A New York creator filmed a worker giving a wall a brick-like appearance without actually laying traditional bricks. The unusual technique sparked debate about how much modern construction has changed. Some called it a construction catfish, while others argued that less expensive alternatives to traditional materials are simply part of building today.
Posted to TikTok by @mstoyamonique, who also goes by LaToya Monique, the video shows a worker applying a brick pattern to a wall in New York. The creator reacts right away. “This is not real brick. Only in New York,” she says, sounding baffled.
She asks to see how he does it, then realizes the brick appearance is created on the wall rather than built with traditional bricks. The worker asks if she likes it, and she admits, “Yeah, it looks good,” before the clip ends.
While the finished wall may look unusual to viewers expecting traditional brickwork, brick-like exterior finishes don’t necessarily indicate poor construction. Modern buildings can use brick veneer and other decorative masonry systems instead of full structural brick walls. The short video doesn’t provide enough information to determine exactly what material or technique the New York worker was using.
TikTok Chimes In
The faux-brick reveal immediately had viewers debating. “What in the catfish,” one wrote. Others argued that real brick is part of New York’s identity and questioned whether builders were cutting corners by using alternatives to traditional brick. Another debated that, saying, “It’s literally called the concrete jungle not the brick jungle.”
One commenter said they’d noticed the same thing on a new building before, recalling how they knocked on the brick themselves to see if it was real. Another said they also weren’t surprised, noting, “Luxury has become particle boards and vinyl. Things like solid wood furniture are pretty much a thing of the past. Everything is being substituted for cheaper alternatives.”
Others pointed out that this isn’t anything new or unique to New York. “Y’all, they haven’t been using brick for a half century,” one commenter argued. Someone else said Florida does the same thing, even painting fake brick red.
Some viewers defended the practice. One explained, “well brick laying is way more expensive and the workers that do it use a lot of energy to get it done. cheaper version. as close as you’re going to get it.” Another argued that modern construction is more cost-effective, faster, and built to last. The commenter also claimed modern construction methods can reduce heating costs and help keep buildings cooler during summer.
Whatever technique the worker was using, it apparently passed at least one important test. After watching him create the brick-like finish, even LaToya had to admit, “Yeah, it looks good.” Whether viewers see it as clever modern construction or a brick “catfish,” the wall looked convincing enough to spark an argument.
