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3A Spencer Park is a new build house in Wandsworth. Situated in a conservation area the building replaced a modest 1960s house with a large four bedroom property with generous living spaces and
Before deciding on a specific brick type, it is always important to take inspiration from the local architecture of the area
a double height basement dining room. The building has achieved a code for sustainable homes level 3 with green technologies like ground source heat pump providing the buildings heating requirements.
] Which brick to choose?
There are two predominant types of facing brick; the volume-manufactured and the more traditional handmade variety. When choosing their facing bricks, self-builders are often drawn to the distinctive aesthetics of handmade bricks with their unique character. Being individually made, no two handmade bricks are the same, with each having variable tones, texture and creases or ‘smiles,’ which can make a home look truly stunning. However, if you are working to a tight
budget, there may be economic advantages to specifying mass produced manufactured bricks, which tend to be wire cut. These are now available in a wide choice of consistently produced colours and textures, with the precision of modern automated processes making them more regular and uniform in appearance. Despite this, several manufacturers also pro- duce not only genuine handmade bricks in the
age-old fashion, but have also developed highly sophisticated weathering techniques, which have enabled them to replicate some of the characteristics of handmade bricks across their wire cut ranges.
Local vernacular
Before deciding on a specific brick type, it is always important to take inspiration from the local architecture of the area. Planning committees often insist on using a closely matched reclaimed brick or an alternative which has been matched to the surrounding architecture.
The benefits of brick for individual house construction:
• It has an attractive appearance that offers a wide range of colour, texture and pattern
• Brickwork masonry is versatile and its architectural character can reflect historical, traditional and modern design aesthetics
• Brickwork ages well and in many cases its appearance improves with age
• Brickwork has an exceedingly long service life. There are many good historical examples spanning several centuries. Bricks are often reclaimed for reuse because they are still valued as good looking and durable
• Maintenance costs are minimal; brickwork does not require routine clean- ing or surface treatment. After considerable service – 60 years or more – some mortar joints may deteriorate due to harsh weather and require repointing, but it’s not inevitable
• Compared with alternative materials providing external walls, the cost of brick is modest as is the cost of bricklaying
• Brickwork masonry is a well developed construction system that is well understood and capable of providing attractive and economical buildings
In the past, most towns would have their own brickworks, naturally tending to serve a small geographical radius due to the difficulty of transporting heavy bricks. As a result brick colour, style and formation would vary across different areas, giving each area a distinctive look, because locally dug clay tends to vary depend- ing on the local geological climate. These differences in local brick colouration
can still be observed today by those with keen eyes. Houses tend to have bold red bricks in the north, whereas blue-toned bricks are the norm in the Midlands, orange hues are common to Lincolnshire, and yellow and cream-tinted bricks are prevalent in Cambridge and London.
Project considerations
Whatever your preference, all bricks should meet British Standards, including F2 – the max- imum level of frost resistance – as this will enable your brickwork to maintain maximum quality against harsh weather conditions. It can also be easy to make a mistake and underestimate the number of bricks you need for the build. When deciding quantities, the project manager must bear in mind potential brick wastage (up to five per cent), in addition to outbuildings and garden walls which are easy to forget when making calculations. Lead times must also be taken into account; these can vary by brick type and manufacturer, as special shapes and bespoke versions often take longer to supply than traditional or common brick. Building a new home is inevitably about balancing cost with quality and aspiration with practicality. It’s easy to compromise on things you can change later, such as the design of the kitchen or the layout of the garden, but bear in mind one key thing – the brickwork you choose will remain for the whole life of the building, so choose carefully!
Andrew Eagles is CEO of the Brick Development Association
Enq. 206 56 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
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