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Face brick has been rediscovered by the construction industry and architectural profession as a creative , sustainable , long-lasting and durable material
“ beyond what has been done before . This also means we have to continue to focus on the longstanding relationships we have established over the years with leading architectural practices , in addition to the new up-and-coming young talent that is so important to revitalise the profession .
Another trend is that , because the commercial market sector is under such immense pressure at the moment , and because so many people continue to work from home for at least part of the week , we are seeing more and more growth and interest from the retail side of the business . This is reflected in the results of all the major hardware , DIY and building supply companies , which have all reported significant growth during the Covid-19 pandemic .
People across South Africa have taken this opportunity to carry out those renovations that they may have been putting off due to time constraints , but which can now be carried out costeffectively over an extended period . As mentioned earlier about the importance of texture and colour , homeowners are also turning to face brick to add these elements to their residences . For example , there is a house in Benoni where black brick has been used internally , which would have been unthinkable three to four years ago . Face brick is also ideal for curved features as opposed to simple straight walls , while using different headers and bonding patterns can add all kinds of exciting and different effects .
Of course , we have to remain ahead of the game and therefore we have constant product development underway at our Kwastina factory as we speak . Not only are we investigating different clay sources , but in the longer term will look at different brick sizes and even glazing as an option . We have already built this capability into the new factory , and now it is just a matter of testing it out . It is still early days as we have just completed the commissioning phase , but we are well on the way to ensuring that the new factory becomes an important asset for the architectural and construction community .
Wynberg Boys ' High School , Scott & Partners , Corobrik Agate Travertine Face Brick
10 Revival of Face Brick