Reclaimed Brick Stretcher

Reclaimed bricks are those which have been repurposed from demolished or derelict buildings of varying age and style. They are typically reasonably old and show signs of wear, tear and weathering, which can be a desirable appearance for creating contemporary rustic appearances, or tying in harmoniously on conservation projects. Despite signs of use, these bricks are still perfectly functional and are normally well preserved, with care taken to remove them from their original sources. Bricks are extremely hard wearing and durable, suiting a wide variety of patterns, functions and building types, from landscaping and paving to façades, load-bearing walls and interior wall or surface cladding. This particular reclaimed brick texture displays a mixture of natural clay colours ranging from cool silvers, greys and creams to sandy golds and burnt reds, deep, pastel navy blues and rust-browns, interspersed with painted red bricks. The surface of the bricks are rough and highly textured, owing in part to their manufacture and in part to the reclamation process, whereby mortar and finishes must be scraped or otherwise removed from the bricks before their re-use. There are yellow cracks and chips present on many of the bricks, likely a result of the cleaning process stripping the top layer and revealing the original colour of the brick beneath, or from remains of paint or other decorative finishes applied to the bricks in their original deployment. The muted, restrained colours with occasional highlights are well suited to neutral, rustic environments, or for tying in with heritage projects which utilised a similar age and tone of brick. Recycled brick is becoming increasingly popular as it requires no new natural materials, transporting or firing, making the reuse of brick more sustainable and economical than new brick. They are also more reliable as any imperfections and structural or mechanical issues will have shown during the brick’s first deployment, meaning they will resist loads and weather without fault. Having been exposed to a variety of climatic conditions they have already been stressed and will have settled into their final form in their previous role. Reclaimed bricks are also particularly popular with clients and designers who wish to commemorate the region or specific building the bricks are reclaimed from, adding a unique narrative element to their specification.