which, depending on the density of the clay, are manufactured using hard or soft mud processes. Handmade bricks are often the preferred
choice for self-builders because of the sheer quality they bring to a property. Individually made, with no two bricks exactly the same, they are the most expensive to produce, but their mellow variable tones, rough textures and their uneven creases and ‘smiles’ give them immense character. Volume produced machine made or wirecut
bricks use more cost-effective modern automated processes and therefore are cheaper to buy. However, they tend to be more regular and uniform in appearance with a sharp edged smoother-faced finish. Although they may be tumbled, artificially stained or weathered to cre- ate a distressed or reclaimed look, they fail to recreate the idiosyncratic charm of a genuine hand-thrown brick. Stock bricks, which are made using a ‘soft
mud’ process, tend to be more expensive than wirecut bricks, but they have an attractive mellow finish and can sometimes be irregular in shape. Other brick types include common bricks,
which are not used as facing bricks, being more suitable for garden walls and outbuildings, and engineering bricks, they are highly durable and moisture resistant are generally used for below groundwork and damp-proof courses.
[
The best starting point when
specifying bricks is to consider the architectural style and the character of the region
When choosing your type of brick, the ]
quality, appearance and relative costs need to be carefully considered. Handmade bricks may be up to £200 per 1,000 more expensive than machine made bricks, so for a house costing £400,000 to build, 20,000 bricks may cost an additional £4,000. This equates to only 1 per cent of the property’s overall value, whereas the bricks amount to 95 per cent of its entire appearance.
Respecting the regional architecture
The best starting point when specifying bricks is to consider the architectural style and the character of the region, particularly if you are building in a conservation area or in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). In centuries gone by, brick making was
entirely a regional matter with most towns having their own brickworks. As they were gen- erally made by hand on site from locally dug clay, bricks from one part of the country would often have a different tone and texture from those made in another region. We still see these regional differences today.
For example, bold red bricks tend to be com- mon in the north of the country, blue toned bricks are typical of the Midlands, oranges in Lincolnshire and creams and yellows are pre- dominantly seen in Cambridge and London.
Stock bricks such as those manufactured in Hertfordshire and the Home Counties tradition- ally use the soft local clay that produces mellow Multis that range from flaming orange through to subtle grey browns. When building your home it is important to
respect these regional differences. In fact, if you are building or extending a home in a conser- vation area, planners will usually insist on a local reclaims (often expensive and in short supply) or handmade bricks – or at the very least a very local-looking ‘brick-matched’ alter- native. If in doubt it is always worth sending some sample boards to your local planning office for approval.
Being creative with brick
The beauty of brick for the self-builder is its potential for creativity. Depending on your budget and the style of property you are building, you can incorporate decorative fea- tures and interesting brick bonds to make your home truly unique. The bond or pattern of the brickwork most
commonly used today is the ‘stretcher bond’, because it is cheap and easy to lay and suited to cavity wall construction. More elaborate bonds such as ‘Flemish’, ‘English’ or ‘English Garden Wall’, often found on historic properties that were built with solid walls, are a very attrac- tive alternative particularly for traditional styled
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selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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