White Bricks

Why build with white bricks in New Zealand?

From sun-bleached coastal baches to sleek city townhouses, white bricks have become a signature of contemporary Kiwi design. The pale hue bounces daylight deep into interiors, reduces heat absorption on north-facing elevations, and pairs effortlessly with timber or black metal trims. Quality manufacturing also minimises the risk of white powder on bricks (efflorescence) even in our damp winter months.

Popular design styles

• Mid-century modern: Low-slung rooflines, stacked-bond white brick and large glazing panels evoke Palm Springs cool.
• Modern farmhouse: White brick cladding offset by dark joinery and pitched metal roofs.
• Industrial loft: White brick accent walls contrast concrete floors and exposed steel.
• Coastal retreat: Softly textured painted brick paired with weathered timber decking.

Product options at a glance

1. Solid clay bricks

Traditional kiln-fired clay delivers timeless durability and authentic colour right through the body of the brick—ideal if you ever chip an edge.

2. Concrete bricks & blocks

Larger format concrete bricks create quicker coverage and a clean, streamlined look for modern white brick homes. Factory additives improve freeze-thaw resistance in alpine regions.

3. Brick slips & veneers

At around 20 mm thick, brick slips give you the texture of brick without the weight—perfect for renovating an interior wall or fireplace surround. They also work well with structural walling systems, reducing seismic loads.

4. Reclaimed & tumbled

After character-rich texture? Reclaimed or tumbled white bricks introduce subtle chips, rounded corners and colour variation—great for accent walls that feel lived-in.

Sizing, patterns & textures

Standard NZ brick sizes hover around 230 × 110 × 70 mm, but elongated or oversize formats can visually stretch façades and cut laying time. Experiment with bonds—stack-bond for modern minimalism, herringbone for a statement entry, or try a Flemish bond on a white brick accent wall bedroom for extra depth.

Installation & compliance

All exterior brick veneer systems must comply with the NZ Building Code, particularly Clause E2 for external moisture. Ensure your installer follows the cavity, flashing and weep-hole details set out in the E2/AS1 Acceptable Solution. Proper detailing prevents moisture ingress and the appearance of white staining.

Maintenance & painting concerns

Wondering “should I paint my brick house white?” A factory-finished white brick is often lower maintenance than paint. Pigmented bricks won’t peel, and light water-blasting is usually all that’s needed to remove airborne grime.

Cost guide & next steps

Supply-only pricing ranges from $1.80 – $3.50 per brick for standard clay, and $120 – $180 per m² for premium brick slips. Installation adds roughly $70 – $110 per m², influenced by bond complexity and site access. To streamline budgets:

• Request multiple quotes directly from suppliers on ArchiPro.
• Order samples early to confirm colour, glaze and texture.
• Combine pallets across façade and landscape walls to reduce freight.

Pairing white bricks with complementary cladding can elevate the entire scheme. Explore timber cladding for warm contrast, or add sleek lines with metal cladding. For heritage renovations, blend brick with masonry and stone. Lightweight builds might combine bricks with fibre cement or composite cladding to meet weight limits. Add performance layers with pre-cladding systems, render plaster systems or concrete cladding panels. Detailed junctions matter, so don’t forget flashing penetrations, uPVC cladding trims, eaves and soffits, and glazed facade systems where you transition to glass. Screening options such as facade screens, exterior decorative mouldings, and green facades help soften large white planes, while traditionalists may prefer weatherboard cladding or timber shingles for gables.

Ready to start? Visit our Cladding & Facades hub to see how white bricks fit within the broader envelope of your project, then shortlist suppliers that align with your style, budget and timeline.