little brick book
DESCRIPTION
brickwork; housesTRANSCRIPT
THELITTLE BOOKOFBIG BRICKIDEASBrought to you by the Clay Brick and Paver Institute.11153 Little Brick Book cover7/9/0511:46 AMPage 11 1CONTENTSBrickHomes.2. Built for Living. Built for Life.The four principles of planning for6. 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.36. The weekends are for living.38. Is a brick home more expensive?42. Your architect, builder, designer, and you.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 makeyour decision easier. Its brought to you by the Clay Brick and Paver Institute underthe BrickHomes banner. Welcome home.11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 1BrickHomes. Built for Living.Built for Life.3 2The decisions you make in building anew home will impact on your life foryears. 95% of Australians agree thatbrick makes a home feel strong andsecure*. 96% of Australians agree that a brick home makes financial senseover the long term*. But beyond thefigures lies the truth that peace of mindis priceless. *Newspoll, April 200511153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 2A home built from brick makes sensefor all kinds of reasons. Brick is permanent. Once its built itremains weatherproof and age proof.Brick doesnt get tired like man-madematerials, so it requires virtually noupkeep or repairs. It means you canenjoy your home without wasting timeand money on maintenance. Bricksdont rust or erode, rot or decay, bend,twist or warp. Brick is a great protector against the extremes of the Australianclimate heat and cold. And whereveryou live, a brick home is a quiet homebecause of its proven acoustic properties.How long does brick last? You cantcompare it to other materials. And well over a century. Thats why theGreat Wall of China is still looking great. And thats after 2,300 years or so.5 411153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 4The 4 principles of planning for a comfortable home. 20 151. OrientationA brick home that is well positioned onits site delivers significant benefits. It makes it more comfortable to live in.With good orientation and passive solardesign the need for auxiliary heatingand cooling is reduced, resulting in lowerenergy bills and reduced greenhouseemissions. With careful attention todesign, maximise the orientation of yourhouse on your block to achieve anenergy efficient home.The ideal orientation for living areas iswithin the range of 15W-20E of true orsolar north. This allows standard eavesoverhangs to admit winter sun to heatthe building and exclude summer sunwith no effort from you, and noadditional cost.7 611153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 62. InsulationInsulation acts as a barrier to heat flowand is essential to keep your homewarm in winter and cool in summerproviding year-round comfort, cuttingcooling and heating bills. This in turnwill reduce greenhouse emissions. The insulation properties of brick arerecognised by the Building Code ofAustralia, which permits, in some climatezones, an exemption from adding wallinsulation in cavity brickwork buildings.3. VentilationBeing able to open your home up to warmspring breezes after a cold spell and acool change after a summer heat waveis a critical design element in any home.A key feature is cross ventilation.Opening windows and doors on one sideof the home to let the cool change in ismuch more effective if you open thesame number of windows and doors onthe other side of the house to let theair flow through.Cross ventilation in a design can behelped by ensuring free flowing airpassages right through a home are notobstructed by internal walls and trappedin closed off rooms.Consideration should be given to theprevailing weather/wind conditions of eachsite to ensure ventilation is optimized.4. Thermal massThermal mass is the ability of a materialto absorb heat energy. A lot of energy is required to change the temperature ofhigh density materials like bricks. They are therefore said to have highthermal mass.Appropriate use of thermal massthroughout a home can make a bigdifference to comfort and heating andcooling. Thermal mass is particularlybeneficial in most Australian climateswhere there is a big difference betweenday and night outdoor temperatures. Correct use of thermal mass can delayheat flow through the building envelopeby as much as 8 to 10 hours, producinga warmer house in winter and a coolerhouse during summer. And great savingsin airconditioning and heating costs.9 88 10HOURS11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 811 10Brick provides the link between thisnew building and the inner urbanstreetscape. The clean smooth brickfacade adds to the contemporarydesign yet its a material that has a human scale that people trust.11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 10Passive coolingAll Australian climates require some degree of cooling. Good design will help reduce or eliminate heat gains during theday with sound building envelope design. The main elements ofdesign for passive cooling are:Orientation for exposure to cooling breezes.Increased natural ventilation by reducing barriers to air pathsthrough the buildingFloor plan zoning to maximise comfort for daytime activitiesand sleeping comfortAppropriate windows and glazing to minimise unwanted heat gains.Eaves positioned to provide shadeBrick walls respond slowly to extreme hot/cold weatherconditions, moderating the internal temperature. This adds tocomfort and reduces the need for artificial cooling.Energy efficient designThese days its vital that we apply good design principles toeveryday living. Energy is a crucial factor in responsible homebuilding and it can result in considerable everyday savings.Passive solar heatingPassive solar heating works by trapping heat which is absorbedand stored by materials with high thermal mass, such as bricks.This stored heat is released at night when it is needed to offsetheat losses from lower outdoor temperatures. Well positioned internal brick walls will act like thermal batteriescharging up with heat during the day and re-releasing the heat atnight at no cost.This will maximise winter heat gain, minimise winter heat loss andconcentrate warmth where it is most needed.13 1211153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 1215 1411153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 14Clay bricks are of the earth. Theyre made from clay and shale, havevirtually no emissions and are 100% safe. Note: Many man-made building materialscan cause the syndrome known as sick homes. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) canbe released by new man-made productssuch as particleboard and fibreboard,as well as solvents, paints, strippers,glues and preservatives. These can allcontribute to indoor air pollution. But clay bricks are inert and allow ahome to breathe, creating a healthierenvironment for you and the family.A natural choice. Bricks.17 1611153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 16Over the lifetime of your building materialonly 5% of energy is taken up in itsmanufacture. The other 95% of energyis the cost of heating and cooling yourhome and that has a direct impact onthe environment. Using the measurement known asEmbodied Energy (energy consumed inmanufacture) of various buildingmaterials, the CSIRO has concluded thatclay bricks have less Embodied Energythan aluminium, steel, glass, particleboardand even timber (Oregon).* But Embodied Energy is only part of theequation. Beyond that, to properly assessthe energy efficiency (or environmentalfriendliness) of a home take a look atthe life cycle of building materials. Clay bricks have an unsurpassed lifecycle a life of at least 100 years,decades longer than all other materials.And the environment is further protectedby bricks not needing man-made claddingor coatings, painting or render.19 18*Source: CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:40 AMPage 18Express Yourself21 20Because 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. There are more than 800 different brick colours, from the lightest of whites andcreams to the darkest blues and purples and an unlimited opportunity to blend oraccentuate. New generation colours offer a range of monochromatic tones for a moresubtle appearance. 11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 2023 22MortarGenerally the mortar represents about15% of the total visible brickwork areaand can dramatically change the look ofthe brick and your home. For example,mortar coloured to match the brick willgive the impression of a large area ofone colour, whereas a contrastingmortar colour will highlight the shapeand colour of the bricks. The overallappearance is also determined by thejoint, with raked and rolled joints beingmost commonly used to achieve thecharacter look in a new home. Types of Mortar JointsThe combinations are almost endlesswhich means you can proudly stampyour style and individuality on your home.Raked Rolled Flush Struck New Rolled11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 22Although the most common face bricksize is 230mm x 76mm x 110mm,you can order square bricks, elongated50 mm bricks, double height bricks ormodular sized bricks. There are rounded bricks, bricks forwindow sills, bricks for lintels, lightweightbricks and accent bricks.25 2411153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 24Its up to you and your architect,designer or builder. Just tell them whatyoure thinking of and ask them to showyou how it can look. Theres a brick forevery home in every suburb, town, city,bush or beach. Theres a brick for everystyle: colonial, Federation, contemporary,Georgian, Mediterranean, single ordouble storey.Someone else designed your clothes,and your car. With brick you get to bethe designer. Start drawing. 27 26Thrown bricks are cast in sawdust-linedmoulds which produce a rather uniquetexture from Australias colonial times.Slurried bricks have a pigment on someor all of the surfaces.Tumbled bricks have a hand madelook, with round, uneven edges. Rolled bricks can have a variety oftextures theyre treated with a patternedcylinder prior to firing.Smooth bricks have crisp, squared edgesand a very consistent texture. Wire Cut bricks have straight edges witha slightly rough texture on their face. Hewn bricks have had their face speciallychipped to resemble masonry orquarried stone.Texture. An importantelement in home design.When youre looking at colours for yourhome design, make sure you also lookat texture. The right textured surfacecan enhance a design and add a lot of character to a new home. Bricks come in many natural texturesthat can set your home apart. Texturescan add contrast, or define a feature,like an alcove, or porch. Textures canbring out the natural colours of bricks.Textures can add dimension throughouta day as the sun highlights them. Bricks give you so many textural choices.And certainly many more than flimsiermaterials. Here are just some of theexamples. From modern and sleek tomore traditional quarry styles. 11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 26Even if youll be livingin a new estate, youllappreciate theprotection of brick.You can play cricketwith the kids, against the back wall. Youcan mow safely without risking damagefrom a stone or rock. You can rest a ladderagainst it without a warp or a worry. But beyond the everyday you only haveto think about the force of nature thatsweeps Australia each year to appreciatethe protection of brick. Were constantlyreminded of summer bushfires, droughts,and downpours, spring floods andcyclones, autumn hail and lightningstrikes, and winter gales and storms.Each week there are fallen trees,downed powerlines, washaways, anddust storms. Theres even bricks madeto withstand severe coastal conditions,including salt spray.the Australian environment. The safest material for29 2811153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 28Then theres a list of our man-madecatastrophes just waiting to strike. From runaway trucks to electrical fires,from burst water pipes to flight pathshocks. A brick home is strong. In factits by far the most durable, strongest,soundest building material in Australia.No wonder home insurers ask if yourhouse is made from brick. And bricksdont get attacked by pests termitesdont eat it, rats dont gnaw at it, birdscant stain it. And neighbours cant accidentally bbq it!With brick your investment is safe. 31 3011153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 3033 32At the end of the day, its all aboutbeing comfortable. A brick home ratesbetter than any other on liveableness. The thermal mass of your new home iscritical to maximising the passive solarbenefits of your home. Its the mass that stores temperature it absorbs and releases temperature toaverage out variations. Mass is onlyachieved by using heavy, dense materialslike concrete and bricks. Of these, bricksare the easiest and most flexible way tobuild mass into the building.Ask anyone who has lived in an all brickhome, its the mass of solid brick thatevens out the regular temperaturefluctuations and keeps the homecomfortable for longer. Most peoplesComfort Zone is between 19C and24C and they only think about turningon a heater or cooler outside this range.Most Australians live in a temperateclimate and for the summer months andmost months of the year the temperatureoscillates between 10C and 38C fromnight to day and in winter 4C to 22C and from warm spells to a cool change. A brick home stays warm when its cooland cool when its warm so it reducesthe need and expense of artificialheating and cooling, and overall makesthe home much more liveable. The most comfortable way to live. 11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 3235 34The house is developed from a strongstreet wall of glazed brick with aninbuilt pattern in two shades of black,which shelters the accommodationfrom the major transport corridor tothe southlow-energy naturalmaterials are used throughout. Peter Tonkin, Architect.11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 34Contrast a brick home with any otherand youll soon see how much moneyyoull 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 surfacewill require regular repainting from 3 to 5years for a regular quality paint, 7 to 10years for a premium grade or acrylic paint.It is generally true that after 7 years,even the best painted surface will besomewhat faded or tired-looking. 3 to 5 years for a regular quality paint7 to 10 years for a premium grade or acrylic paint37 36The weekends are for living. Repainting11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 36Your home is the largest investment ofyour life, so you need to consider costsover the short term, and over the longterm. Save on building costsA brick home is comparable to buildinga home from other materials. So youreahead before you even move in.Save on maintenance costs A brick home requires no painting, finishingor sealants at the time of building, nordoes it need any ongoing maintenance.A rendered or timber house needs to berepainted every 5-7 years at a cost ofaround $7,000 every time. Save on fuel bills Due to the natural thermal mass benefitsof brick, a brick home is cheaper to heatand cool which suits the entire Australiancontinent. Save on insurance premiums A brick home is cheaper to insure thana non-brick home. Check with yourinsurance agency, and compare therates for yourself. Save on worryLiving in a brick home youll feel confidentyouve made a very sound investment.Is a brick home more expensive? 39 38No.11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 38With over 800 brick styles and coloursto choose from you can choose the lookyou want. Even upgrading to premium bricks canbe a lot less expensive than the cost ofrender, painting or other materials. Ask your builder about the different stylesof bricks available to achieve the lookyou want, and add up the savings overthe life of your home.Ask about an upgrade41 4011153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 40Building your own home is a huge responsibility. And can be aworry for many first timers. But youre not alone. There are teamsof professionals to help. Maybe youre deciding on a displayhome. Ask to speak with their designers for ideas on interiorlayout 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 housepictures you like. Your first call might be to an architect who hasdesigned a home you fancy. Your architect, builder, 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 4211153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 42Home. 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.45 4411153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 4447 46South AustraliaAustral BricksGreenwith Road, Golden Grove SA 5125Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 08 8251 1166Fax 08 8251 [email protected] BricksMain North RoadAdelaide SATelephone 13 30 35Fax 1300 36 30 [email protected] PGH Bricks & PaversRSD 64, Golden Grove SA 5125(Greenwith Road, Golden Grove)Telephone 08 8300 8200Fax 08 8300 [email protected] BricksCressy Road, Longford Tas 7301Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 03 6391 1511Fax 03 6391 [email protected]&D Bricks & Pavers110 Giblin Street, New Town TAS 7008Telephone 03 6228 7828Fax 03 6228 [email protected] BricksStud Road, Scorseby Vic 3179Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 03 9881 3333Fax 03 9887 [email protected] BricksCathies Lane, Wantirna South VIC 3179Telephone 13 30 35Fax 1300 36 30 [email protected] PGH Bricks & PaversPrivate Bag 311, Clayton South VIC 3169(Corner Smith Road & McWilliams Street,Springvale)Telephone 03 9263 6336Fax 03 9263 [email protected] Robertson AustraliaPO Box 3115, Nunawading VIC 3131(5874 Station Street, Nunawading)Telephone 03 9875 3000Fax 03 9894 1804www.danielrobertson.com.ausales@danielrobertson.com.auSelkirk Brick630 Howitt Street, Ballarat(PO Box 630, Ballarat VIC 3353)Telephone 03 5331 5544Fax 03 5331 [email protected] Brick and Paver Association of VictoriaPO Box 174, Carlton South VIC 3053Telephone 03 9650 8783Fax 03 9639 [email protected] Capital TerritoryAustral Bricks7 Lithgow Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 02 6239 1286Fax 02 6280 7086www.australbricks.com.auBoral Bricks16 Wyalla StreetFyshwick ACT 2609Telephone 13 30 35Fax 1300 36 30 [email protected] South WalesAustral BricksWallgrove Road, Horsley Park NSW 2164Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 02 9830 7777Fax 02 9831 [email protected] Baker (Lincoln Brickworks)PO Box 51, Wingham NSW 2429Telephone 02 6553 4322Fax 02 6557 [email protected] Bricks235 Martins RoadBadgerys Creek NSW 2171Telephone 13 30 35Fax 1300 36 30 [email protected] PGH Bricks & PaversLot 7 Cecil Road, Cecil Park NSW 2171Telephone 02 9826 3900Fax 02 9826 [email protected] Innes Brickworks23 Cross Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370Telephone 02 6732 5552Fax 02 6732 3955www.gleninnesbrickworks.gleninnes.bizdrac@northnet.com.auClay Brick and Paver InstitutePO Box 6567, Baulkham Hills BC NSW 2153, AustraliaTelephone 02 9629 4922 Fax 02 9629 7022 info@cbpi.com.auwww.cbpi.com.auwww.brickhomes.com.auQueenslandAustral Bricks105 Gardner Road, Rochedale Qld 4123Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 07 3347 2111Fax 07 3343 [email protected] Bricks Harcourt Road, Darra QLD 4076Telephone 13 30 35Fax 1300 36 30 [email protected] PGH Bricks & PaversPO Box 5119, Brendale QLD 4500(Kremzow Road, Strathpine)Telephone 07 3881 7777Fax 07 3881 [email protected] Brick and Paver Association of QueenslandIndustry House, 375 Wickham Terrace,Brisbane QLD 4000Telephone 07 3842 2244Fax 07 3832 319511153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 4649 48Western AustraliaAustral BricksHarper Street, Caversham WA 6055Telephone 13-BRIC | 13-2742 | 08 9261 9999Fax 08 9261 [email protected] Brick102 Great Northern Highway,Middle Swan WA 6056Telephone 08 9273 5522Freecall 1800 998 320Fax 08 9273 [email protected] and Credits.P.5Newspoll. Study conducted by Newspoll inApril 2005 by telephone among 311 adultsaged 18 years and over across Australia whohad built a new home or added a majorextension to a home in the past two years orwho plan to do so in the next two years.P.18CSIRO Manufacturing and InfrastructureTechnologyP.34Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects & Ellen Woolley.Visit www.brickhomes.com.au for more information about building your new homewith brick, the latest designs and links to brick companies in your local area.11153 Little Brick Book text7/9/0511:41 AMPage 48