Reclaimed Versus New Bricks: Making the Right Choice for Your Project
When choosing between reclaimed and new bricks for your project, understanding the practical differences will help you make the right decision for your specific requirements. Here, we compare the benefits of each to help you make your mind up.
Structural Performance: Strength and Durability Factors
The structural integrity of your building project demands careful consideration of brick performance characteristics. New bricks come with certified strength ratings, frost resistance measures and dimensional consistency that is guaranteed to meet modern building standards.
Reclaimed bricks present a more complex performance profile. Having already weathered decades or centuries of exposure, those that remain intact have essentially passed the test of time. However, this selection bias means that available reclaimed stock often represents the strongest survivors rather than the average performance.
Frost resistance particularly varies among reclaimed bricks, with those salvaged from internal walls potentially lacking the durability for external applications.
Character Versus Consistency
The aesthetic choice between reclaimed and new bricks fundamentally shapes your project's visual identity. Reclaimed bricks carry distinctive patinas, slight dimensional variations, and weathering patterns that are impossible to replicate artificially. Each brick tells a story through its unique colouration and wear patterns, creating walls with depth and character particularly appropriate for heritage buildings or projects seeking authentic period charm.
New bricks offer precise colour matching, clean edges and consistent dimensions that create a more uniform, contemporary appearance. Modern manufacturing allows for extensive colour and texture options, from traditional handmade effects to sleek, contemporary finishes. For projects where aesthetic control and predictability matter—particularly in modern architectural contexts—this consistency represents a significant advantage.
Your architectural vision should determine which aesthetic better serves your project's purpose and context.
Practical Project Factors: Availability, Cost and Installation
Practical considerations often prove decisive in the reclaimed versus new brick debate. New bricks benefit from established supply chains with reliable availability, consistent pricing, and predictable lead times. Their dimensional consistency also streamlines installation, potentially reducing labour costs compared to working with variable reclaimed materials.
Reclaimed bricks present sourcing challenges, with availability fluctuating based on demolition projects. Prices have risen substantially, and installation requires more experienced bricklayers who are comfortable working with dimensional variations, potentially increasing labour costs while also demanding longer project timelines.
For time-sensitive projects with strict budgetary constraints, new bricks typically offer more predictable outcomes. However, for projects where character and environmental credentials justify additional investment, reclaimed bricks deliver a unique value.
Brick Selector
Whichever type of brick you’re looking for, Modular Clay Products can help you find the ideal one for your commercial building or extension. We have a Brick Finder tool on this website where – to save you scrolling across our thousands of brick pages – you can narrow down your selection by choosing the brick colour, texture and speciality.
What’s more, you can directly compare your selection with another one to view all the specifications in one window.
This tool has helped our clients decide on which brick to use for their building, which we can then tailor to find the most suitable, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing solution for them. Give us a call to find out more.