SA Affordable Housing July - August 2019 // Issue: 77 | Page 12

ADVERTORIAL - COVER STORY
Save construction costs,
save the environment
When you add up the cost of building your own home, construction
materials are a substantial budget item.
By the Clay Brick Association of South Africa
HOW TO RECYCLE BRICKS SAFELY
Before recycling bricks brush the bricks with a stiff bristle brush
rather than a wire brush to remove all debris without damaging
the texture. After a brick is wetted, efflorescence is always
possible even with an older brick, but this is rarely a permanent
condition.
Rubbing bricks on an abrasive grit stone may be useful to
straighten up surfaces and remove chipped edges on handmade
older bricks. The use of power tools is not advised on bricks as
grinding discs and wire brushes are hard to control and scoring or
polishing can disfigure the brick’s surface.
Compared to modern bricks, which are manufactured to SABS
standards, older bricks from coastal properties may have damage
from salt especially near ground level. Chemical pollution from
an industrial environment can alter the composition and density
of the brick. If you are using the brick in load-bearing
applications, you are advised to test a few samples to check that
your batch is free of defects.
For more information
The Clay Brick Association of South Africa
Website: www.claybrick.org
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Homeowners have many options for reuse. In many cases,
load-bearing brick buildings can be repurposed with just a
contemporary frontage added or a brick façade is retained while
a new structure is built behind it. Sometimes, the existing
building is completely demolished, and the individual clay bricks
are reused in exposed brick feature walls and elements.
Clay products that are damaged or broken can be sold for use
in road construction, embankments, tennis courts and
landscaping. When reusing broken bricks as site filler, they must
be crushed first to limit ground subsidence.
"Recycled bricks are an
eco-friendly option, and
clay bricks have a lifespan
of well over 200 years".
WHERE TO USE RECYCLED BRICKS
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W
hen a property has an existing building, the
demolition and removal of structures can
add to your costs before you have even laid
a foundation.
Clay bricks are ceramic products – fired at high
temperatures in a kiln – giving them a lifespan of
well over 200 years. That means property owners
have the option to recycle clay bricks that were
previously used in walls, paving and even
infrastructure like retaining walls and bridges.
The appeal of reclaimed bricks is its character – a
pleasing weathered appearance and natural patina.
Currently, reclaimed bricks have a certain cachet;
they are less common, more sustainable and have a
distinctive appearance. Whether used for an internal
feature wall, extension or paving, recycled clay brick
is sure to create an eye-catching, unique finish for
those who appreciate tradition.
“Many home-owners choose to reuse ‘heritage’
clay bricks and timber in their projects due to the
sustainability benefits,” advises Mariana Lamont,
executive director of the Clay Brick Association of
South Africa (CBASA).
“Recycled bricks are an eco-friendly option. They
not only eliminate resource use and emissions
during production, they also cut down on landfill
waste and the environmental and economic cost of
transporting heavy materials to dump sites,”
Lamont adds.
As part of the Switch Africa Green Project funded
by the European Union, CBASA is driving
sustainability initiatives. These include research on
reducing carbon footprint and resource use in
production, as well as educating construction
professionals on how to design and build resource-
efficient buildings.