With more and more homeowners undertaking rear and side extensions to their property, don’t get too lost in the Party Wall Surveying Procedures, Planning Applications and Building Regulations! Remember the build can also be a sustainable one!
We thought we would look at some sustainable build techniques. When bricks are properly maintained they will have a life span that will stretch far beyond traditional materials. Furthermore, many feel that their appearance is far greater than that of alternative materials.
Reclaimed bricks use is the process whereby when a building is demolished the bricks that are still ‘useable’ will be collected, reconditioned, whereby any pointing or vegetative growth is removed. They will then be sold in the same way that conventional brick is sold, per brick or per tonne.
Reclaimed bricks offer a number of benefits that newer brick does not, there are a lot of cases whereby a wall may have to be rebuilt; if new brick was used the wall would have a miss match effect, and the newer sections would clearly standout. However, in using reclaimed brick this is usually reduced to a point whereby it is unnoticeable.
The benefits of this have been used in many new builds toady; thereby giving the appearance that they have been in situ for years. It was also a once favoured method of the planning authorities, although now they lean towards distinguishing the newer and older parts of the building through its design.
Reclaimed bricks obviously involve a lot more man hours in preparing them; they will be hand selected from the rubble; then reconditioned, then repackaged and sold on. This has its effects on the price, on average reclaimed bricks are 10-15% depending upon the rarity and style of brick.
On a large build the difference in cost will quickly start to stand out, however, even so the appearance and character achieved through reclaimed brick soon outweighs the cost!
In practice, the main issue in wholly using reclaimed brick will be the supply, with new bricks an unlimited amount of material can be ordered almost at anytime, whereas with reclaimed brick the supply will be very much dictated by the supply of the seller.
You might also find that reclaimed bricks are a planning approval consideration, so do give the added costs some thought as early in the process as you can!
If you’re planning a build and would like to find out if the Party Wall Surveying procedures apply, give our team of Party Wall Surveyors a call today and we will be happy to help.
