Baby Boomers Prefer Brick Exteriors, NAHB Survey Finds

Reston, VA, May 24, 2016—Baby boomers rank brick highest over other home exteriors in a recent nationwide survey that tracks their home buying preferences and those of other generations, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Preferences of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare to Other Home Buyers.

“This survey shows that baby boomers and others not only prefer brick over other exterior wall cladding materials, brick is the least disliked among other materials,” said Ray Leonhard, president and CEO, Brick Industry Association (BIA). “Home builders are more likely to appeal to potential buyers if they build a house with brick versus other competing materials,” he said.

The graphic for “Front Exterior Materials Rated Essential or Desirable by Home Buyers” shows brick leading at 70% as the most desirable of the six common exteriors ranked. Stone follows at 69% with wood/wood products at 36%, vinyl/vinyl covered aluminum at 36%, stucco at 31% and fiber cement at 26%.

In “Front Exterior Material Not Wanted by All Buyers and Boomers,” the graphic shows stucco as the least desired material by all buyers at 30%. Vinyl/vinyl covered aluminum follows at 29%, wood/wood products at 25%, fiber cement at 25%, stone at 6% and brick ranks last at 5%.

A third question finds that after the price factor has been addressed, construction quality and exterior design of the home are two of three most important drivers in purchasing a home for baby boomers and all buyers. “The Importance of Factors in Home Purchase Decision” graphic ranks construction quality first (4.6%), financing second (4.0%) and exterior design of home third (3.7%) out of 13 factors.