Can thin brick be added to a house front in Barrhaven?

Thin brick can be added to a house front in Barrhaven, but how the system is assessed under the Ontario Building Code depends on what "thin brick" means in your case.

The Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, s.9.20.6.4) says masonry veneer units shall be not less than 70 mm thick. Thin brick is thinner than that. Section 9.20.6.6 covers slab and panel facings of natural or artificial stone and directs those to a Part 4 structural design under s.4.3.2. Thin brick is a different product, and we found no Building Code clause that places it squarely in either category. Ask the City of Ottawa how the system you are considering is assessed before work begins.

A few things shape what the job involves and what a quote should cover. An air space behind masonry veneer is required by the Code (s.9.20.6.4: not less than 25 mm over wood frame), and flashing and weep holes are required at the base of the cavity so moisture that collects in the air space can drain out (s.9.20.13.3, s.9.20.13.8). Corrosion-resistant ties are required at maximum spacings of 400 mm by 800 mm, 500 mm by 600 mm, or 600 mm by 400 mm (s.9.20.9.5). Whether a thin brick system can meet those requirements the same way full-depth veneer does is a question for the mason and possibly an engineer.

A written quote for this work should spell out the product and its thickness, how it attaches to the wall (mechanical ties, adhesive, a proprietary panel system), what happens at windows and doors, how flashing and drainage are handled, mortar type and joint profile, and cleanup and disposal.

There are too few published prices for thin brick systems to quote a range; ask each contractor for a line-item breakdown so quotes are easy to compare.

Because the Code classification for thin brick is not straightforward, the right first call is to the City's building permit staff, who can tell you whether the system you have in mind needs a permit and how it is reviewed.