special provisions need to made for flashing and migrating interior water vapor.  Alone it has virtually no R value or  thermal mass.  You can use thick applications of foam sheathing to increase the R in addition to insulation in the framing.

Brick has virtually no R value.  Insulation values must be made in the framing.  Brick is considered better for resale by some, and is considered a more durable alternative.  Stucco homes last a long time too.  They can all require periodic maintenance.

The differences you are looking for just aren't there.