G Shanks Joiners & Builders embarked on a redevelopment project for a 1970s house. The task at hand was to extend and refresh the house's exterior with new cladding using brick slips, providing a contemporary look while maintaining structural integrity. The house had both render and existing brickwork, which had been in place for several years. Brick slips were deemed a perfect option for the renovations.
The client opted for Blend 2 brick slips, a product they had previously worked with on another project. These particular brick slips were favoured due to their aesthetically pleasing colour and texture, which complemented the vision for the redevelopment, making it their material of choice for this renovation.
Blend 2 is a rustic neutral brick and is one of our lighter reclaimed blends. It is composed of a selection of cream and buff tones. There is also a visible dark mottling on all of the tile faces. They offer excellent durability and a modern finish well-suited for residential properties.
The brick slips were applied directly to the existing 1970s brick structure using our adhesive, which is perfect for this type of project. The application was seamless, as the surface was adequately prepared before installation. Our brick slip adhesive is a flexible cladding adhesive for external and internal floor and wall applications. It consists of cement, graded fillers and additives and a high level of redispersible powder polymer. It is specially formulated with extended workability for fixing brick slips and natural stone to a wide range of substrates, including plasterboard, plaster, sand/cement render, brick and block work. It can be used with external wall installation systems as well. The installation also included cutting and fitting the slips around the front elevation and up to the damp course, providing a smooth, continuous finish.
Working with the existing 1970s brick was a potential concern due to its age and surface condition. The surface was thoroughly cleaned and prepped to ensure maximum adhesion of the brick slips. Special attention was given to areas like the damp course to avoid any moisture ingress.
The project was completed with outstanding results. The Blend 2 brick slips were installed with precision, and the new exterior gave the house an elegant, contemporary look while retaining the charm of the original structure. The client was very pleased with the result and had no issues during or after the installation. The durability of the brick slips and their aesthetic appeal aligned perfectly with their expectations.
By using brick slips, the cost is slightly less than full bricks in terms of the tiles themselves. This is because you can usually get two tiles from each brick, but the extra cost comes from the cutting needed, meaning you usually save a small amount. The greater financial saving comes in associated costs. The installation is much quicker, easier and can be done cheaper, the delivery costs will usually be cheaper as there is less weight involved in covering an area, and you will require much less mortar than in traditional brickwork.
With an external installation, there is usually a choice to be made on how you install the tiles. Because these projects are often larger, it starts to become more efficient to think about backing systems. Essentially, these backing systems create a mechanical fixing between the substrate and the adhesive to give extra security to how they're fixed, in most systems they also provide extra insulation.
This case study exemplifies how modern materials can breathe new life into older properties, providing homeowners with a cost-effective yet high-quality solution for exterior renovation projects.
G Shanks Joiners & Builders www.gshanksjoiners.com
