If you needed another reason to choose brick as your primary building material – here’s three.
A+ Green Guide rating.
The BRE’s latest Green Guide to specification assigned the highest possible accreditation A+ to every external wall it rated that contained brickwork. The scoring runs from A+, the best (or having the least environmental impact), down to E, the worst (or having the greatest environmental impact).
Brick Development Association ad campaign promoting the highest possible accreditaion rating obtained by brickwork.
500+ year lifespan.
Research undertaken by Adrian Bown from Leeds Metropolitan University of 860 homes found that brick structures can have a lifespan of 500 years or more. The recent survey found that “…under the right circumstances clay bricks have the potential to remain serviceable up to 650 years. This is approximately the time at which clay brickwork was first introduced to the UK from the continent.”
In sharp contrast, some of the lightweight panelised homes now being constructed have a design life of 50 years or less. “There is evidence all around us that brick only gets better and better with age. Maintenance is minimal – repointing may be necessary after 68 years for cavity walls and 113 years for solid walls. In contrast to other materials, brick will not rot, rust, erode or decay. Wind and rain and snow will not damage it, weather merely mellows it.”.
Brick Development Association ad campaign promoting the envious lifespan provided by brickwork
Brickwork costs less.
An investigation by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found that, against a line-up of popular finishes for the external skin, installed brickwork beat just about all of them on price. There is a popular misconception, fuelled by the off-site lobby that brickwork is an expensive external finish, but the RICS study clearly concludes that brick is a competitive option for the external skin. Brick has long been a favourite amongst architects, developers and the public. It’s warm and humanising character brings buildings to life. An external brick wall adds scale, colour and texture blending so easily and naturally with its surroundings.
For more information on each of the above points:
BDA (Brick Development Association).
Brick Development Association ad campaign dispelling the myths of expensive brickwork construction costs.
