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August 21, 2005
ghetto brick
In the mid-20th century, before there was aluminum or vinyl siding, asphalt shingle siding was the alternative replacement siding. Some of this siding was stamped to appear to be brick or stone; this is ghetto brick.
I first heard the term ghetto brick used to describe this particular type of siding when I was living in Richmond's urban poor white neighborhood. The mid-19th century houses there had yet to see serious restoration and sported many a fine example of the material. I put this out there to show that the phrase ghetto brick, a mocking and derogatory description, is not racist in any manner, but is instead partially classist and mostly aesthetic in foundation.
I've observed 2 main patterns of the siding in our area. The first, 'classic' ghetto brick, is stamped with the pattern of bricks and is colored to look like brick. Houses clad in classic ghetto brick can appear to be brick houses from a distance. The other pattern looks like rectangular stone, in greys and tans.
Asphalt shingles are usually applied over wooden siding that someone has gotten tired of painting. A layer of tar paper covers the wood and the shingles cover that. Sometimes this was later covered with another layer of shingles or then vinyl. Growing restoration is making ghetto brick harder to find: a certain type of restoration removes the siding, another covers it in vinyl. Ten years from now ghetto brick will be almost impossible to find around here; twenty years from now I'll go out and take pictures of how bad the deteriorating vinyl has gotten.
Classic ghetto brick.
Notice the tell-tale bulge at the corner.
Store front. Observe the peel at the top.
Church with ghetto brick.
Side-only application, 'stone' pattern.
Full coverage; porch still has original woodwork.
Often seen with multiple meters and mail boxes.
Not improved by a dramatic angle.
In contrast with the stamped metal sheeting.
Click to view larger. Similar houses clad in ghetto brick, wood siding, and vinyl.
Rare cinder block pattern.
Shingle siding. Related, but not ghetto brick.
Posted by john m at August 21, 2005 12:16 PM
Comments
That's hilarious. I remember the first time I saw Ghetto Brick (in Vancouver, BC) - I was absolutely floored that anyone would even think to do such a thing. It is definately interesting in its own way.
Thanks for the pics, don't think I've seen the "stone" versions before!
Posted by: LisaB at August 21, 2005 2:12 PM
It is also known as "Insul-Brick Siding" I believe. Some products should never be made....
Posted by: Gary at August 21, 2005 7:34 PM
Gary -- thanks for the name! Google turned up a wealth of info for Insul-Brick/Insulbrick, including this nice/before/after.
Posted by: john at August 21, 2005 7:47 PM
GAH! My eyes! My eyes!
Posted by: jm at August 21, 2005 9:21 PM
Eeeek, that is some ugly stuff. :)
Posted by: Kristin at August 22, 2005 10:56 AM
think that's bad? My mother actually WANTS this stuff for her shed. hmmmmmmmm
Posted by: Julie at September 1, 2005 5:21 PM
I live in a house with this siding and its only been in the past 6-7 years that folks could tell it wasn't brick. I would like to find a siding that would look that good for that long, as it is time to do something. Really don't want the "vinyl crap" look.
Posted by: Daniel oprisko at October 2, 2005 7:59 PM
I live in Chicago. The grey version was very popular at one time. I only need to look across the street or next door to see it. My next door neighbor vows not to change it. She is going to sell her house "as is" when they retire and move out of state. I'm not sure how long that will be be it's not soon enough.
Posted by: Danielle at October 2, 2005 10:23 PM
i have insulbrick on my house and I am doing whole house reno. this insulbrick has asbestos inside. So far that's everyone is telling me and I already removed 70% of it from my house.....I don't know if i will get sick later on or not. I called several asbestos removal company and I will find out if it is "asbestos" or not. Anyways, if anyone knows about it let me know.
Posted by: steven at October 19, 2005 9:23 PM
Insul brick/ghetto brick ROCKS!! Im from Pittsburgh Pa and this stuff runs rampant in most parts of the city. True, to our aesthetic now ist kinda ugly, but it has history. And Im going to say that the tri color stone patterns do look good. Vinyl siding SUX, traditional clap board is expensive.
Posted by: jstn at November 21, 2005 6:25 PM
i love it. i'm going to build using it. and i'd like good quality-good looking siding and probably roofing too. who can i buy from?
Posted by: paul in chicago. at December 15, 2005 10:26 AM
I live in a 100+ year old home with this insulbrick and it is now coming off everytime the wind picks up. It may have worked 50 years ago but now it looks terrible and is very expensive to put siding over. Pittsburgh PA
Posted by: Michelle at April 6, 2007 8:10 PM
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