Little Brick Book

11153 Little Brick Book cover
7/9/05
11:46 AM
Page 1
THE
LITTLE BOOK
OF
BIG BRICK
IDEAS
Brought to you by the Clay Brick and Paver Institute.
11153 Little Brick Book text
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 1
CONTENTS
BrickHomes.
2. Built for Living. Built for Life.
6.
The four principles of planning for

a comfortable home.
16. Bricks. A natural choice.
20. Express yourself.
The safest material for the

28. Australian environment.
32. The most comfortable way to live.
Welcome home.
As you plan for your new home, we invite you to consider the advantages of brick.
This little book is full of big ideas as well as hints, facts, and figures to help make
your decision easier. Its brought to you by the Clay Brick and Paver Institute under
the BrickHomes banner.
36. The weekends are for living.
38. Is a brick home more expensive?
42. Your architect, builder, designer, and you.
7/9/05
BrickHomes.
Built for Living.
Built for Life.
11:40 AM
Page 2
The decisions you make in building a

new home will impact on your life for
years. 95% of Australians agree that
brick makes a home feel strong and
secure*. 96% of Australians agree that
a brick home makes financial sense
over the long term*. But beyond the
figures lies the truth that peace of mind
is priceless.
*Newspoll, April 2005
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 4
A home built from brick makes sense

for all kinds of reasons.
Brick is permanent. Once its built it
remains weatherproof and age proof.
Brick doesnt get tired like man-made
materials, so it requires virtually no
upkeep or repairs. It means you can
enjoy your home without wasting time

and money on maintenance. Bricks
dont rust or erode, rot or decay, bend,
twist or warp. Brick is a great protector
against the extremes of the Australian
climate heat and cold. And wherever
you live, a brick home is a quiet home
because of its proven acoustic properties.

How long does brick last? You cant
compare it to other materials.
And well over a century. Thats why the
Great Wall of China is still looking great.
And thats after 2,300 years or so.
7/9/05
1. Orientation
A brick home that is well positioned on
its site delivers significant benefits.
It makes it more comfortable to live in.
With good orientation and passive solar
design the need for auxiliary heating
and cooling is reduced, resulting in lower
energy bills and reduced greenhouse
emissions. With careful attention to
design, maximise the orientation of your
house on your block to achieve an
energy efficient home.
11:40 AM
Page 6
The ideal orientation for living areas is

within the range of 15W-20E of true or
solar north. This allows standard eaves
overhangs to admit winter sun to heat
the building and exclude summer sun
with no effort from you, and no
additional cost.
15
20
The 4 principles of
planning for a comfortable home.
7/9/05
2. Insulation
Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow
and is essential to keep your home
warm in winter and cool in summer
providing year-round comfort, cutting
cooling and heating bills. This in turn
will reduce greenhouse emissions.
The insulation properties of brick are
recognised by the Building Code of
Australia, which permits, in some climate
zones, an exemption from adding wall
insulation in cavity brickwork buildings.
3. Ventilation
Being able to open your home up to warm
spring breezes after a cold spell and a
cool change after a summer heat wave
is a critical design element in any home.
A key feature is cross ventilation.
Opening windows and doors on one side
of the home to let the cool change in is
much more effective if you open the
same number of windows and doors on
the other side of the house to let the
air flow through.
Cross ventilation in a design can be
helped by ensuring free flowing air
passages right through a home are not
obstructed by internal walls and trapped
in closed off rooms.
Consideration should be given to the
prevailing weather/wind conditions of each
site to ensure ventilation is optimized.
11:40 AM
Page 8
4. Thermal mass
Thermal mass is the ability of a material
to absorb heat energy. A lot of energy
is required to change the temperature of
high density materials like bricks.
They are therefore said to have high
thermal mass.
Appropriate use of thermal mass
throughout a home can make a big
difference to comfort and heating and
cooling. Thermal mass is particularly
beneficial in most Australian climates
where there is a big difference between
day and night outdoor temperatures.
8 10
HOURS
Correct use of thermal mass can delay

heat flow through the building envelope
by as much as 8 to 10 hours, producing
a warmer house in winter and a cooler
house during summer. And great savings
in airconditioning and heating costs.
9
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 10
Brick provides the link between this

new building and the inner urban
streetscape. The clean smooth brick
facade adds to the contemporary
design yet its a material that has
a human scale that people trust.
10
11
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 12
Energy efficient design

These days its vital that we apply good design principles to
everyday living. Energy is a crucial factor in responsible home
building and it can result in considerable everyday savings.
Passive solar heating
Passive solar heating works by trapping heat which is absorbed
and stored by materials with high thermal mass, such as bricks.
This stored heat is released at night when it is needed to offset
heat losses from lower outdoor temperatures.
Well positioned internal brick walls will act like thermal batteries
charging up with heat during the day and re-releasing the heat at
night at no cost.
This will maximise winter heat gain, minimise winter heat loss and
concentrate warmth where it is most needed.
12
Passive cooling
All Australian climates require some degree of cooling.
Good design will help reduce or eliminate heat gains during the
day with sound building envelope design. The main elements of
design for passive cooling are:
Orientation for exposure to cooling breezes.
Increased natural ventilation by reducing barriers to air paths
through the building
Floor plan zoning to maximise comfort for daytime activities
and sleeping comfort
Appropriate windows and glazing to minimise unwanted
heat gains.
Eaves positioned to provide shade
Brick walls respond slowly to extreme hot/cold weather
conditions, moderating the internal temperature. This adds to
comfort and reduces the need for artificial cooling.
13
14
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 14
15
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 16
Clay bricks are of the earth.

Theyre made from clay and shale, have
virtually no emissions and are 100% safe.
Note: Many man-made building materials
can cause the syndrome known as
sick homes.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can
be released by new man-made products
such as particleboard and fibreboard,
as well as solvents, paints, strippers,
glues and preservatives. These can all
contribute to indoor air pollution.
But clay bricks are inert and allow a
home to breathe, creating a healthier
environment for you and the family.
Bricks. A natural choice.

16
17
7/9/05
11:40 AM
Page 18
Over the lifetime of your building material

only 5% of energy is taken up in its
manufacture. The other 95% of energy
is the cost of heating and cooling your
home and that has a direct impact on
the environment.
Using the measurement known as
Embodied Energy (energy consumed in
manufacture) of various building
materials, the CSIRO has concluded that
clay bricks have less Embodied Energy
than aluminium, steel, glass, particleboard
and even timber (Oregon).*
But Embodied Energy is only part of the
equation. Beyond that, to properly assess
the energy efficiency (or environmental
friendliness) of a home take a look at
the life cycle of building materials.
Clay bricks have an unsurpassed life
cycle a life of at least 100 years,
decades longer than all other materials.
And the environment is further protected
by bricks not needing man-made cladding
or coatings, painting or render.
*Source: CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology
18
19
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 20
Express Yourself
Because clay bricks are a natural material, made naturally in a kiln, each one
has a unique, natural character.
This allows you to design a home with a very distinctive character yours.
Your brick home never needs to be a cookie cutter copy.
20
There are more than 800 different brick colours, from the lightest of whites and
creams to the darkest blues and purples and an unlimited opportunity to blend or
accentuate. New generation colours offer a range of monochromatic tones for a more
subtle appearance.
21
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 22
Mortar
Generally the mortar represents about
15% of the total visible brickwork area
and can dramatically change the look of
the brick and your home. For example,
mortar coloured to match the brick will
give the impression of a large area of
one colour, whereas a contrasting
mortar colour will highlight the shape
and colour of the bricks. The overall
appearance is also determined by the
joint, with raked and rolled joints being
most commonly used to achieve the
character look in a new home.
22
The combinations are almost endless

which means you can proudly stamp
your style and individuality on your home.
Types of Mortar Joints
Raked
Rolled
Flush
Struck
New Rolled
23
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 24
Although the most common face brick

size is 230mm x 76mm x 110mm,
you can order square bricks, elongated
50 mm bricks, double height bricks or
modular sized bricks.
There are rounded bricks, bricks for
window sills, bricks for lintels, lightweight
bricks and accent bricks.
24
25
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 26
Texture.
An important
element
in home design.
When youre looking at colours for your

home design, make sure you also look
at texture. The right textured surface
can enhance a design and add a lot
of character to a new home.
Bricks come in many natural textures
that can set your home apart. Textures

can add contrast, or define a feature,
like an alcove, or porch. Textures can
bring out the natural colours of bricks.
Textures can add dimension throughout
a day as the sun highlights them.
Bricks give you so many textural choices.

And certainly many more than flimsier
materials. Here are just some of the
examples. From modern and sleek to
more traditional quarry styles.
Thrown bricks are cast in sawdust-lined

moulds which produce a rather unique
texture from Australias colonial times.
Smooth bricks have crisp, squared edges

and a very consistent texture.
Wire Cut bricks have straight edges with

a slightly rough texture on their face.
Hewn bricks have had their face specially

chipped to resemble masonry or
quarried stone.
Slurried bricks have a pigment on some

or all of the surfaces.
26
Tumbled bricks have a hand made

look, with round, uneven edges.
Rolled bricks can have a variety of

textures theyre treated with a patterned
cylinder prior to firing.
Its up to you and your architect,

designer or builder. Just tell them what
youre thinking of and ask them to show
you how it can look. Theres a brick for
every home in every suburb, town, city,
bush or beach. Theres a brick for every
style: colonial, Federation, contemporary,
Georgian, Mediterranean, single or
double storey.
Someone else designed your clothes,
and your car. With brick you get to be
the designer. Start drawing.
27
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 28
The safest material for

the Australian environment.
Even if youll be living
in a new estate, youll
appreciate the
protection of brick.
You can play cricket
with the kids, against the back wall. You
can mow safely without risking damage
from a stone or rock. You can rest a ladder
against it without a warp or a worry.
But beyond the everyday you only have
to think about the force of nature that
28
sweeps Australia each year to appreciate

the protection of brick. Were constantly
reminded of summer bushfires, droughts,
and downpours, spring floods and
cyclones, autumn hail and lightning
strikes, and winter gales and storms.
Each week there are fallen trees,
downed powerlines, washaways, and
dust storms. Theres even bricks made
to withstand severe coastal conditions,
including salt spray.
29
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 30
Then theres a list of our man-made

catastrophes just waiting to strike.
From runaway trucks to electrical fires,
from burst water pipes to flight path
shocks. A brick home is strong. In fact
its by far the most durable, strongest,
soundest building material in Australia.
No wonder home insurers ask if your
house is made from brick. And bricks
dont get attacked by pests termites
dont eat it, rats dont gnaw at it, birds
cant stain it.
And neighbours cant accidentally bbq it!
With brick your investment is safe.
30
31
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 32
The most comfortable

At the end of the day, its all about
being comfortable. A brick home rates
better than any other on liveableness.
The thermal mass of your new home is
critical to maximising the passive solar
benefits of your home.
Its the mass that stores temperature
it absorbs and releases temperature to
32
average out variations. Mass is only

achieved by using heavy, dense materials
like concrete and bricks. Of these, bricks
are the easiest and most flexible way to
build mass into the building.
Ask anyone who has lived in an all brick
home, its the mass of solid brick that
evens out the regular temperature
way to live.
fluctuations and keeps the home
comfortable for longer. Most peoples
Comfort Zone is between 19C and
24C and they only think about turning
on a heater or cooler outside this range.
Most Australians live in a temperate
climate and for the summer months and
most months of the year the temperature
oscillates between 10C and 38C from

night to day and in winter 4C to 22C
and from warm spells to a cool change.
A brick home stays warm when its cool
and cool when its warm so it reduces
the need and expense of artificial
heating and cooling, and overall makes
the home much more liveable.
33
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 34
The house is developed from a strong

street wall of glazed brick with an
inbuilt pattern in two shades of black,
which shelters the accommodation
from the major transport corridor to
the southlow-energy natural
materials are used throughout.
Peter Tonkin, Architect.
34
35
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 36
Repainting
The weekends are for living.
Contrast a brick home with any other

and youll soon see how much money
youll save on maintenance.
And how much more time youll have
for yourselves.
Brick never needs painting or cleaning.
It never rots, fades, peels or dents.
As a rule of thumb, any painted surface
will require regular repainting from 3 to 5
years for a regular quality paint, 7 to 10
years for a premium grade or acrylic paint.
It is generally true that after 7 years,
even the best painted surface will be
somewhat faded or tired-looking.
36
3 to 5 years for
a regular
quality paint
7 to 10 years for
a premium grade
or acrylic paint
37
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 38
Is a brick home more expensive?
No.
Your home is the largest investment of
your life, so you need to consider costs
over the short term, and over the long
term.
Save on building costs
A brick home is comparable to building
a home from other materials. So youre
ahead before you even move in.
Save on maintenance costs
A brick home requires no painting, finishing
or sealants at the time of building, nor
does it need any ongoing maintenance.
A rendered or timber house needs to be
repainted every 5-7 years at a cost of
around $7,000 every time.
38
Save on fuel bills

Due to the natural thermal mass benefits
of brick, a brick home is cheaper to heat
and cool which suits the entire Australian
continent.
Save on insurance premiums
A brick home is cheaper to insure than
a non-brick home. Check with your
insurance agency, and compare the
rates for yourself.
Save on worry
Living in a brick home youll feel confident
youve made a very sound investment.
39
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 40
Ask about an upgrade

With over 800 brick styles and colours
to choose from you can choose the look
you want.
Even upgrading to premium bricks can
be a lot less expensive than the cost of
render, painting or other materials.
Ask your builder about the different styles
of bricks available to achieve the look
you want, and add up the savings over
the life of your home.
40
41
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 42
Your architect, builder,

Building your own home is a huge responsibility. And can be a
worry for many first timers. But youre not alone. There are teams
of professionals to help. Maybe youre deciding on a display
home. Ask to speak with their designers for ideas on interior
layout variations, or to find out the latest in brick colours,
or how to match paving with bricks.
Perhaps youre just starting out with a scrapbook of house
pictures you like. Your first call might be to an architect who has
designed a home you fancy.
42
designer, and you.

Check the Royal Australian Institute of Architects for
their list of members.
Maybe youre ready with plans and need to submit to
council. Call a builder before you do to avoid the many
pitfalls in dealing with council and planners. Architects,
designers and builders are professional advisors who
can save you a lot of time, running around and money.
Find a good one and youll be on the way to building
the home you want.
43
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 44
Home.
Its where you'll spend most of your time.
Its where you'll watch your family grow-up.
Its where you'll share the best times with friends.
Its where you'll celebrate life's big moments.
Its worth making sure it's the home of your dreams.
44
45
7/9/05
Australian Capital Territory

Austral Bricks
7 Lithgow Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 02 6239 1286
Fax 02 6280 7086
www.australbricks.com.au
Boral Bricks
16 Wyalla Street
Fyshwick ACT 2609
Telephone 13 30 35
Fax 1300 36 30 35
www.boral.com.au
bricks@boral.com.au
New South Wales
Austral Bricks
Wallgrove Road, Horsley Park NSW 2164
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 02 9830 7777
Fax 02 9831 3771
infonsw@australbricks.com.au
AJ Baker (Lincoln Brickworks)
PO Box 51, Wingham NSW 2429
Telephone 02 6553 4322
Fax 02 6557 0370
www.lincolnbricks.com.au
lbwbrick@midcoast.com.au
Boral Bricks
235 Martins Road
Badgerys Creek NSW 2171
Telephone 13 30 35
Fax 1300 36 30 35
www.boral.com.au
bricks@boral.com.au
CSR PGH Bricks & Pavers
Lot 7 Cecil Road, Cecil Park NSW 2171
Fax 02 9826 1237
www.pghclay.com.au
info@csr.com.au
46
11:41 AM
Page 46
Glenn Innes Brickworks

23 Cross Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370
Fax 02 6732 3955
www.gleninnesbrickworks.gleninnes.biz
drac@northnet.com.au
Clay Brick and Paver Institute
PO Box 6567, Baulkham Hills BC
NSW 2153, Australia
Fax 02 9629 7022
info@cbpi.com.au
www.cbpi.com.au
www.brickhomes.com.au
Queensland
Austral Bricks
105 Gardner Road, Rochedale Qld 4123
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 07 3347 2111
Fax 07 3343 2899
infoqld@australbricks.com.au
Boral Bricks
Harcourt Road, Darra QLD 4076
Telephone 13 30 35
Fax 1300 36 30 35
www.boral.com.au
bricks@boral.com.au
PO Box 5119, Brendale QLD 4500
(Kremzow Road, Strathpine)
Fax 07 3881 1918
www.pghclay.com.au
info@csr.com.au
Clay Brick and Paver Association of Queensland
Industry House, 375 Wickham Terrace,
Brisbane QLD 4000
Fax 07 3832 3195
South Australia
Victoria
Austral Bricks
Greenwith Road, Golden Grove SA 5125
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 08 8251 1166
Fax 08 8251 4324
infosa@australbricks.com.au
Austral Bricks
Stud Road, Scorseby Vic 3179
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 03 9881 3333
Fax 03 9887 1307
infovic@australbricks.com.au
Boral Bricks
Main North Road
Adelaide SA
Telephone 13 30 35
Fax 1300 36 30 35
www.boral.com.au
bricks@boral.com.au
Boral Bricks
Cathies Lane, Wantirna South VIC 3179
Telephone 13 30 35
Fax 1300 36 30 35
www.boral.com.au
bricks@boral.com.au

RSD 64, Golden Grove SA 5125
(Greenwith Road, Golden Grove)
Fax 08 8300 8266
www.pghclay.com.au
info@csr.com.au
Tasmania
Austral Bricks
Cressy Road, Longford Tas 7301
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 03 6391 1511
Fax 03 6391 2121
infotas@australbricks.com.au
K&D Bricks & Pavers
110 Giblin Street, New Town TAS 7008
Fax 03 6228 2659
www.kdbrick.com.au
mail@kd.com.au

Private Bag 311, Clayton South VIC 3169
(Corner Smith Road & McWilliams Street,
Springvale)
Fax 03 9263 6336
www.pghclay.com.au
info@csr.com.au
Daniel Robertson Australia
PO Box 3115, Nunawading VIC 3131
(5874 Station Street, Nunawading)
Fax 03 9894 1804
www.danielrobertson.com.au
sales@danielrobertson.com.au
Selkirk Brick
630 Howitt Street, Ballarat
(PO Box 630, Ballarat VIC 3353)
Fax 03 5331 4459
www.selkirk.com.au
advantage@selkirk.com.au
Clay Brick and Paver Association of Victoria
PO Box 174, Carlton South VIC 3053
Fax 03 9639 2427
assign1@ozemail.com.au
47
7/9/05
11:41 AM
Page 48
Western Australia
Austral Bricks
Harper Street, Caversham WA 6055
Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 08 9261 9999
Fax 08 9261 9988
infowa@australbricks.com.au
Midland Brick
102 Great Northern Highway,
Middle Swan WA 6056
Freecall 1800 998 320
Fax 08 9273 5112
www.midlandbrick.com.au
midlandbrick@boral.com.au
Visit www.brickhomes.com.au for more information about building your new home
with brick, the latest designs and links to brick companies in your local area.
Sources and Credits.

P.5
Newspoll. Study conducted by Newspoll in

April 2005 by telephone among 311 adults
aged 18 years and over across Australia who
had built a new home or added a major
extension to a home in the past two years or
who plan to do so in the next two years.
P.18 CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure

Technology
P.34 Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects & Ellen Woolley.
48
49

Little Brick Book

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Little Brick Book

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

11153 Little Brick Book cover

11153 Little Brick Book text

The four principles of planning for

16. Bricks. A natural choice.

20. Express yourself.

The safest material for the

32. The most comfortable way to live.

36. The weekends are for living.

38. Is a brick home more expensive?

42. Your architect, builder, designer, and you.

11153 Little Brick Book text

The decisions you make in building a

*Newspoll, April 2005

11153 Little Brick Book text

A home built from brick makes sense

enjoy your home without wasting time

because of its proven acoustic properties.

11153 Little Brick Book text

The ideal orientation for living areas is

11153 Little Brick Book text

Correct use of thermal mass can delay

11153 Little Brick Book text

Brick provides the link between this

11153 Little Brick Book text

Energy efficient design

11153 Little Brick Book text

11153 Little Brick Book text

Clay bricks are of the earth.

Bricks. A natural choice.

11153 Little Brick Book text

Over the lifetime of your building material

*Source: CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology

11153 Little Brick Book text

11153 Little Brick Book text

The combinations are almost endless

11153 Little Brick Book text

Although the most common face brick

11153 Little Brick Book text

When youre looking at colours for your

that can set your home apart. Textures

Bricks give you so many textural choices.

Thrown bricks are cast in sawdust-lined

Smooth bricks have crisp, squared edges

Wire Cut bricks have straight edges with

Hewn bricks have had their face specially

Slurried bricks have a pigment on some

Tumbled bricks have a hand made

Rolled bricks can have a variety of

Its up to you and your architect,

11153 Little Brick Book text

The safest material for

sweeps Australia each year to appreciate

11153 Little Brick Book text

Then theres a list of our man-made

11153 Little Brick Book text

The most comfortable

average out variations. Mass is only

oscillates between 10C and 38C from

11153 Little Brick Book text

The house is developed from a strong

11153 Little Brick Book text

The weekends are for living.

Contrast a brick home with any other

11153 Little Brick Book text