Brick veneer vs double brick: which wall system?
One skin of brick or two? How the two most common masonry wall systems differ on comfort, build speed and what suits your block.
When people picture a brick home they often picture double brick, but most new homes across SA and Victoria are actually brick veneer. The two look similar from the street, yet they are built quite differently and behave differently once you are living inside. Knowing which is which helps you read a quote and pick the wall that suits your climate and your plans.
| Brick veneer | Double brick | |
|---|---|---|
| How common | The standard on most volume builds | Less common now, more common in WA |
| Structure | Frame carries the load, brick is the skin | Brick walls are structural |
| Thermal mass | Less internal mass, relies on insulation | More mass, holds temperature well |
| Build speed | Faster to build | Slower, more bricklaying |
| Internal changes | Easier to move non-load walls later | Harder, inner walls are masonry |
| Reactive clay | Frame flexes with minor movement | More prone to showing cracks if ground moves |
Single vs double brick
People sometimes say single brick when they mean brick veneer, but they are not the same. True single-skin brick, one structural brick thick with no cavity or frame behind it, is rare in modern homes because it insulates poorly and offers little weather buffer. Brick veneer is a single brick skin backed by an insulated frame, and double brick is two skins with a cavity between. For a new home the practical choice is veneer or double brick, not genuine single brick.
Precast concrete walls vs brickwork
Precast concrete panels are cast off site and craned into place, which is fast on site and gives a solid, high-mass wall with good sound and fire resistance. Brickwork is laid by hand on site, is familiar to every builder, and flexes a little with minor ground movement. Precast suits specific designs and tighter sites where speed and mass matter, while brick remains the everyday default for most detached homes.
Why veneer became the default
Brick veneer pairs a single brick skin with a timber or steel frame that does the structural work. It is quicker to build, easier to insulate to a modern standard, and the frame flexes a little with the minor ground movement you get on reactive clay blocks across Adelaide and Melbourne. That combination is why it is the standard on most volume homes today.
Where double brick still appeals
Double brick uses two structural brick skins with a cavity between them. All that masonry gives you real thermal mass, which helps even out indoor temperature, and a solid, quiet feel room to room. It is slower to build and harder to change later, but for owners who want that substantial masonry home it still has a loyal following.
Brick veneer
- Standard, so every builder prices it easily
- Faster to build
- Frame makes it simpler to run services and insulate
- Copes better with minor ground movement
- Less thermal mass on its own, leans on insulation
- Inner walls are plasterboard, not masonry
- Sound transfer can be higher without extra lining
Double brick
- Lots of thermal mass to even out temperature
- Solid, substantial feel inside
- Good sound dampening between rooms
- Very durable masonry throughout
- Slower and more labour to build
- Harder to alter internal walls later
- Can show cracks on reactive clay if not detailed well
- Less common, so fewer builders offer it
For most new homes on reactive clay, brick veneer is the faster, more flexible and easy-to-insulate default. Double brick rewards you with thermal mass and a solid feel if you are happy with a longer build and have a builder who details it well for your soil. Match the system to your climate and your block.
Still weighing it up?
Tell us about your block and what you want, and we will match you with three builders across SA or Victoria who do this sort of work well.
Match me with 3 buildersCommon questions
Is single brick the same as brick veneer?
No. Genuine single-skin brick is one structural brick thick with nothing behind it, and it is rare in modern homes because it insulates poorly. Brick veneer is a single brick skin backed by an insulated frame. For a new build the real choice is brick veneer or double brick.
Are precast concrete walls better than brick?
Precast panels are cast off site and lifted in, which is fast and gives a solid, high-mass wall with strong sound and fire resistance. Brick is laid on site, familiar to every builder and flexes with minor ground movement. Precast suits specific designs and tight sites, while brick is the everyday default.
Is double brick better than brick veneer?
Not universally. Double brick gives you more thermal mass and a solid feel, while brick veneer is faster, easier to insulate and copes better with minor ground movement. The right pick depends on your climate, block and how long you want the build to take.
Which is better for insulation?
Brick veneer is generally easier to insulate to a modern 7-star standard because batts sit neatly in the framed wall. Double brick relies more on the thermal mass of the masonry plus cavity detailing. Your NatHERS assessment confirms the result either way.
Can you tell them apart from the street?
Not really, both look like brick homes. The difference is behind the facade: veneer has a single skin over a frame, double brick has two structural brick skins with a cavity between.
Does double brick crack on reactive clay?
It can be more prone to showing cracks if the ground moves and the footings or articulation joints are not detailed for the soil. Good engineering and a slab suited to your block reduce the risk. Brick veneer tends to hide minor movement better because the frame flexes.
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Sources last verified June 2026