The Same Face, a Different Wall: Thin Brick vs Full Brick
Depth, structure, installation and where each one makes sense, for homes and commercial buildings.
Thin brick and full brick can look identical once they're on the wall. The difference is behind the face: full brick is a structural masonry unit several inches deep that needs a foundation ledge and wall ties, while thin brick is a slice of brick about 5/8 in thick that's set on the wall like stone veneer. This guide compares the two on depth, structure, installation and where each one makes sense, for homes and commercial buildings.
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The names can be confusing. On most buildings today, brick veneer means a full brick wall built as a cladding layer in front of the structure, with an air space and wall ties, rather than a solid load-bearing brick wall. Thin brick veneer is the slice-of-brick version set on a scratch coat. Both are real brick on the outside; the difference is the thickness of the brick and how the wall behind it is built.
Because StoneRox thin brick is real clay brick, it has the surface texture and colour of traditional brickwork, and the matching corner bricks show the brick's end at outside corners. Once the mortar joints are in, a thin brick wall reads like a full brick wall from the street, inside or out.
Short answer: Full brick is a structural masonry unit about 3 5/8 in deep; a full brick veneer adds about 4 in of brick plus an air space to the wall, and needs a foundation ledge and wall ties. Thin brick is real clay brick about 5/8 in thick, set in mortar on a scratch coat over a sound surface, with no ledge or footing. Once the joints are in, the two look the same. Choose thin brick for renovations, upper floors, accents and interiors, and full brick for new construction designed for it from the start.
Thin brick vs full brick at a glance
| Factor | StoneRox thin clay brick | Full brick |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Real clay brick about 5/8 in thick (modern styles about 1/2 in) | Full-depth clay masonry unit, typically 3 5/8 in deep (modular) |
| Wall depth | Adds the brick (about 5/8 in) plus a 1/2 to 3/4 in scratch coat and mortar | Adds about 4 in of brick plus an air space |
| Structure needed | No brick ledge or footing; goes over a sound, prepared surface | Needs a brick ledge or foundation support, plus wall ties back to the structure |
| Where it goes | Facades, accent walls and fireplaces, inside and out; new builds and renovations | Mostly exterior walls designed for it from the start |
| Corners | Matching L-shaped corners for every style | Full units turned at the corner |
| Renovations | Can go over existing sound surfaces | Difficult to add without new foundation support |
What full brick is
Full brick, sometimes called face brick or full-bed brick, is the traditional brick wall: whole clay units laid in mortar, usually as an outer layer (a brick veneer wall) separated from the structure by an air space and tied back to it. A standard modular unit is 3 5/8 in deep, so the brick layer and its cavity add several inches to the wall.
Because every course sits on the one below, a full brick wall needs a ledge to stand on: an extended foundation, a steel angle or a brick shelf. That's straightforward on new construction where the foundation is designed for it, and much harder on a renovation or an upper floor.
What thin brick is
Thin brick gives the face of a brick wall without the depth. Our StoneRox thin clay brick is real clay brick, made in standard, modular and modern sizes:
- Standard: 2 7/16 x 8 1/8 in, 5/8 in thick (Cumberland, Calaveras, Sacramento Rustic).
- Modular: 2 1/4 x 7 5/8 in, 5/8 in thick (Kilburn, Embarcadero, Stratford, Chicago Common, Greenwich).
- Modern: 1.89 x 11.42 in, 0.51 in thick (Snowfall, Shadow, Eclipse).
Every style has matching corners (3 7/8 in corner height for standard, 3 5/8 in for modular), so outside corners read as full brick. StoneRox also offers a Natural Stone Thin Brick line in six styles: Baltic, Carlisle, Monticello, Myrtlewood, Pennington and Winslow.
Standard, modular or modern: choosing a size
Size changes the character of a brick wall more than most people expect. The standard and modular sizes have the familiar proportions of traditional brick. Modular is the most common brick size in North America, so it's the natural choice when thin brick has to sit next to existing full brick on an addition or renovation. Standard units are slightly taller and longer, for a more substantial face. The modern size is long and slim, almost 11 1/2 in long and under 2 in high, so it lays up in long horizontal lines that suit contemporary homes, offices and restaurants.
The eight rustic styles (Cumberland, Calaveras and Sacramento Rustic in the standard size; Kilburn, Embarcadero, Stratford, Chicago Common and Greenwich in modular) have natural blended colours and a traditional look. The three modern styles, Snowfall, Shadow and Eclipse, give a contemporary look in the long, slim format. Colours in print and on screen vary, so see the brick in person before you choose.
Depth and structure
This is where the two part ways. A full brick veneer wall typically adds 4 in of brick plus an air space to the outside of the building, and it needs foundation support for its full height. Thin brick is installed on a scratch coat over a sound surface, so it adds only a fraction of that depth and needs no brick ledge or footing.
On a new build, that can mean a simpler foundation detail. On a renovation, it often decides the question: thin brick can go over sound masonry, concrete or stucco, or over plywood with lath and a scratch coat, where adding full brick would mean new foundations.
Inside, thin brick suits interior accent walls, fireplace surrounds, lobbies and restaurant feature walls, where full brick would be far too heavy and thick. On an interior wall the installation is the same: a sound surface, a scratch coat where needed, then the brick set in mortar and the joints finished.
Thickness and texture, side by side
Installed thickness is where thin brick and full brick veneer differ most. Installed over a scratch coat, thin brick adds well under 2 in to the wall surface, while a full brick veneer adds about 4 in of brick plus an air space. On the face, the two look alike: both are real clay brick, with the same surface texture, mortar joints and colour range, so the choice comes down to structure, weight and where the brick is installed rather than appearance.
For interior walls the same applies. Thin brick installed on an interior surface gives a real brick texture with almost no loss of room, which full brick veneer can't do.
How thin brick installs
StoneRox thin brick installs the same way as StoneRox stone veneer:
- A weather-resistive barrier and a 10 mm rainscreen over wood or metal framing outside.
- Galvanized diamond lath, then a scratch coat 1/2 to 3/4 in thick.
- Type S or pre-modified mortar, with joints no more than 1/2 in.
- Not below 4°C (39°F), and at least 6 in above grade, with flashing at penetrations and terminations.
Flats are sold by the square foot and corners by the linear foot. A professional installer is recommended for exteriors, and the warranty applies when the installation guide is followed.
Bond patterns and mortar joints
Because thin brick is set one piece at a time, like full brick, it can be laid in any traditional pattern:
- Running bond: each course offset by half a brick, the classic look of a brick wall.
- Stack bond: bricks aligned in straight vertical columns, a crisp, modern look that pairs well with the modern size.
- Herringbone or basketweave: for fireplace surrounds and feature walls where the brick is the focal point.
The mortar joint matters as much as the brick. A joint colour close to the brick makes the wall read as one surface; a contrasting joint picks out every unit. Keep joints no more than 1/2 in, and use the matching corner pieces so the pattern wraps outside corners cleanly.
Planning and ordering
Measure the flat wall area in square feet and the outside corners in linear feet, and order them separately. Subtract large openings, then add an allowance for cutting and fitting; ask us for a figure that suits your pattern, since herringbone and other angled layouts need more cutting than running bond. Thin brick cuts with a wet saw and diamond blade, or a grinder, before it is installed.
StoneRox thin brick ships to order rather than from stock, so build lead time into the schedule, and order everything for one wall at the same time. If you're matching existing full brick on an addition, compare a piece of the old brick with the samples side by side, checking both colour and size.
A few situations need extra care. Overhead, angled or horizontal installations aren't warranted without an engineer's or architect's approval, and thin brick isn't for areas exposed to chlorinated or chemically treated water, such as pool surrounds.
Full brick installation, by comparison
A full brick veneer wall is built course by course by a mason, from a foundation ledge up, with wall ties fastened to the structure at regular spacing, weep holes and flashing at the base, and lintels over every opening. It's a proven system, but it's slower, heavier work, and it has to be planned into the structure from day one.
Where each one makes sense
Choose thin brick when
- You're renovating and there's no foundation ledge for full brick.
- The brick is an accent: an entrance, a wainscot, a fireplace or a feature wall.
- You want brick inside, on lobby, restaurant or living room walls.
- The brick is on an upper floor, a balcony wall or a canopy, where full brick would need steel support.
- Wall depth matters, for example on a tight lot line or around existing windows and doors.
Choose full brick when
- It's new construction with a foundation designed for brick.
- The project specifies traditional full masonry throughout.
Examples on homes and commercial buildings
- Custom homes and renovations: brick across the front elevation of an existing house, or a brick wainscot below siding, without new footings.
- Multi-family and mixed-use: brick on the ground floor and entrance bays, paired with stucco above, as covered in our guide to multi-family and mixed-use facades.
- Retail: a brick storefront refresh over an existing facade (see our storefront remodel ideas).
- Hotels and restaurants: interior brick feature walls and bar fronts, inside or out, as in our hospitality projects guide.
Durability and upkeep
StoneRox thin brick is durable, fade-resistant and made to withstand moisture and temperature changes, inside and out. It's fire resistant and low maintenance, with sealing every 1 to 2 years if you want to keep the original look. It carries a 50-year limited warranty from StoneRox. Clean it with water and a bristle brush; never use a wire brush, acid, sandblasting or power washing.
Finishing the facade
Brick rarely stands alone. Around the windows and along the roofline, pair it with our exterior window sills and cornices for a finished elevation. If you're weighing brick against stone, browse the stone veneer collection, which installs the same way, and our guide to ledgestone, fieldstone and cobblestone veneer for how the styles differ by shape.
Thin brick vs full brick FAQ
Is thin brick real brick?
StoneRox thin clay brick is real clay brick, made thin: about 5/8 in thick for the standard and modular sizes and about 1/2 in for the modern styles.
Does thin brick need a brick ledge or footing?
No. Thin brick is set on a scratch coat over a sound, prepared surface, so it doesn't need a brick ledge, footing or wall ties the way full brick does.
Can thin brick go over existing walls?
Yes, over sound masonry, concrete or stucco, or over plywood with a weather-resistive barrier, lath and a scratch coat. Follow the StoneRox installation guide and local building code.
Can thin brick be used inside?
Yes. Thin brick works on interior accent walls and fireplaces as well as exterior facades.
How thick is full brick compared with thin brick?
A standard modular full brick is 3 5/8 in deep. StoneRox thin brick is about 5/8 in thick, or about 1/2 in for the modern styles.
Do thin brick corners look like full brick?
Yes. Every StoneRox thin brick style has matching L-shaped corners, so outside corners show the end of the brick just like a full unit.
Is thin brick fire resistant?
Yes. StoneRox thin clay brick is fire resistant, and it's suitable for fireplace surrounds as well as facades and accent walls.
Does thin brick need to be sealed?
It's low maintenance. Sealing every 1 to 2 years helps keep the original look. Clean it with water and a bristle brush, never a wire brush, acid or power washer.
How is thin brick sold?
Flats are sold by the square foot and corners by the linear foot. StoneRox thin brick ships to order, so plan lead time into your schedule.
What materials do I need to install thin brick?
For an exterior wall over framing: a weather-resistive barrier and rainscreen, galvanized diamond lath, scratch coat, Type S or pre-modified mortar, the thin brick flats and corner bricks, and a grout bag to fill the mortar joints. A wet saw with a diamond blade, or a grinder, cuts the brick to size.
How thick is thin brick once it's installed?
The brick is about 5/8 in thick (about 1/2 in for the modern styles). With a 1/2 to 3/4 in scratch coat and mortar behind it, the installed thickness is still only a fraction of a full brick veneer wall, which needs about 4 in of brick plus an air space.
Is thin brick used on residential homes?
Yes. It's common on residential facades, wainscots and fireplaces, as well as on commercial buildings, because it gives the look and texture of real brick without the weight and thickness of full brick.
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