3a Spencer Park, Wandsworth, London by MG Architects
Fired up about brick’s creative potential
That most traditional British method of masonry house construction, good old-fashioned brick, remains popular with self-builders. As the Brick Development Association’s Andrew Eagles says, that’s down to the material’s creative flexibility as well as its aesthetics and durability
builders in the UK, with around 70 per cent of people building their own homes choosing masonry methods. Brick in particular is a popular choice for specification of the building facade in many self-build projects. Its longevity is one valuable attribute compared with other facade materi- als – such as render – which often fail to main- tain such a high level of performance over long periods of time, tending to be more adversely affected by the British climate. Many facing bricks (those that are designed for the facade of a building) are specifically designed to resist the damaging effects of frost and rain in exposed areas. The brick treatment used also has the benefit of giving them excellent thermal perform- ance. But for most owners, the appeal of brick stems from its aesthetically pleasing qualities and its surprising ability to be manipulated for an almost infinite number of designs.
A
ccording to the Traditional Housing Bureau, brick and block construction remains the most popular method for self-
[ Creative potential
An unlimited range of shapes such as arches, curves, angles, plinths and decorative columns can be achieved using brick, adding value and injecting personality into a property
Indeed, many self-builders are attracted by the potential for creativity that brick provides. They can embrace these possibilities in a host of ways, depending on their budget – even incorporating decorative motifs and innovative brick patterns. While the familiar stretcher bond is the most commonly seen in house construction, due to its cost-efficiency and easiness for laying, other more complex and attractive bonds including Flemish, English and English Garden Wall are possible; these are often found on historic buildings. Additionally, building designs from the past
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can inspire patterns for contemporary self-builds, such as herringbone or diaper (which comprises repeating diamonds). An unlimited range of shapes such as arches, curves, angles, plinths and decorative columns can also be achieved using brick, adding value and injecting personality into a property.
selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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