Is it Better to Use Reclaimed or Handmade Bricks?
Architects and commercial designers often debate the choice of using handmade bricks or reclaimed bricks. When it comes to developing a new commercial project or renovation, it’s one thing to choose materials that will help them achieve the aesthetic they want. Clay facing bricks are substantially more advantageous than others, such as concrete blocks or render.
Architects need to look a little deeper, beyond merely choosing bricks or brick slips for an exterior commercial wall. There are thousands upon thousands of clay brick variations, with deviations in their colour, texture, dimensions and even conventional shape.
Here, Modular Clay Products will delve a little further into both reclaimed and handmade brick types, how easy it is to get hold of them and how we, as commercial brick suppliers, can help make it easier for you.
What are Handmade Bricks?
A handmade brick consists of clay, sand and shale in more or less the same proportions that you would find in machine-made (stock) bricks. The only difference is that the clay and shale are hand-formed in sand moulds, which are subsequently turned. They are then fired, once the mixture has thoroughly dried. As it can with other products, the brick manufacturing process can be adjusted to achieve the designer, engineer or architects’ specifications.
Domestic and commercial buildings have used high-quality handmade bricks for centuries, and that trend doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon.
What are Reclaimed Bricks?
Considering the vast range of bricks out there available on the market, from blue engineering bricks to red clay facing bricks, from white brick slips to grey clay brick pavers, there are benefits of having them cut to specific dimensions.
Primarily, these standard sizes are easier for builders to work with. If the modular bricks are too small, they use too much mortar, which adds to the overall cost. Contrastingly, labour slows down if bricks are too big as they are more difficult to move around.
By using these UK brick sizes, the majority of projects can be completed smoothly. Having these standard dimensions helps you to identify how many bricks are needed and how long it will take to lay them, ahead of time.
Modular Clay Products can supply bricks in standard UK sizes, andbut thanks to our partnerships with many leading manufacturers across the world, we can source specials in specific other dimensions if you require them. See our latest case study on how we helped architects Stanton Williams obtain a German-sized brick for the Zayed Centre for Research in London.
What Should I Look for in Bricks?
Using reclaimed bricks could tick the box for many architects looking for something sustainable. Still, there is plenty of evidence suggesting that bricks, regardless of origin, are incredibly environmentally-friendly. So where does that leave architects wanting to narrow down their brick choices?
There are plenty of reasons for choosing either reclaimed or handmade bricks, and there is no right or wrong choice necessarily.
You need to consider the following:
- Colour – reclaimed bricks have been manufactured at one point, sometimes upwards of hundreds of years ago, which means choosing a consistent colour scheme is complicated. Whereas with new handmade or machine-made bricks, the colour is guaranteed to be consistent all around.
- Texture – each handmade brick, when manufactured, has a unique texture that differentiates from its counterparts. The same can be said for reclaimed bricks, noticeable by their irregularities. When sourced, even though they may be treated as a way of freshening them up slightly, reclaimed bricks all have their individual nuances too. So, if it’s uniqueness you’re looking for, both these brick types are excellent.
- Size – ordering with brick suppliers like Modular Clay Products allows you to get handmade bricks in various sizes. In contrast, it’s difficult to predict exactly what size all the bricks in a reclamation facility will be.
- Durability – bricks are naturally durable, resistant and sturdy, no matter how long they are used for, or how long ago they were manufactured. Brick strength never wanes over time. Therefore, you know whichever type you choose, it will withstand a very long time.
- Cost – reclaimed bricks are more expensive to source, due to the labour costs associated with sourcing them, matching them to existing brickwork and laying them individually. Handmade bricks have the costs of manufacturing and, in some cases, precasting costs. But this can significantly reduce build time and alleviate large amounts of labour costs. For accurate prices, speak to Modular Clay Products’ sales team.