I had a company rebuild the upper few rows of my chimney last summer. I approved a brick sample but I can't help but notice the bricks aren't an exact match. Why do the new bricks look different now that they're on the chimney?
Answer
The new bricks look different because they haven’t been weathered by years of sun, rain, dirt, and freezing like the old ones. Older bricks naturally darken and dull over time, while new bricks start out cleaner and brighter. Brick color can also vary because it’s made from natural materials, so although “technically” it’s an exact match in color, texture, and manufacturer, there may be some subtle differences. Homeowners experience this when selecting paint for a room. The color sample on a piece of cardboard doesn’t always look exactly the same when an entire room is painted with the same color, even though it is the same color.
The top of the chimney makes the difference stand out more because the new bricks, when grouped together next to the older bricks that have been exposed to the sun, weather, and other elements in the air, make it easier to tell which bricks are brand new. Over time, the new bricks usually blend in, and the difference becomes much less obvious.
