Why you Should Consider Brick Slip Cladding
WHAT IS CLADDING?
It was always the agenda of architects Stanton Williams to bring increased visibility and awareness to the innovative, life-changing paediatric research and science that's being carried out on rare diseases. London's Knowledge Quarter is home to some of the world's leading science and research centres, such as Coram's Fields (the former site of the Foundling Hospital) which itself is synonymous with children's welfare.
In a prominent public area that is known for its rich modern architecture, the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children was developed by Stanton Williams. The development needed to fit in seamlessly with the surrounding structures while offering its own aesthetic qualities. Modular Clay Products were given the task of finding a brick solution that had to meet very specific criteria and dimensions.
BRICK SLIP CLADDING
We’ve previously explored what brick slips are, common question and answers, as well as why they can be useful for commercial buildings. To summarise, brick slips, sometimes called slip bricks, are thin layers of traditional facing brick, and have a similar aesthetic appearance. Much like clay bricks, they are available in a wide range of colours, designs and styles.
It’s through partnerships with leading brick manufacturers that Modular Clay Products can distribute anything from handmade brick slips with long format dimensions to glazed brick slips with a stock texture.
Brick cladding has proven to be an incredibly popular solution for architects and designers, and brick suppliers like Modular Clay Products have, over the years, provided solutions to bring architectural concepts and visions to life. Brick slip systems, while not structural, offer considerable benefits to a commercial building, both aesthetically and practically. Below are just a few reasons why.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BRICK SLIP CLADDING?
Less maintenance
One significant advantage of the cladding process is that the building requires far less maintenance down the line. Most types of brick cladding just require washing to keep its vibrant appearance looking pristine.
Provides great reinforcement
Brick slip cladding systems help the structure resist being damaged or tainted by extreme weather conditions, which also prevents cracking. Buildings that incorporate brick cladding are also more resistant to humidity, mould and damage caused by pollution. Given the properties of brick (and brick slips, by extension), and how robust it is as a material, it offers much in the way of reinforcement.
Aesthetic value
Considering you can get grey brick slips, red brick slips and just about any other colour you can think of, the look of a building can be substantially enhanced by using these products. Fitting bright, vibrant and textured brick cladding panels onto a plain, ordinary-looking structure can transform its visual appearance, and give it much more of a ‘wow factor’.
Eco-friendly
Architects should take environmental impact into consideration regarding buildings. All buildings should meet specific regulations to be deemed fit for purpose, and the materials should ideally be sustainable. Brick cladding helps to minimise carbon dioxide emissions leaving the building (emitted via central heating), while also provides excellent natural insulation of the building itself.
Increased internal insulation
On that note, depending on the brick cladding thickness, it will offer higher levels of insulation within a structure. Not just in terms of heat, but also noise, which is ideal for commercial buildings in densely-populated, urban areas. This will also help to keep the building warmer in winter, with the extra layer of protection making it easier to regulate temperatures, ultimately leading to lower energy bills.
Many of the same practical benefits of brick
We’ve previously touched on the advantages of clay bricks, and brick slips offer much of the same. The only difference is that slips do not have any load-bearing capabilities; they cannot be used to support a structure on their own. All slip bricks are moulded and fired the same way as clay facing bricks, which means they still retain the same level of quality and an appearance that is often indistinguishable from standard bricks. These products can work for a feature wall, external wall and are cost-effective.