Are you on the market shopping for bricks? Bricks account for 6% of the total build cost. Yet, they play a crucial role in determining the structural integrity and beauty of your project. It makes sense to spend a fraction more on high-quality, handmade bricks that lend charm and character to your buildings.

Whether you’re renovating an old property, overseeing the development of commercial property – handmade bricks add character and personality to any building project. As one of the top handmade bricks supplier in UK, Decorcera explains everything that you need to know about handmade bricks – their features, pros and cons, and more.

What are handmade bricks?

When we hear the term, “handmade bricks,” we imagine artisans crafting brick by brick with their hands. But the reality is that handmade bricks are produced in an assembly line setup without any machines.

The raw materials for these bricks are placed in sanded molds. However, no machines are used to cut or compact the bricks. As a result, handmade bricks have wavy marks and creases on their surface. These unique marks give handmade bricks a unique characteristic that is not present in machine-made bricks.

 

  • Handmade bricks can be made in customized sizes – they are available in older imperial dimensions, modern metric dimensions, or any specific dimension of your choice.

Handmade bricks are allowed to set in molds and let out to dry. Drying in a controlled environment, evaporates the water letting the clay set. The next step is firing. Though traditionally handmade bricks are fired in old kilns, today manufacturers use modern kilns to speed up the process. Once the bricks are fired, they are ready for use. They can then be further colored or blended, as per the final output required.

Why do people prefer handmade bricks?

While mass machine-produced bricks are the go-to option for construction, there is an increasing number of customers who prefer the rusticity and beauty of handmade bricks.

Here are a few reasons why customers choose handmade bricks over machine-made ones:

 

  • Brick Matching

If your property is old, say from the Victorian Era, Edwardian Era, or 1940s, then it’s likely that the bricks used in your property are of a different size than the latest market sizes. Renovating or extending buildings from these eras require bricks that are similar to the original ones. Modern commercial, mass-produced bricks do not meet these requirements.

There are two choices you can take:

 

  1. Look for reclaimed bricks that match the bricks in your home
  2. Or get customized handmade bricks that match the specifications of the original

Just get in touch with Decorcera, the leading handmade bricks supplier in UK and we’ll help you match bricks to the original look.

 

  • Conservation

Another major reason why people opt for handmade bricks is for conservation and heritage projects. If you’re looking to renovate a heritage building, using handmade bricks helps you replicate the original look.

 

  • Beauty and Aesthetics

Handmade bricks have a particular charm, personality, and character that are not present in mass-produced machine-made bricks.

The rustic edges, uneven creases, sandy finish all add to the beauty and charm of handmade bricks. Handmade bricks are huge in demand for aesthetic purposes like uncovered interior brick walls, exterior brick walls, etc.

Pros and Cons of Handmade Bricks

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of handmade bricks? Well, it’s true that handmade bricks are not suitable for all projects. To help you make an informed decision, here are the pros and cons of handmade bricks.

Pros:

Flexibility – Handmade bricks are available in a variety of dimensions, colors, and sizes.

If it’s an imperial building, you can get your trusted handmade bricks supplier in the UK to make your handmade bricks in imperial dimensions. If it’s a newer building, then you can ask your brick supplier to make bricks in metric dimensions.

The charm and appeal of handmade bricks are unmatched, making them the right choice for accent walls, exposed brick counters, columns, etc.

Cons:

The major limitation of handmade bricks is the cost. Since these bricks are made by expert craftsmen and are not machine-produced, they come with a higher price tag. Their custom design makes them longer to manufacture, adding to the higher cost.

With that said, if you’re looking for bricks for an exterior exposed wall or an interior accent wall, where the beauty of the project matters more, then spending a few extra pounds on handmade bricks is certainly worth it.

The raw finish of handmade bricks will not certainly appeal to all. If you’re looking for clean straight edges, then opt for machine-made bricks.

Where to buy handmade bricks in UK?

Fortunately, you don’t have to look very far. Decorcera, the no.1 handmade bricks supplier in UK has a wide range of the best handmade bricks in the country. Get in touch with our friendly team to find the best handmade bricks in your preferred colors and dimensions.

 

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