Which bricks should I use for my project?

Much thought should go into selecting the bricks for any building project. As an integral, highly visible and permanent part of a building, the importance of bricks to your project cannot be overstated. This big decision will be influenced by many factors, some of which we will outline in this article to help ensure you consider all necessary elements.

Type of brick

The primary decision for your building project is likely to be the type of bricks that you use. This is not as simple a choice as it may first seem though. Some of the different aspects to consider include:

  • Type of brick: there are many different methods bricks can be made which result in different styles. Options include handmade, stock and machine made.
  • Colour: bricks come in a surprising amount of colourations, some being plain, some mixed. Brick tones covering the whole spectrum are possible.
  • Texture: texture of bricks is another area of choice. Creased, smooth and glazed finishes all give a different feel.
  • Age: bricks can be new or come from reclaimed sources. Reclaimed bricks offer the chance to match an extension or repair to older, existing buildings or just give a sense of character.


Regional styles

Particularly if your project is a large one, you may find you face planning restrictions on the type of acceptable building materials. Ensuring your project doesn’t jar with its surroundings can be greatly influenced by the type of brick used. Do your research into what brick types/colours are native to the area. For example, yellow toned bricks are more common in London and blue toned bricks are typical from the Midlands region.

Bricklaying pattern (‘bonds’)

The pattern your bricks are laid out in – known as brick ‘bonds’ – will affect the overall appearance of your build. The most simplistic bond style, which is often used in modern construction, is the stretcher bond. However, for a more visually interesting construction, using more traditional styles, consider using either a Flemish bond, English bond or English Garden Wall bond.

 

Numbers

Inevitably, costs and amounts will play a part in your final choice. In terms of amounts, some bricks can be harder to source. If you wish to use a specific reclaimed, regional brick, you may have a hard time sourcing a large amount of it. This would make it impractical to choose it to build a complete 5-bed house, for example. What’s more, the scale of your build and budget will also play a part in your brick selection. Expect new, machine made bricks to be cheapest and reclaimed or speciality bricks to be pricier.

 

London Reclaimed Brick Merchants is a very well-established brick merchant, specialising in high quality reclaimed bricks. We have a great range of materials – including speciality heritage bricks – which are available to customers across London and the Home Counties. Our bricks are hand picked by our professional team so you can rest assured you’re getting reliable, quality materials. For further information about our products, don’t hesitate to get in contact with our team.