Ideas and Inspirations

Helpful articles and images from the Pine Hall Brick blog.

New Home Ideas

Oyster Pearl masterpiece offers beauty, space and energy efficiency

Oyster Pearl masterpiece offers beauty, space and energy efficiency

Photo above: Chris Clement used Oyster Pearl Brick, stained hardwoods and unique masonry techniques to create an energy efficient beauty.  Chris Clement Home Builder's most recently completed project in The Farm at Summerfield has quickly become the envy of the...

Love the look of reclaimed brick? You can get it for less

Love the look of reclaimed brick? You can get it for less

When mason Hugo Yanez, owner of Fred's Masonry, got the job for this new home in Greensboro, NC, he was excited that the owners chose reclaimed brick. Repurposing salvaged brick is a great example of how sustainable brick can be—it lasts for centuries—and how it...

Castle Gray part of Don Hamrick’s award-winning 340 Fairfax home

Castle Gray part of Don Hamrick’s award-winning 340 Fairfax home

Winston-Salem builder Don Hamrick has plenty of experience building beautiful upscale homes. "As an experienced trim carpenter I've worked in dozens of custom homes. I've seen the best of the best — elaborate moldings, hand scraped hardwood floors, Italian marble...

Hardscapes and Paving

Planning and Design

Interior brick accents define open floor plan

Interior brick accents define open floor plan

Interior brick is a great way to add accents and define any space within an open floor plan. When home builder Shawn Peterson designed and built his rustic modern home up a hill from the Haw River near Burlington, North Carolina, he specified Pine Hall Brick Oyster...

The art of masonry meets the science of brick

The art of masonry meets the science of brick

There’s a lot science in modern brick manufacturing to get precise and consistent color in a product that meets stringent engineering standards and maintains tight specifications in size and dimension. And there’s a lot of art in masonry, to apply the brick in...

A practical approach to selecting brick

A practical approach to selecting brick

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you’ve decided to build with brick. Great choice because it’s durable, safe, sustainable, maintenance free and above all, it’s beautiful. Now for the fun part, selecting brick for your new home. You will have a lot of choices...

DIY Corner

Think outside the square: Curved and round patios and walkways

Think outside the square: Curved and round patios and walkways

When you think of a patio or walkway you might not think of round and curved lines, but maybe you should. Round shapes are visually soothing and curves create long undulating lines that lead the eye. The shape also works well for landscaping. Curves are a more natural...

Proper technique for drilling into brick.

Proper technique for drilling into brick.

Few other materials are able to provide the natural warmth of a brick wall. The natural texture and colors provide the perfect canvas for large, decorative focal points like mirrors or unique wall art. Hanging decorative items on brick, however, presents a unique set...

How to hang Christmas lights on brick with a glue gun

How to hang Christmas lights on brick with a glue gun

Brick homes dress up beautifully for the holidays with greenery and lights for a classic look. But how do you hang lights without nails in window sill and eves? Use a hot glue gun. We found this method online and wanted to test it ourselves, so we took our supplies to...

Project Spotlight

Furman’s new student center uses water permeable pavers

Furman’s new student center uses water permeable pavers

College campuses, like college students, are a work in progress. Consider Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Long known as a leader in sustainable design—offering a major in sustainability science, hosting the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability and helping...

StormPave pavers help to restore Auburn tradition

StormPave pavers help to restore Auburn tradition

In Auburn, Alabama, the football team is used to winning – even if they have to come from behind. And when they do win, they leave plenty of evidence. The entrance to Auburn University is known locally as Toomer’s Corner, which is the intersection of Magnolia Avenue...

Bronze Medal Winner – Mechanic Street

Bronze Medal Winner – Mechanic Street

Mechanic Street Winning the Bronze Medal for Paving and Landscaping, Mechanic Street is a one-way division street between the business disctrict of King's Highway East and Clement street in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Mechanic Street was designed by Remington &...