It's been a very long time since brick or stone were commonly used as structural elements in US houses. For decades, houses have typically been stick-frame, per

It's been a very long time since brick or stone were commonly used as structural elements in US houses. For decades, houses have typically been stick-frame, perhaps with brick or stone used for the facade. In such cases, the brick or stone is serving merely as cladding for the house just as siding would. Brick or stone facades are typically more expensive than wood or fiber cement sidings but the choice of the former rather than the latter is based on aesthetics, not intrinsic quality. There are definitely high-quality and attractive houses that have no brick or stone. For example, this older house was re-clad with fiber cement siding and it's appropriate for the character of the house: http://www.fibercement-siding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fiber-cement-siding3.jpg http://www.fibercement-siding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09...