The Silly and the Crazy
Why things go wrong.
Whether you purchase your bricks from us or elsewhere, we want you to achieve the result you’re aiming for, and ultimately, we want to see more people choosing brick. Here, we highlight some of the most common mistakes made when selecting, ordering, laying and caring for bricks. The good news is that almost all of them are simple to avoid with a little knowledge and planning.
If you know which brick you want, order it. Don’t assume your chosen bricks will simply be sitting in stock waiting for you a week before they are needed. Bricks can have significant lead times, and availability can change quickly.
Ideally, your bricks should be ordered as soon as your DA is approved and your selection is confirmed. Don’t rely solely on your builder to manage this. Find out the lead time yourself, confirm that the order has been placed and make sure production and delivery are aligned with your construction schedule.
You may spend months choosing the right brick for your home. Don’t leave ordering until the last minute and find yourself settling for your second choice simply because your first choice isn’t available.
There is a wealth of information available to help you better understand bricks and brickwork, much of it available right here on our website. Taking the time to become informed can make a significant difference to the finished result, while a lack of understanding can easily lead to disappointing outcomes. Most importantly, don’t assume that everyone involved in your project understands bricks simply because they work with them.
Not all bricks are the same. Different bricks can require different laying methods, mortar techniques, handling and cleaning procedures. Don’t assume your builder or bricklayer has worked with every type of brick before. They haven’t.
Take the time to understand the bricks you have chosen and any specific requirements that come with them. The more informed you are, the better equipped you are to communicate those requirements to everyone involved in your project. A little knowledge before the bricks are laid can prevent a lot of problems afterwards.
Clear communication and a thorough understanding of the product are the foundations of a successful brick façade. Simply selecting the bricks you admired in an Instagram post does not guarantee that your finished project will look the same.
A beautiful brick façade is the result of many elements working together, including the choice of brick, mortar colour, joint profile, brick bond, bricklaying workmanship, cleaning methods and the surrounding architectural design. Understanding these factors before construction begins is essential to achieving the result you are aiming for. None of this is covered in an Instagram post!
Come talk to us, come and see us. We can help. We know our bricks better than anyone, we have seen it all, the good, the bad, the ugly. When we can, we will give you advice for each brick.
All bricks are porous to some degree. They absorb moisture and can wick water through the masonry. Damp-proof courses (DPCs) are installed to create a physical barrier that prevents moisture from the ground travelling upward through the brickwork. Too many owners when landscaping their home ignore the damp proof course and landscape straight over it. What do we mean by landscaping, it includes, soil, mulch, paving and concrete. You can not landscape over the damp proof course!