The construction method hiding inside your walls.
Reverse brick veneer places insulation on the outside and thermal mass on the inside. It is the foundation of how we achieve 9 to 10 star NatHERS ratings in Perth's climate, and most builders do not offer it.
Standard construction, flipped
In a conventional Perth home, the brickwork sits on the outside and lightweight plasterboard lines the inside. Insulation is tucked into the cavity between them.
Reverse brick veneer does the opposite. The brickwork goes on the inside, where it acts as thermal mass, absorbing warmth during the day and releasing it slowly through the evening.
Insulation wraps the outside of the structure, creating a barrier between the external temperature and the thermal mass within.
The effect is a home that holds a stable, comfortable temperature with far less reliance on heating and cooling. It is the same principle used in heritage stone buildings that stay cool in summer and warm in winter, applied with modern materials and detailing.
The difference, in cross section
Both walls use the same materials. The order changes everything.
Standard double brick
External brick absorbs heat through the day. By evening it radiates that heat inward through the cavity and into the room.
Reverse brick veneer
Insulation stops heat at the outer skin. The internal brick stores indoor temperature, evening out swings between day and night.
Two methods, one result
Reverse brick veneer is powerful on its own. Combined with passive solar design, orientation, cross-ventilation, high-performance glazing and a continuous insulation envelope, the result is consistently between 9 and 10 star NatHERS.
This is the combination that sits behind our highest-rated builds. The construction method does the heavy lifting in the background, while passive solar design shapes how the home feels day to day.
It is our signature approach and the reason our results sit well above what most Perth builders achieve.
It is not difficult. It is different.
Reverse brick veneer is not new technology. It has been well-understood for decades. The reason most Perth builders do not offer it is straightforward. It requires a different construction sequence, different detailing and tradespeople who know how to get it right.
Standard double-brick is what Perth builders have always done. It is familiar, efficient to build and does not require rethinking the approach. Reverse brick veneer requires more careful coordination between trades, particularly around the insulation and cladding sequence.
We have built with reverse brick veneer across dozens of projects. For us, it is standard practice. For our clients, it is a measurable performance advantage.
Common questions about reverse brick veneer
The questions we hear most from people considering a reverse brick veneer home in Perth.
It usually costs slightly more, primarily because of the higher specification insulation and the more careful coordination between trades. The premium is modest compared to the long-term gains in comfort and running costs. We are upfront about the trade-offs from the first conversation.
It can. The outside is a finished cladding rather than face brick, which opens up more options. Painted weatherboard, render, timber, fibre cement, even brick slip. The choice is yours and is part of the design process.
Only if you want to. The internal brick can be plastered for a clean finish, or left exposed as a feature wall in the right rooms. Some clients combine both, with painted brick in living areas and plaster elsewhere.
Most of our clients describe two things. The temperature stays steady from morning to night without constant adjustment, and the difference between the hottest and coolest rooms shrinks. Heating and cooling bills typically drop significantly compared to a standard build of the same size.
Yes. The construction sequence is different but the principle is the same. We have built two-storey reverse brick veneer homes that perform as strongly as our single-storey work.
Want to build with reverse brick veneer?
Tell us about your block and how you want to live in your home. We will let you know how reverse brick veneer could work for your project.
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