Selfbuilder & Homemaker – July – August 2019

A

nyone considering embarking on a
self-build home improvement job
should rest assured that they are
not alone. According to a recent
published study, there are more than
20,000 self-builders in the UK that are
undertaking construction work, ranging in
scope from loft conversions to full-scale
house extensions.
This is a trend surely set to increase
further still, with the Government
pledging increased support for self-
builders. Indeed, Victoria Prentis, the
Conservative MP for North Oxfordshire,
recently identified custom-built housing
stock as a potential solution to the UK’s
ongoing housing crisis.
For any self-build project, one of the
first decisions that must be made is the
material used to build the structure. The
most popular choice in Britain remains,
undoubtedly, brick. Representing
sturdiness and affording properties a
sense of character that may be harder to
find with other materials, the UK’s love
affair with brick is truly enduring.

CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is often
preference among self-builders to go for
the cheapest – or cheaper – brick. While
cheaper bricks can often be perfectly
acceptable, we would advise people
consider the overall aesthetic appeal for
their home.
We would advocate not picking the
cheapest brick, but instead finding a brick
that delivers the greatest value for
money. Ultimately, people want to be
happy with how their house looks – so
sometimes it’s worth spending a little
more so that you truly love the look of
your house as you pull onto the driveway.
Indeed, a key priority for many self-
builders and renovators is achieving ‘kerb
appeal’, ensuring the build is as striking
on the outside as it is on the inside.
Finding the right brick for a project really
depends on the overall look and feel a
self-builder is hoping to achieve for
their home.

In general, we find that handmade

and soft mud bricks are more popular

among the self-build market, because

they bring guaranteed character to a

property. However, wire cut bricks are

often the preferred choice if factors such

as regional vernacular or cost is a

primary concern.

There is a huge amount of choice

available to self-builders when it comes to

brick. With a seemingly endless number

of colours, textures, finishes and sizes to

choose from, it’s surprisingly simple to

make a design vision a reality.

RESPECTING REGULATIONS

Whatever style of brick a homeowner

chooses, they need to consider planning

regulations and ensure that it fits with the

wider local vernacular. While this doesn’t

mean it has to conform to a traditional

design, the bricks must be in keeping

with the aesthetics of the area.

The UK is lucky enough to be home to

some of Europe’s best preserved stone

towns, so, if a homeowner is considering

a self-build project in one of these

regions, even greater consideration is

required. Take for example the

Cotswolds, with its Jurassic limestone,

which is renowned the world over, or

In general, we

nd that

handmade and

soft mud bricks

are more popular

among the self-

build market,

because they

bring guaranteed

character to

a property

With an increasing number of homeowners choosing to pursue self-build or

embark on self-renovation work, Simon Taylor of Ibstock examines one of the

key considerations for any self-builder – the aesthetics as well as function of

the bricks they will use for their project

The brick essentials

58www.sbhonline.co.uk

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS (BRICKS, BLOCKS & CEMENT)

july/august 2019